Ivana Bacik

 STATEMENT BY SENATOR IVANA BACIK 

Speaking in the Seanad this morning, Senator Ivana Bacik welcomed the announcement that the Cabinet has approved the establishment of an expert group to address the outcome of the ABC case judgment on abortion in the European Court of Human Rights, in which Ireland was found to have breached the rights of a pregnant woman with a serious health condition who had to travel to England for an abortion.

Welcoming the announcement, Senator Ivana Bacik said:

“For many years, successive governments have failed to take any action to address the need for reform of our law on abortion. The ABC judgment by the European Court of Human Rights in December 2010 was waiting to happen.”

“I am delighted that the Government has now moved to fulfil its commitment in the Programme for Government by establishing an expert working group to examine how to address the ruling of the European Court. I am also really delighted that the group is to report back to government within six months on how best to address this judgment. There should be no more foot-dragging on this issue. ”

ENDS 

Civil Registration (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Senator Ivana Bacik:     I move: “That the Bill be now read a Second Time.”

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Joan Burton, to the House and thank her in advance for her support for this Bill. I also thank members of the Humanist Association of Ireland who are in the Gallery, in particular, Professor David McConnell, the president of the association, and Mr. Brian Whiteside, who gave great assistance in the preparation of this Bill. It is a proud week for humanism in Ireland. Tomorrow, the presidential inauguration in Dublin Castle will for the first time incorporate a humanist element alongside the traditional religious elements of the ceremony. I believe this amounts to formal recognition of the vital role humanism plays alongside religion and religions as representing an ethical set of values for people throughout Ireland.

I am delighted to propose this Bill to the House on behalf of the Labour Party Senators. I am very grateful to my colleagues on the other side of the House for their indications that it will receive cross-party support, certainly in principle. I know the Sinn Féin Senators are supporting it. Senator Mooney, on behalf of the Fianna Fáil Senators, may have a difficulty with an aspect of the drafting of the Bill, which I will address in a moment, but I think he is supportive of the Bill in principle.

Essentially, the key impact of this technical amending Bill, which seeks to amend the Civil Registration Act 2004, will be to enable members of the Humanist Association of Ireland to be entitled to perform legal civil wedding ceremonies. In other words, if the Bill is passed, for the first time humanists will be able to perform marriages in Ireland legally. This may sound like a small change. Indeed, it is not a particularly radical proposal. I am conscious that this is a time of great economic crisis, difficulty and financial hardship for many people in this country. In that context, it may be seen as a somewhat trivial matter to seek to legislate on during Private Members’ time.

Although the Bill is technical, I suggest it is far from trivial for two reasons. First, it will have a significant positive impact on the quality of life of individuals and couples who wish to celebrate their marriage in a humanist ceremony. At present, they cannot celebrate their marriage legally through a humanist ceremony. Second, this change would be in keeping with the traditional role of the Seanad as a forum for bringing forward progressive social reforms. I am proud that this Bill is a creature of the Seanad. It will illustrate how appropriate a legislative forum the Seanad is for having debates on key changes in our society.

This legislation represents a way for us to accommodate difference in our laws. It allows us to show that we are inclusive of those who do not share the faith of the majority and that we respect their values and belief systems just as we respect those of the many people and families who are members of established religions and churches. A young man e-mailed me earlier this week to say this Bill represents another step in the process of making Ireland a more inclusive and pluralist society. The Seanad has played a vital role as the forum where many steps of this nature have been taken in the past. Senator O’Keeffe will describe this in more detail when she seconds this Bill.

I wish to speak about the substance of the Bill and explain its context. I reiterate that it is a short Bill. It seeks to amend three sections of the Civil Registration Act 2004, which regulates the registration of civil marriages. The 2004 Act, among other things, provides for the establishment of a register of solemnisers — those who can legally conduct marriages — and makes provision for a choice of venue for civil marriages. The category of people who may be registered as solemnisers is limited by the current version of section 54(1) of the 2004 Act, which provides that HSE registrars and members of religious bodies are the only people who may celebrate legal marriages. Section 45 of the Act defines a “religious body” as “an organised group of people members of which meet regularly for common religious worship”.

The majority of registered solemnisers are members of the well-known churches — the Catholic Church, the Church of Ireland and so on. The definition I have mentioned covers organisations such as Pagan Federation Ireland and the Spiritualist Union of Ireland. As they have applied for and obtained registration under the Act, their individual members may seek to be entered on the register of solemnisers. Although the definition is relatively broad, it excludes members of the Humanist Association of Ireland, who routinely conduct humanist funeral, naming and wedding ceremonies. This is somewhat anomalous, given the status of the association and the established nature of humanism, about which I will say more in a moment. Although the humanists are an organised group and meet regularly, they do not engage in religious worship and are therefore not covered under the definition. The Bill before the House seeks to address the anomaly whereby only HSE registrars or members of religious bodies may seek to be registered as solemnisers of marriages. It does this by inserting a new, extended definition of “body” in section 45 of the 2004 Act.

Under my proposal, “body” will be defined as “an authority [that reference is to the HSE] or a religious body or a body designated by the Minister”. This would confer power on the Minister to designate bodies like the Humanist Association of Ireland — I do not anticipate or envisage that other bodies will seek such designation — as being capable of applying to have their members registered as celebrants of legal marriages. If this amendment is accepted, the chief registrar will continue to have the power to assess the suitability of individual members of any “body”, including the Humanist Association of Ireland, which may be designated by the Minister.

When I was drafting this Bill, I initially proposed, as an alternative to delegating power to the Minister, that section 45 should name the Humanist Association of Ireland and define “body” as “an authority or a religious body or the Humanist Association of Ireland”. That would have been a more straightforward and simpler way of framing the legislation. It would have meant that bodies other than the Humanist Association of Ireland would not be entitled to apply. It would have overcome the difficulty of delegating a power to the Minister that perhaps should be retained by the Oireachtas. I have had a conversation with Senator Mooney about this drafting issue. I have been advised that naming an organisation in the section might create problems. On that basis, the draft was changed to provide that the Minister could designate a body. On Committee Stage, perhaps we can consider whether a better approach to the designation of bodies can be arrived at. Perhaps it would be best to name the Humanist Association of Ireland in this legislation. I have a very open mind on this. I assure Senators that this drafting point can be dealt with on Committee Stage.

An alternative approach would involve allowing the chief registrar to designate a body, rather than delegating that power to the Minister, while retaining the power of appeal to the Minister in the event that the chief registrar refuses to designate a body. That might be a good approach to take. Perhaps some people might take issue with the delegation of such an important power below the level of Minister. Regardless of the method of drafting that is used — I am fairly agnostic on the matter, if I can use that phrase — it is important to emphasise that in any event, the chief registrar will retain the final filtering power to assess the suitability of the individual members of any body. Perhaps this can be considered on Committee Stage. I look forward to that debate and to hearing the Minister’s view on this issue.

I would like to explain why the Humanist Association of Ireland should be entitled to have its members registered as solemnisers of marriage. I have admired the work of the association for a long time. I have an association with it, although I do not think I am a member of it. I broadly agree with the ethical values of humanism. More important, I have attended humanist wedding and funeral ceremonies and have been greatly impressed by the dignity with which they are conducted. Humanism is an ethical philosophy of life, based on a concern for humanity that combines reason with compassion. Many people in Ireland, including me, would broadly describe themselves as having a humanist philosophy, regardless of whether they are members of the association.

The Humanist Association of Ireland evolved in the late 1980s or early 1990s. It is a non-profit company, limited by guarantee without share capital. It has registered charitable status. It is affiliated to the International Humanist and Ethical Union and the European Humanist Federation. I understand that the association has approximately 500 members. In addition, humanists have become something of a voice for the non-religious in Ireland. According to the most recent CSO figures, the non-religious constitute the largest group after Roman Catholics. There are more non-religious than there are members of the Church of Ireland.

Humanists will be included in tomorrow’s formal presidential inauguration celebration. They have been included in official State forums on various aspects of social policy for some time. They are represented on the national forum on patronage and pluralism in primary education, which is due to meet in November and to report in December. The Humanist Association of Ireland holds monthly meetings in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway. It co-hosts a summer school with the Humanist Association of Northern Ireland. It provides a community for like-minded people and conducts humanist naming, wedding and funeral ceremonies for those who wish to celebrate these milestones in a personal, meaningful but non-religious way.

It is important to point out that humanist wedding ceremonies already have legal status in Scotland, Australia since 1972 and a number of Scandinavian countries. The number of humanist wedding ceremonies in Ireland is growing every year, even though they currently have no legal status. Couples go to the HSE registrar to have their marriage registered legally before having a separate ceremony conducted by a humanist celebrant. Approximately 130 non-legal humanist wedding ceremonies were celebrated in this country last year. Over 150 such ceremonies are likely to be celebrated by the end of this year.

I have been informed by the Humanist Association of Ireland that it has ten accredited celebrants who perform humanist ceremonies. It has a rigorous accreditation process through which potential celebrants must go before they are accredited. For example, applicants must prove to the board of the association that they satisfy the ten required attributes for accreditation, including having a humanist outlook and a compassionate nature. They are judged on appearance, articulation and organisational skills, etc. A relatively rigorous process must be undergone by aspiring celebrants.

I would like to conclude by speaking about the other important context for this Bill, to which Senator O’Keeffe will refer in more detail. The number of couples who wish to celebrate their marriages in Ireland in a non-religious manner is growing. The proportion of couples choosing a non-religious civil wedding ceremony has grown rapidly in Ireland from 6% in 1996 to more than 23% in 2006. The 2011 census figures have not yet been published, so we have not seen them. However, the CSO has projected that next year for the first time, the number of non-religious ceremonies may exceed the number of religious ceremonies. Again, it is a matter of seeking to accommodate what is a growing minority which wishes to celebrate marriage in a non-religious manner.

It is vital this Bill receives support and I hope it will get cross-party support. Given the status of the Humanist Association of Ireland and of Humanism in Ireland, the growing level of support for non-religious wedding ceremonies and the need to ensure our laws are inclusive and reflective of an increasingly pluralist society, I urge colleagues on both sides of the House to support this Bill, which has been put forward by the Labour Party. I commend the Bill to the House.

Order of Business

Tuesday, 18 October 2011

Senator Ivana Bacik:     I join with Senator MacSharry in calling for a debate on how to prevent a repeat of the incident with the apartment block in Donaghmede. It is an appalling outcome to see hundreds of people, including elderly people and families with young children, being put in most inappropriate and unsuitable accommodation for perhaps weeks or even longer because of the inadequate building and the failure to observe fire safety standards. I used the word “inadequate”, although it is a gross understatement. I understand from reading newspaper reports and from what Senator MacSharry said that the building was approved on the plans and that at design stage, it looked as if it would be compliant with fire and safety regulations. Clearly, the actual building differed significantly from the plans. It is an appalling outcome and there are huge questions to be answered.

We must look at how legislation can assist. Is any reform of legislation needed to ensure this cannot happen in the future? I agree with Senator MacSharry that perhaps the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government should attend the House. I have also asked the Minister of State with responsibility for housing to attend the House at an early date. There are issues in this regard with which he may also be able to deal.

A debate on the Keane report would be useful. Many others, including myself, have called for this already. I understand we will have that debate in early course.

Will the other group leaders let me know if they are willing to support a motion for cross-party support, that Seanad Éireann condemns the continued detention since 10 September of internationally renowned psychoanalyst, Dr. Rafah Nashed, by the Syrian Government, and which I have already circulated? I am very grateful to Senators Rónán Mullen and Jillian van Turnhout for assuring me of their support. Colleagues will recall that I have already raised this matter. It would be very appropriate for the Seanad to call on the Government to join with others, including the EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, in calling for the immediate release of Dr. Rafah Nashed. The Governments of Argentina, Brazil and France have already called for her release and her continued detention in her in a women’s prison in Damascus is an appalling abuse of her human rights. It would be a useful exercise for us to call for her release and that of others arbitrarily detained by the Syrian regime.

In the context of an ongoing debate on the referendums, which is rather more muted than the debate on the presidential election, the Seanad debate on the Oireachtas committee referendum was a very good and an informative one. Is there some way of disseminating the speeches from that debate? I have sent them to anyone looking for information on the referendum. It would be a very good way to inform people about the content of that referendum.

Order of Business

Tuesday, 4 October 2011

Senator Ivana Bacik:     I am sure all Members will share with me in expressing condolences to the family of the little five year old girl who lost her life so tragically in the house fire in Boyle, County Roscommon. It is an appalling tragedy. I know all Members will want to share in sending condolences to her family.

I renew the calls made for a debate on domestic violence. Calls for such a debate were made to me last week and I said, as Deputy Leader, I would do my best to ensure we would have such a debate at some point this term. I make this request in light of SAFE Ireland’s briefing on this issue, the figures for which were published last week, which many colleagues raised on the floor of the House on the Order of Business on subsequent days. At tomorrow’s meeting of the Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, a further briefing on domestic violence will be made by a number of groups, including Women’s Aid and AkiDwA. I would very much like to be able to tell those groups that we will have a debate on this issue in the Seanad at some point in the course of this term. Therefore, I renew the call for such a debate.

I was at the launch earlier day, as were other colleagues, of the Marriage Equality report Missing Pieces in which the organisation campaigning for civil marriage for gay and lesbian people drew a comprehensive and impressive comparison between the rights and responsibilities of civil partnership compared to those relating to civil marriage and drew the conclusion that the civil partnership regime falls short in 169 respects compared to that of marriage. It is a very useful report. I should declare an interest in that I am acting in a case, along with another colleague, in which the issue of same sex marriage is before the Supreme Court. It would useful for us to debate the need to give greater recognition to the legal status of same sex couples in Ireland.

BACIK LAUNCHES FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MICHAEL D. HIGGINS

Senator Ivana Bacik
Labour Party leader in the Seanad
30th September, 2011

Senator Ivana Bacik today launched a Facebook page in support of Michael D. Higgins, aimed at the staff, alumni and friends of Trinity College Dublin.
 
The link to the page is at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/TCD-Alumni-Staff-for-Michael-D-Higgins/260798360621766#!/pages/TCD-Alumni-Staff-for-Michael-D-Higgins/260798360621766?sk=wall

Speaking about the facebook campaign, Senator Bacik said:
 
“I have been a supporter of Michael D.’s over many years - since the days when I was a student at Trinity College. I have been committed to his campaign now for many months, and have been working on gathering support for his candidacy among Trinity alumni, staff, friends and colleagues. This facebook campaign is similar to the facebook page for supporters of Michael D. Higgins drawn from the alumni, staff and students at NUI Galway, and I hope it will generate new support for his campaign.”
ENDS                                    

Order of Business

28^th September 2011

Senator Ivana Bacik (Deputy Leader of Seanad Eireann):     I thank Senators for their contributions. A number of common themes emerged. I will depart slightly from tradition before responding individually to them.

A number of colleagues called for two debates and it is my intention to ask the Leader to arrange them as soon as possible. One is a debate on domestic violence, which Senators O’Donovan, Keane, MacSharry and Leyden called for. Senator O’Donovan proposed an amendment to the Order of Business. Unfortunately I cannot accept it today but, as Senator MacSharry said, I am deeply concerned about the Safe Ireland report. The Senators who called for an urgent debate on the issue are quite right but we cannot have it today. We cannot have it today because Dr. Maurice Manning is coming in and we have our programme set. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, has been a very regular and frequent visitor to this House - he spent most of last week in here. I do not believe there would be any difficulty in getting him in as a matter of urgency to discuss the responses of the State regarding domestic violence. I will personally ensure we have that debate. During the last Seanad we had an excellent debate on domestic violence responses, in which Senator White and others were very active, but we are due to have another one given the figures published today. I thank Senator Keane for a very constructive contribution on the matter in which she spoke of the need to link the refuges which are full with empty NAMA buildings.

Senators Keane, Paul Coghlan and Barrett called for a debate with the Minister of State with responsibility for housing, Deputy Penrose, on NAMA, which is one we should have as a matter of urgency. Senator O’Neill called for a debate on the housing situation more generally, which can be linked with a debate on NAMA, which would be a very useful debate to have.

Senator O’Donovan asked for an update on the constitutional convention, a matter in which I am personally very interested and on which I have been pressing the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Howlin. He recently established the Department that will be overseeing this and it is hoped that the convention will be established within the next couple of months. I would like it to be sooner and I will continue to press for that as, I know, will others. The Senator also spoke about the children’s rights referendum. As he knows there has been a difficulty with the wording, but it is a priority for the Government and for the Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, as she has made clear.

Senators O’Donovan, Mullen, O’Neill, Leyden, Cullinane, Paul Coghlan and Mullins all congratulated our colleague, Senator Norris, on achieving a nomination to contest the presidential election. On behalf of all Members of the Seanad, I offer congratulations to Senator Norris and good wishes to all seven candidates for the presidency although, as Senator Cullinane said, not in equal measure and for my part, I am backing Mr. Michael D. Higgins. We wish that it will be a very constructive and positive campaign.

As I said, Senator O’Neill called for a debate on the housing situation and we debated a Labour Party Private Members’ motion on mortgage arrears in June, but we are due to have another debate on the issue.

Senator Mullen spoke of the opening of the LauraLynn hospice, which deserves the support of us all. I had the privilege of attending a fund-raising dinner for that hospice some time ago and heard the parents, who established the foundation, recount the tragic story of the loss of both their daughters. That hospice for very sick children is worthy of the support of us all. The Senator also called for a debate on the procedure by which presidential candidates are nominated, which would be a useful debate for us to have in this House. A number of other Senators backed his call.

Senator Harte raised the allegations made by Senator Byrne yesterday and I believe he clarified the source of the information he received, which was covered in the newspapers yesterday and today. Senator Harte has indicated he will speak to the Cathaoirleach about how to address the matter.

Senator Leyden called for ongoing debates on job creation which is a constructive proposal. The Labour Party Private Members’ motion to be taken today at 3 p.m. can be regarded as a start of that. I am glad to say that the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton, will be in the House for that debate. Any Senator who has constructive job creation proposals of the sort Senator Leyden made should be able to raise them in this afternoon’s debate. The debate primarily addresses the situation in TalkTalk and the tragic loss of more than 500 jobs in the Waterford area, but it also raises questions about job creation. We deliberately drafted the motion so that it would not only encompass collective redundancy protection for workers, but also job creation strategies. Any colleagues with constructive ideas should be able to put them to the Minister today.

Senator Quinn spoke of strikes in Greece. I am grateful for the Senator’s very positive message despite the description of the strikes. He is right to point out it is worth celebrating the establishment of a digital cluster in Ireland, the good news on Twitter and the fact that there is still some positivity despite the economic crisis.

Senator Cullinane called for a debate on the sale of State assets. No assets have yet been sold. There is an ongoing debate at Cabinet and we should have a debate in this House when we understand more clearly what is being envisaged. I take his point that we might hold off on invitations to Northern Ireland’s First Minister and Deputy First Minister. In any case I do not believe that invitation could have been issued this term. He also called for a debate on the nomination process for President. With fewer Deputies and reform or abolition of the Seanad envisaged, we will in any case need to consider how we deal with nominations for the presidency.

Senator O’Sullivan called for clarification on the constitutional convention and it is hoped that will be established shortly under the Minister, Deputy Howlin. The Senator also spoke about voting rights for people living abroad, which might be raised with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government or could even be raised today during the question and answer session we have with Dr. Maurice Manning, who is president of the Irish Human Rights Commission, given that the right to vote is a matter of human rights.

Senator Mullins spoke of the need to revisit the tourism tax in light of the positive figures on visitors to Ireland and increased tourism traffic. That would be a useful debate to have with the Minister and could also form part a more general job creation debate and might be worth raising in this afternoon’s Private Members’ debate.

Senator Barrett suggested that the Minister for Finance should include the supervision of NAMA within the supervisory role of the Central Bank, which is a constructive suggestion that could be made in the course of a debate with the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Bruton. I will speak with the Leader to confirm that the Minister for Finance will be in the Seanad some time this term as it might be more appropriate to raise it with him. The Senator also pointed out that this is the third anniversary of the ill-fated bank guarantee, which brought the country to its knees. The Labour Party was the only party to oppose that guarantee.

Senator Daly wanted to invite the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government to come to the House. I will ask the Leader if it is envisaged - I am sure we will be able to get him in at some point this term. It is not fair for the Senator to suggest there will be no impact from this afternoon’s motion on TalkTalk. I have already said the Minister, Deputy Bruton, has indicated he will attend for that debate. It represents a good opportunity for all of us to make suggestions on job creation and how best to protect workers in collective redundancy situations. As we will have the ear of the Minister, it will not have zero impact - far from it.

Senator White spoke of positive ageing week and the issue of access to mammograms for women over 65. I am grateful to the Senator for raising the matter. As the Leader indicated yesterday, the Minister for Health will come to the House some time in coming weeks and it should be raised directly with him at that time.

Senator MacSharry spoke about domestic violence to which I have responded and he also supported Senator Daly. The Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, of which I am a member, has very active input on EU legislation and I know the same is true of other committees. It is not just about what happens on the floor of the Dáil and Seanad, but also about the committees having a role in the preparation of EU legislation.

I wrongly said we were dealing with No. 2 in Private Members’ business. That should have been No. 12, motion No. 7, to be taken from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m.

To read my latest Newsletter, with information on the work that I have been doing in the Seanad, please click on the following link:

Ivana Bacik Newsletter September 2011

Order of Business

Thursday, 21 July 2011

Senator Ivana Bacik: Like Senator O’Brien, I welcome the news of the agreement between France and Germany. We all wish the Government well in its negotiations at today’s EU meeting. It would be in all our interests to see, even at this stage, a reduction in the interest rate being charged to Ireland. I am sure Opposition Members would agree with me in respect of that matter.

I know others have already done so but I wish to request a debate on the Cloyne report. That debate should take place as soon as possible. In that context, I compliment the Taoiseach on his contribution on the motion on the Cloyne report in the Dáil yesterday. His speech rightly made headlines and is being discussed everywhere today. The Taoiseach’s contribution to the debate on this matter has been described as a landmark and as representing an unprecedented critique of the Vatican and of church structures in Ireland.

When one considers the findings in the Cloyne report, it is clear that the Taoiseach’s comments are entirely justified. The report has proved to be of a different order to the Murphy and Ryan reports, which, in their content, were also shocking. The Cloyne report is different because, as the Taoiseach stated, for the first time in this country “a report on child sexual abuse exposes an attempt by the Holy See to frustrate an inquiry in a sovereign, democratic republic as little as three years ago, not three decades ago”. Across Ireland, there is immense anger and outrage that this has been the case.

As the Taoiseach stated, we are awaiting the considered response of the Vatican to the Cloyne report. However, he also stated that this is no longer “industrial school or Magdalene Ireland, where the swish of a soutane, smothered conscience and humanity and the swing of a thurible ruled the Irish Catholic world”. He further pointed out that in this Republic of Ireland in 2011 “rights and responsibilities and proper civic order where the delinquency and arrogance of a particular version of a particular kind of morality will no longer be tolerated or ignored”. The Taoiseach spoke with passion and I compliment him on that. As he stated, it was difficult for him, as a practising Catholic, to do so.

In light of what the Taoiseach said yesterday, there is a need to examine the structures of our State. We must consider putting the State in order and we must also ensure that the structures in the Oireachtas are appropriate to those of a modern republic. In that context, I intend to propose at today’s meeting of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges that we end the practice of saying a Christian prayer at the commencement of proceedings each day in the Seanad. I will propose an amendment to Standing Order 18 to provide instead for a moment or a few minutes of silent reflection in order that each Senator, in accordance with his or her own conscience and preference—–

Senator Darragh O’Brien: On a point of order, that is a matter for the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. It is not a matter for the Order of Business.

Senator Ivana Bacik: I am raising this matter in the context of a debate on the church and the State. The saying of a prayer each day was also raised in the Dáil last week by Deputy Ó Riordáin of the Labour Party. He and I have both ensured that this matter is on the agendas of the Committees of Procedure and Privileges of the Dáil and the Seanad.

An Leas-Chathaoirleach: I understand this matter is on the agenda of the Seanad Committee on Procedure and Privileges and that it will be dealt with by that committee.

Senator Ivana Bacik: Yes, that is the position. However, it is a matter for the entire membership of the House to consider whether it is appropriate in a modern republic and whether it is respectful to those who are not of a Christian religion, to continue to say a Christian prayer at the commencement of proceedings each day in the House.

JOINT STATEMENT BY AODHAN O RIORDAIN TD AND SENATOR IVANA BACIK

Thursday 21st July, 2011

O RIORDAIN AND BACIK CALL FOR END TO SAYING OF PRAYER AT COMMENCEMENT OF OIREACHTAS PROCEEDINGS

Aodhán Ó Riordáin TD and Senator Ivana Bacik have called for an end to the saying of a prayer at the commencement of proceedings in both the Dáil and Seanad.

They have placed this issue on the agenda of the Committee on Procedure and Privileges in both the Dáil and the Seanad. The Seanad CPP will consider the issue at today’s meeting (Thursday 21st July).

Bacik and Ó Riordáin have stated that:

“It is not appropriate for a Christian prayer to be used to commence each sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas in a Republic. The political system must take a lead when striving to create a Republic where all are equal, and all are seen to be equal. The continuing use of the Christian prayer in the formal business of the Oireachtas is disrespectful to those of other religions, and those who do not adhere to any particular religion. The Constitution of Ireland recognises the separation of church and state; and this separation should be reflected in the method of commencing business in the Oireachtas.”

“Although a prayer has traditionally been said at the commencement of proceedings in the House of Commons and House of Lords in England, no prayer is said at the commencement of proceedings in either the National Assembly for Wales, or the Scottish Parliament. A ‘time for reflection’ is held in the Scottish Parliament for up to 4 minutes on the commencement of each week’s proceedings.”

Senator Bacik is proposing to the Seanad CPP today that the relevant Seanad Standing Order should be amended to provide for a short period of silent contemplation at the commencement of each sitting of the Seanad, to enable all Senators present to reflect or pray silently in accordance with their individual conscience or preference.

ENDS

Order of Business

Tuesday 19^th July 2011

Senator Ivana Bacik: The Labour Party Ministers of State in the Department of Health have attended this House on a number of occasions, and I think Senator O’Brien will acknowledge that.

Senator Darragh O’Brien: Yes. The Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, was in the House last week.

Senator Ivana Bacik: The Ministers of State, Deputies Kathleen Lynch and Róisín Shortall, have attended the House on numerous occasions. I apologise to Senator O’Brien for the delay on the Palestine motion. We will get back to him on that today. It took a little time toing and froing.

I commend the Leader and the Committee on Procedure and Privileges on Nos. 1 and 2 on the Order Paper. Both are noteworthy developments and changes to the business of the Seanad which will make our business much more relevant and effective in the coming term. As colleagues will see, the first change we have made is that with the leave of the House, representatives and persons in public and civic life may attend and be heard in the Seanad. The impetus for that came largely from the Independent nominees groups and we should acknowledge that. However, all of us on the Committee on Procedure and Privileges were very anxious to see it facilitated and that we would be able to hear from individuals outside the Seanad who would be able to come in and inform our debate. That will strengthen the quality of our debate.

The other change concerns the Seanad Public Petitions Committee which already exists under our Standing Orders but which we are now activating through the new terms we have adopted on the SPPC. I am very optimistic that will really change the way we do business for the better.

Will the Leader arrange a debate on the continuing fallout from the News of the World scandal and crisis? It has become a full blown crisis not only in Britain but internationally as it has affected News International and media business worldwide. It was very sad to hear of a death in England which seems to have followed from it. There is also continuing fallout in terms of resignations of senior police officers as well as News International officers.

It should generate debate in this House on two particular issues. One is an issue on which a number of us in the Labour Party have called for debate, namely, the ownership of the media and the fact it should not be concentrated in the hands of one individual to such an extent that he or she feels he or she can abuse power in the way Rupert Murdoch did.

Today’s hearings in the House of Commons should generate some debate in this House on the powers of Oireachtas committees. The programme for Government states that we should strengthen Oireachtas committees. The House of Commons committee is very much in the news today and it will call before it not only the senior members of News International but also senior police officers. We need to look at how we can strengthen the powers of our committees to ensure they have that level of scrutiny over individuals and officers.