Blog Archive
International abolitionist conference « Prostitution and trafficking in human beings in the world : an exploitation of the most vulnerable groups
Posted on November 12, 2014
Today I am in Paris on behalf of the Oireachtas Justice Committee attending the CAP (Coalition for the Abolition of Prostitution) Conference on prostitution and human trafficking. Powerful presentations highlighting experiences of exploitation and oppression.
http://www.womenlobby.org/news/events/article/international-abolitionist?lang=en
'Ireland should adopt a ban on purchase of sex', Irish Times Opinion piece - Ivana Bacik
Posted on November 07, 2014
'Ireland should adopt a ban on purchase of sex'
Ivana Bacik, Irish Times, Friday 7th November, 2014
Opinion: ‘Irish prostitution is highly organised and highly profitable. It is also highly exploitative’
Press Release: Independent Policing Authority - Draft Bill
Posted on November 06, 2014
SENATOR BACIK WELCOMES APPROVAL FOR INDEPENDENT POLICING AUTHORITY PROPOSAL
Senator Ivana Bacik today welcomed the announcement that the Cabinet this week has approved the drafting of a bill to provide for an independent policing authority.
Order of Business - Seanad Eireann (4-6th November 2014)
Posted on November 06, 2014
This week in the Order of Business - contributions from Senator Ivana Bacik, follow the links for more details.
- Irish Water/Water Services Bill
- Web Summit 2014
- President Higgins visit to Ethiopia
- Trade links with Africa
- EMC (economic management council)
- Jean-Claude Trichet's letter
- Private Member's Bill motion - Penal Reform
- Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality Report
- Ruhama Report - sex workers
Mairia Cahill - Prime Time, Order of Business and Irish Independent
Posted on October 24, 2014
This week I was on Prime Time discussing how the IRA and Sinn Fein treat sexual abuse survivors. (link attached 10 mins in). http://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/10335963/ #PrimeTime
Read my response when the Irish Independent asked women TD's and Senators the questions - 'Do you believe Mairia Cahill? Does the republican movement have questions to answer over its handling of sexual abuse allegations and why?' http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/mairia-cahill-what-women-tds-and-senators-say-30674870.html
And finally I spoke on the matter during the Order of Business.
'Man Up' Ireland launch for Safe Ireland with guest speaker Lynn Rosenthal, White House adviser
Posted on October 22, 2014
'Man Up' Ireland launch for Safe Ireland with guest speaker Lynn Rosenthal, White House adviser.
http://www.manup.ie/man-2014-launched-october-22nd/
WiSER Talk: “As bad as it gets…as good as it could be? Leave Provision for Fathers in Ireland and Sweden” - EU House, Dublin
Posted on October 21, 2014
WiSER Talk: “As bad as it gets…as good as it could be? Leave Provision for Fathers in Ireland and Sweden”
On Tuesday, 21st October I was invited to Chair the WiSER TCD debate in EU House. This timely public lecture explored Ireland's current leave provision, particularly for fathers, against the backdrop of Sweden's provision of paid paternity/parental leave and the subsequent take-up of leave by fathers in Sweden. The speakers were two members of the International Network on Leave Policies and Research: Professor Eileen Drew, Trinity College Dublin (Ireland) and Professor Linda Haas, Indiana University (USA).
'Imprison fewer women', - Village Magazine article
Posted on October 17, 2014
'Imprison fewer women' - by Ivana Bacik
Village Magazine Oct 2014
'Women are a tiny minority in prisons and a particularly marginalised and vulnerable group. On average, only about 3-4% of those in prison are women. While prison numbers in Ireland generally have stabilised and even reduced in recent years, there have been increasing numbers of women committed to prison.'
To read more follow the link or buy a copy this month.
http://www.villagemagazine.ie/index.php/2014/10/imprison-fewer-women/
Speaking at the INMO & RCNI All-Ireland Midwifery Conference, Santry, Dublin
Posted on October 16, 2014
'Pregnancy Pathways' - INMO & RCNI All-Ireland Midwifery Conference, Santry, Dublin
Speaking at the INMO and RCNI All-Ireland Annual Midwifery Conference in Santry, Dublin, on Thursday 16th October, I called for a review of the maternity care system, in particular focusing on the need to provide greater diversity of maternity care models, so that women may have greater freedom to choose to have midwife-led care in hospital; or to choose to have a home-birth.
Budget 2015 - Statement
Posted on October 14, 2014
Budget 2015: Statements
Tuesday, 14 October 2014
I thank the Leader for extending time, so that anyone who wishes to speak will be able to do so. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Harris and welcome him to the House. I have listened carefully to the speeches here and in the other House. Any fair-minded observer - there are many fair-minded observers on the Opposition benches - would acknowledge that there are very positive aspects to this budget and that overall, it is a positive development. It is modest in scope and I do not think anyone is being triumphalist or is crowing in any way, as that would not be appropriate.
We are looking at a budget that has been brought to us in the context of positive figures on economic growth and unemployment, which has been falling for 27 months in a row now. These are objective measures of positive developments in our economy. Also objectively, as others have acknowledged, the changes to the tax system announced today are progressive. They are aimed squarely at improving the economic position of low- to middle-income earners. The reduction in the top rate of tax is more than offset by the increase in the USC rate for higher earners. We are seeing an additional 80,000 low-paid workers come out of the USC on top of the 330,000 brought out of it in the first budget of this Government. We need to be fair when assessing the tax changes here. Their impact will undoubtedly benefit those who are in low- to middle-income brackets, and not the higher income earners. That is a very important point.