SENATOR IVANA BACIK Spring 2017

Dear Graduate, Web: www.ivanabacik.com Welcome to my spring 2017 Newsletter, which provides Email: [email protected] you with an update on some of the work I have been doing over the last year, and my priorities for the Facebook Group: Ivana Bacik coming year. For a more detailed look at my work, you  @ivanabacik can find full coverage on my website (including videos Phone: +353 1 618 3136 and written transcripts of my contributions in the Seanad). I am very grateful for all the support I have received from Trinity graduates since my election in 2007, re-election in 2011; and most recently my re-election in April 2016. I also organise regular tours of Leinster House and would be delighted to invite you to join us on one of those over the coming months. Do keep in touch on [email protected] – and thanks again for your support. Best wishes,

ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE SEANAD Since my first election in 2007, I have had four private members’ bills accepted by Government; three of which have become law. The Criminal Justice (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2012, which for the first time created a specific offence of FGM; the Civil Registration (Amendment) Act 2012, which enables non-religious solemnisers like those from the Humanist Association of Ireland to conduct legal wedding ceremonies; and the Equality (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015, which amends section 37 of the Employment Equality Act to prohibit discrimination against LGBT teachers or hospital workers. With Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor, members of SIPTU, the NUJ, This term, my bill to give collective bargaining rights to and Equity, and fellow Senators after the Competition (Amendment) vulnerable freelance workers - the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2016 passed through the Seanad Bill 2016 - developed in conjunction with trade unions including David Parris, a retired TCD lecturer, lost his challenge to his NUJ, Equity and SIPTU, was accepted by the government and employer’s pension scheme before the Court of Justice of the passed through the Seanad in November, the first private European Union. He had argued that the pension scheme was member’s bill to pass either House of the Oireachtas since the discriminatory, as it provided that a TCD employee’s partner general election. In September 2016, I was invited to speak at a would only be entitled to a survivor’s pension where the major European trade union conference in Brussels on atypical employee had married or entered a civil partnership before work in the arts, media & entertainment sector, to bring this reaching the age of 60. This Bill would represent only a minor important Bill to international attention. amendment to our pension law, but if passed it would make a Most recently I introduced the Pensions (Equal Pension real difference to a small number of LGBT individuals who face Treatment in Occupational Benefit Schemes) (Amendment) continued discrimination in their pension benefits, despite the Bill 2016 in response to the case of Parris v TCD in which Constitutional recognition of marriage equality. THE CRISIS IN SYRIA and LEGAL CASES THAT WELCOMING REFUGEES CHANGED IRELAND Like all of us, I have been appalled and distressed at the horrific scenes of bombardment of Aleppo and other towns and cities In November 2016, my co-editor Dr Mary Rogan of TCD and I across Syria, and disgusted at the brutality towards Syrian published with Clarus Press the findings from our Irish Research civilians displayed both by the Syrian regime of Assad and his Council-funded study which examined key legal cases which have Russian allies; and by ISIS/Daesh. As Labour spokesperson on brought about significant social change in Ireland - the 2015 Foreign Affairs, and as a member of the Oireachtas Committee ‘Changing Ireland, Changing Law’ (CICL) project. on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence, I have been to the fore The themes and cases covered include women’s rights, LGBT in raising concerns about the war in Syria and calling for a speedier process to welcome refugees to Ireland. I initiated rights, immigration rights and public interest cases generally. an all-party motion condemning the bombardment of Aleppo Contributors include Senator David Norris; Minister Katherine which was passed unanimously in the Seanad in November Zappone; Dr Micheline Sheehy-Skeffington; Máirín de Búrca; 2016, and have also led the questioning at Oireachtas Foreign Gandhi Mallak; Dr Lydia Foy; and Professors Yvonne Scannell and Affairs meetings on Syria, most recently on 1st December Gerry Whyte of TCD Law School. 2016. WOMENWOMEN IN IN POLITICS POLITICS FOREIGN AFFAIRS In June 2016, I was delighted to be appointed Labour Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs by Labour leader Brendan Howlin T.D. The aftermath of the Brexit vote has focused attention on Ireland’s interdependence with so many other nations. We must embrace the idea of a social Europe built on values of inclusivity, pluralism and solidarity, with a social welfare system and equality laws that set us apart from the rest of the world. From our perspective, the Irish Government’s first priority must be to preserve good relations across borders and to build on the 18 years of peace in Northern Ireland. While we must work together to ensure the Brexit vote has A framed picture is now on permanent display in Leinster House of minimal adverse impact on the people of our island and beyond, the ‘Oireachtas Women’ event I organised in 2008 to mark the 90th clearly we in Ireland are all profoundly disappointed at the result anniversary of the first election in which women could vote in Ireland and deeply concerned about the ongoing implications. (DecemberWith representatives 1918). of all parties at Women for Election event, REPEAL OF THE EIGHTH December 2016 In July 2016, I welcomed confirmation by the Tánaiste that Ireland will AMENDMENTadmit an additional 260 Syrian refugees for resettlement here A framedhe picture positive is now impact on permanentof our new displaygender inquota Leinster law, Housethe by autumnFor many 2016, years, but I haveI criticised campaigned the delay for inRepeal admission of the of Eighth refugees of the ‘OireachtasElectoral Women’(Amendment) event (PoliticalI organised Funding) in 2008 Act to 2012,mark thewas fromAmendment; Syria under everthe government’s since my student resettlement days when programme I was taken to to court 90th anniversaryclearly evident of the firstin the election 2016 general in which election, women which could saw vote an T date.and I welcomed threatened the with Irish prison government’s by SPUC commitment(Society for the in SeptemberProtection of in Irelandincrease (December of female 1918). representation from to 22%, with now 35 2015the to Unborn admit 4,000 Child) people for providing fleeing women the conflict with informationin Syria under on whereour women TDs. This law stemmed from a 2009 report on ‘Women’s The positive impact of our new gender quota law was clearly refugeeto access protection abortion. programme, Now that but the am Citizens’ very concerned Assembly that has begunso few Participation in Politics’ which I authored for the Joint Oireachtas evident in the 2016 general election, which saw an increase haveits been hearings admitted on that to date;topic, only I am 273 hopeful refugees that displacedwe will finally by that see a Committee on Justice. However, there is still much room for of female representation from 16% to 22%. There are now 35 appallingreferendum; conflict and have in December arrived in Ireland2016, I madeso far. myThe ownslow submission progress to improvement. I will continue working to increase the presence of women in the Dáil, a marked improvement from before. This law withthe implementing Assembly - ‘The the government’sCase for Repeal commitment, of the Eighth and Amendment’ delays in - women in politics and am co-ordinating the ‘VoteAll 100’ Project, stemmed from a report on ‘Women’s Participation in Politics’ the whicharrival youof refugees can find to on Ireland, my website. is a matter I believe of serious that the concern Constitution to involving a series of events in the Oireachtas over 2018 to mark which I authored for the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice all ofis usno whoplace wish to regulate to send aout complex the vital and message sensitive that matter refugees like abortionare the centenary of women’s suffrage. – it led to the Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act welcome- I want here. to see the Eighth Amendment repealed in its entirety so 2012. However, there is still much room for improvement! I will that the Oireachtas may legislate to regulate the conditions under continue to work to increase the presence of women in politics. which abortion can legally be provided in Ireland. I amFOREIGN currently co-ordinating AFFAIRS the VoteAll & 100BREXIT Project, which will MULTI-DENOMINATIONAL see an seriesJune 2016, of events I was in delighted the Oireachtas to be appointed over 2018 Labour to mark Spokesperson the SCHOOLING AND EDUCATION centenaryfor Foreign of women’s Affairs bysuffrage. Labour leader Brendan Howlin T.D. Naturally the aftermath of the Brexit vote has been one of the main focusesEQUALITY MARRIAGEI EQUALITY AND OTHER of my work. In December 2016, I chaired a PES (Party of European Socialists)/Labour Party seminar with speakers including Hilary HIGHLIGHTSBenn, British Labour MP and Chair of the Exiting the EU Committee; OverClaire the pastHanna, five SDLP years, MLA; my and personal Julie Sinnamon,political highlights Enterprise range Ireland from CEO. supportingAs we face Michael into aD. period Higgins’ of uncertaintysuccessful Presidential over the Brexit campaign negotiations, in NovemberLabour supports 2011, thethe introductionSDLP call for anda ‘bespoke passage deal’ of several for Northern of my privateIreland, members and will bills; continue and launching to support and the raising Peace matters Process on and behalf to of numerousensure the NGOs. retention However, of the 2015 Common was aTravel particularly Area. We important will also work Pictured at the launch of the ‘Education Equality’ year,to when develop history the ‘Socialwas made Europe’ on 22nd model, May while 2015, campaigning as Ireland becamefor greater campaign, December 2015 the first country in the world to decide by popular vote to extend levels of democratisation, accountability and transparency within I wasMULTI-DENOMINATIONAL a founding member and Chairperson of the SCHOOLING campaign for full thecivil EU marriage institutions. rights to gay and lesbian couples. This was a truly wonderful result for equality. I was proud to be present in May a newAND multi-denominational EDUCATION school EQUALITY in Dublin 8 (the Portobello 2016 at Dublin Castle to celebrate the first anniversary of this school campaign); and was delighted when, after spending a year historic vote. in temporaryI was a founding premises member in Harcourt and Chairperson Terrace, the of the school campaign moved for in a new Septembermulti-denominational 2014 to permanent school premisesin Dublin 8in (the the Portobello former Christian school cam - Brotherspaign); school and was on delightedBasin Lane, when, Rialto, after Dublin spending 8. The a year school in temporary is now calledpremises Canal Wayin Harcourt Educate Terrace, Together the schoolNational moved School. in September 2014 to See http://www.portobelloetns.org/permanent premises in the former forChristian more Brothersdetails. school on Basin Lane, Rialto, Dublin 8. The school is now called Canal Way Educate The Togethercampaign National for greater School. equality See http://www.portobelloetns.org/ in education continues. In for Decembermore details.. 2015, I spoke at the launch of a new ‘Education Equality’ campaign to ensure greater access to multi- denominationalThe campaign education; for greater and equality I am invery education involved continues. in the I was ac- campaigntively engagedfor a new in multi-denominationalthe campaign for a new Educatesecondary Together school secondary in Speakers at Brexit seminar. From left: Director of Policy Network Matthew Dublinschool south in Dublincity. Labour South recentlyCity centre put and forward was delighted the Equal at theStatus an- Laza,Deputy Secretary General of the Party of European Socialists (PES) (Admissionnouncement to Schools) in November Bill 2016, 2016 which that this would would ensure happen that – weno are now Marije Laffeber, CEO of Enterprise Ireland Julie Sinnamon, Labour leader Pictured at the One Year Anniversary of the Marriage Equality childworking is discriminated on the location against for onthis a newreligious school, basis due byto opentheir inlocal September referendumBrendan Howlin at Dublin TD, Castle, Senator 22 Ivana May Bacik,2016 Claire Hanna SDLP MLA for South 2018. Belfast school.

CONTACTCONTACT SENATOR SENATOR IVANA IVANA BACIK BACIK Ivana Bacik SeanadSeanad Eireann, Eireann, Leinster Leinster House, House, Dublin Dublin 2 2 0612 Email:Email: [email protected] [email protected] Phone: Phone: +353 +353 1 618 1 618 3136 3136 @ivanabacik 0612 Web:Web: www.ivanabacik.com www.ivanabacik.com