There are several gay’s in the Government. Bacik represents her own views which she try’s to force on the greater public.

Id say that most of them only support their own views though. I see Senator Bacik as a sort of alternative Ronan Mullins. In my opinion the legal system should be some sort of compromise between people of different views. Since these two have very different views but are equally passionate, it makes good sense for them to be teasing these issues out.

Yeah, personally I agree with you… I really dislike the man’s views. And to be honest I also agree with you about the Seanad, I’d prefer if it was democratically elected (or maybe didn’t exist at all).

Senator Bacik however has been a tireless supporter of human rights (or the liberal agenda, whatever you choose to call it – why has ‘agenda’ become a dirty word?), which is why I do like her. I could be persuaded otherwise if I heard a story which went against this – I don’t know a huge deal about her – but so far I haven’t.

I support her because she was the only TD who thought to criminalise FGM, and if she supports gay rights too then all the better :D

it was already illegal
make it illegal twice

You voted for someone on the basis that they were against FGM? No offence, but it’s not exactly a huge issue for Ireland. MGM is a whole lot more common (and socially acceptable).

I voted for her too, but on the basis of her support for LGBT rights and reproductive rights, ie. issues without existing legislation which affect a large proportion of the Irish population.

Possibly the best comment seen on any thread anywhere on the internet. Ever.

Irony, telling people that they are not making themselves heard and then telling them to shut up

I did tell people to shut up, true, but I didn’t say anything positive about their making themselves heard on an Internet-based forum. Action and accountability, not anonymous snarking without any constructive criticism, that’s the only way forward. Moaning about how everyone else is an idiot is NOT an effective strategy to bring about political change.

No one said that she was an idiot
The complaint is she forces her morality or lack of personal responsibility agenda on people
Its great how you make these ironic beliefs. Ivana a person who thinks abortion on demand is a human right and you want us to practice more personal responsibility

@JTHM – I can only guess what that acronym is (JTHM), but it’s rich of you to denounce others here for “Shuffling further back into those shadows” when you haven’t the balls to even post with your real identity…

I don’t think you understand what ‘ironic’ means. The word you’re looking for is “oxymoronic”. As for “abortion on demand”, in quite a few cases this would be a very good thing. I would support “abortion on demand” far sooner than “abortion under duress”, so what is your point?

As for JTHM, take your “outraged Daily Mail reader” hat off, and google it. I have before fully admitted to being a troll, but I’m a troll with a mission and an amusing backstory.

@JTHM: If they were agreeing with you would it be all “sour grapes and begrudgery”? I suspect not.

obviously JTHM is one of those Arts graduate. Feels he is too smart to engage the question rather attacks the poster. Well done I think we shouldnt educate people because of their social class. JTHM is proof of this.

Medred attacks JTHM for engaging in ad hominum by engaging in ad hominum.

Irony detector explodes.

Obviously JTHM has to work and so cannot spend all of his/her waking hours reading thejournal. But now I have a break, and so I can answer the question. Would I call it sour grapes and begrudery if people were agreeing with me? Absolutely yes! In the case that I said something vague, negative an unprovable. As for my academic qualifications, I hold a doctorate in mathematics, but that’s hardly relevant. Your quip about an arts degree is insulting to those who strived hard to get their degree, and it says more about your own anti-intellectualism and lack of self-worth than it does about any other person. I’d guess that, given your style of reason less argument, you are a SF supporter. Would I be correct?

Allowing alumni of universities to vote for potential senators may be elitist, but it has been certain elected senators who have done far more for minorities in the countries than elected TDs.

@Katherine: The election process for the senate is so divorced from the voting public she may as well have been.

@JTHM: For someone who “isn’t a fan of the lady” you certainly seem to be very supportive.

Not a fan of the lady, and I’ve said nothing here that supports her. What I’ve done is criticise a certain breed of commentator. Attacking them doesn’t mean I support her, just as the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend. I am for for reform rather then dissolution of the Senate however, if only because I have three votes in those elections.

Guess who has aspirations towards the senate one day? Nice cushy number for you Conor! Have you actually read the posts on this artile? Nobody said it should be abolished because of Bacik, they said she’s a prime example of why it should be abolished. Idiot?

I disagree, there are strong arguments in favour of a unicameral system that have nothing to do with misinformation. I don’t agree with them, but I do acknowlege that there are two sides to the issue.

And you my friend are the very embodiment of elitism. Anyone who disagrees with me is an idiot. Cogent, eloquent, brilliant. Bravo.

Absolutely agree she represents people with a similar liberal agenda who have a right to have their views given a public voice. Otherwise you have a one dimensional democracy or dictatorship of the majority. This has been the case in the past when only the catholic right wing agenda was represented. My problem with Ivana is not her liberal agenda but with her involvement in a government party that has betrayed the ordinary workers of this country and sold us to the trioka

I have a liberal agenda, but I can assure you that Ms Bacik does not represent me.

“just because someone fails to get elected to the Dail, it does not mean they have no constituency.”

Agreed, but just because someone has a constituency doesn’t mean they should be shoed into the senate. I’m in favour of keeping the senate, but the people in it should be subject to will of the entire people, not just the ones who went to the right universities.

If you dont agree with yours and Ivana twisted world view you are an indiot
Well done

Anyone who uses the expression ‘less intelligent’ is clearly not capable or suitable to comment or discus any matter within a group or open forum.

I think that, in this case, “less intelligent” is perfectly accurate. There’s a huge gulf between simply hurling insults and being involved in a debate.

I also love her integrity.but I recognise that people can disagree with her for reasons other than a (perceived) lack of intelligence. You’ve managed to put yourself in the same class as the people who complain about the “liberal agenda.”

@ Peter – you’re absolutely right. To clarify, the JTHM identity was set up purely to troll and bait the more annoying if the regular trollers and site-abusers on thejournal. I use a different alias when taking part in reasonable and sensible discussions. I’ve stated this many times on this website. JTHM is apolitical, I take offence at how people express their opinions, not the opinions themselves.

Yikes, do you whip yourself as penance? Don’t be so hard on yourself! Or me come to think of it.

Do you not agree she has far too much influence for someone who is not democratically elected?

“her values, opinions and above all intelligence” – all rejected on numerous occasions by the electorate. she should not be given a public platform.

What influence does she have exactly? What was the last law championed and passed due to the influence of Senator Bacik?

@Brendan: She has a vote in the senate. If that’s a position of “no influence” then why do people bother running?

Did I say she was of no influence? I was contesting medred’s comment that she has far too much influence.

So she has the same influence as any other Seanad voter. What influence do Seanad voters have on our life. Practically SFA.

Why?

Because the purpose of the Seanad isn’t to make laws, it is to double check them. It has the same function as the House of Lords in England. I bet you can name a few British MPs. Can you name even one member of the House of Lords?

And as to her election record, she has the same as Fidelma Healy Eames. Who personally do you feel is a better poster child for the abolition of the Seanad (which personally I don’t support, I prefer reform to abolition), FHM or Ivana Bacik?

@Brendan None. In that case, why should she be in the Senate. As you said, she has no influence. What difference would her non-participation have?

Sir, your powers of rhetoric astound. Politics is a capricious mistress indeed, and perhaps we are all better off just blowing with the prevailing wind. A point well made.

Well, you win at hyperbole

Well said paddy. It would be hard to find someone more out of touch with the irish. An Gay mariage/athiesm/abortion rights obsessive. Sooner the seanad is abolished and she has to get a real job, the better.

What a strange article in the first place. She must have a mate on staff at the journal!

Spot on M O Sé.

And reading a few slides off a projector from Trinner law students is not a real job either.

She’s hardly “reading a few slides” in fairness. I would disagree with her on many issues and you can obviously point to how she’s just not making common cause with the people, however questioning an obviously impressive academic record isn’t fair.