Ivana Bacik
Encyclopedia
Ivana Catherine Bacik is an Irish
politician and academic. She has been Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology
at Trinity College, Dublin
(TCD) Law School
since 1996, and was a made a Fellow
of Trinity College Dublin in 2005. She was elected a Senator for the University of Dublin constituency of Seanad Éireann
in July 2007.
She has an LL.B.
from TCD and an LL.M.
from the London School of Economics
. She practises as a barrister, and teaches courses in Criminal law; Criminology and Penology; and Feminist Theory and Law at Trinity. Her research interests include criminal law and criminology, constitutional law, feminist theories and law, human rights and equality issues in law. She is known in particular for her pro-choice
campaigning since the 1990s, and her high media profile.
, a Czech factory owner, moved to Ireland with his young family when the Communists began to take over private businesses. He eventually settled in Waterford
and in 1947 was involved in the establishment of Waterford Crystal
. Her mother's side of the family are Murphys from County Clare
.
Bacik lives with partner Alan and two daughters in the Portobello
area of Dublin. Reading the Book The Women's Room
by Marilyn French, at 17, greatly influenced her politics and around the same time, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
by Robert Tressell
was also very influential, conveying a powerful anti-capitalist message.
Students' Union ended prematurely when she resigned in 1990 after it was discovered that she had broken a mandate received from the Union membership, regarding voting for candidates at a Union of Students in Ireland conference. Despite 13 TCD representatives being mandated to vote for one candidate, Martin Whelan, a former TCD SU president, it transpired that candidate received only 12 votes, Bacik's vote instead being given to the feminist former UCD SU officer, Karen Quinlivan. A controversy erupted in the Students' Union and a subsequent internal investigation led to Bacik's resignation.
She was taken to court by the pro-life group, the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC), for providing information on abortion
. SPUC were successful in the court case, albeit that success came in the 1990s, long after Bacik had graduated from Trinity College.
and social democratic and she has been described as "Labour's queen of political correctness
".
Her career as a national politician commenced when she stood as a candidate for the Labour Party
at the 2004 election
to the European Parliament
in the Dublin constituency
. She ran with sitting MEP
Proinsias De Rossa
, who was also the party president, on the same ticket. She polled 40,707 first preference votes (9.6%) but was not elected.
Despite this setback, Bacik remains a prominent member of the Irish Labour Party, representing the party on numerous occasions in public debates and in the media.
She did not stand as a candidate for the Labour Party at the 2007 general election. However, she contested the Seanad Éireann
elections for the third time in the University of Dublin constituency, as an independent candidate and was elected a Senator on the eighth count, over the quota but behind rival Independent candidates Shane Ross
and David Norris, who had already been elected. She previously contested that same election and constituency in 1997 and 2002 as an independent candidate, but had been unsuccessful.
In September 2006, Bacik was one of the 61 Irish academic signatories of a letter published in The Irish Times
calling for an academic boycott of the state of Israel
.
In January 2009 she declared that she wants Ireland to break off diplomatic relations with Israel and in February 2009 called for a general boycott of Israeli goods.
In June 2009, Bacik was the Labour Party
candidate for the Dublin Central
by-election
but was not elected.
She joined the Labour Party group in the Seanad in September 2009, and became Labour Party Seanad spokesperson for both Justice and Arts, Sports and Tourism.
In May 2010 she did not obtain Labour's nomination to run for the Dáil in Dublin South East.
In December 2010, she was selected as the second candidate beside Labour Party leader, Eamon Gilmore
, in the Dún Laoghaire
constituency for the 2011 general election. Gilmore topped the poll and Bacik got 10.1% of first preference votes but she was not elected. She was re-elected to Seanad Éireann
at the subsequent election, after which she became Deputy Leader of the Seanad.
in the unsuccessful Irish High Court case brought by Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan (KAL case) over non-recognition of their Same-sex marriage
by the Irish Revenue Commissioners. The case is currently on appeal to the Supreme Court of Ireland.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
politician and academic. She has been Reid Professor of Criminal Law, Criminology and Penology
Penology
Penology is a section of criminology that deals with the philosophy and practice of various societies in their attempts to repress criminal activities, and satisfy public opinion via an appropriate treatment regime for persons convicted of criminal offenses.The Oxford English Dictionary defines...
at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
(TCD) Law School
School of Law (Trinity College, Dublin)
School of Law at Trinity College, Dublin is the oldest established law school in Ireland. It teaches law to undergraduate and postgraduate students, as well as conducting legal research and holding conferences....
since 1996, and was a made a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of Trinity College Dublin in 2005. She was elected a Senator for the University of Dublin constituency of Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
in July 2007.
She has an LL.B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
from TCD and an LL.M.
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
from the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. She practises as a barrister, and teaches courses in Criminal law; Criminology and Penology; and Feminist Theory and Law at Trinity. Her research interests include criminal law and criminology, constitutional law, feminist theories and law, human rights and equality issues in law. She is known in particular for her pro-choice
Pro-choice
Support for the legalization of abortion is centered around the pro-choice movement, a sociopolitical movement supporting the ethical view that a woman should have the legal right to elective abortion, meaning the right to terminate her pregnancy....
campaigning since the 1990s, and her high media profile.
Personal life
Her family name is of Czech origin. Her paternal grandfather, Karel BacikCharles Bacik
Karel Bacik , was a Czech glass manufacturer and a founder of Waterford Glass.He was born in Nová Říše, graduated from Charles University, Prague, and began working in glass manufacturing in Světlá nad Sázavou in 1935...
, a Czech factory owner, moved to Ireland with his young family when the Communists began to take over private businesses. He eventually settled in Waterford
Waterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
and in 1947 was involved in the establishment of Waterford Crystal
Waterford Crystal
Waterford Crystal is a trademark brand of crystal glassware, previously produced in Waterford, Ireland, though the factory there was shut down after the receivership of Waterford Wedgwood plc in early 2009...
. Her mother's side of the family are Murphys from County Clare
County Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
.
Bacik lives with partner Alan and two daughters in the Portobello
Portobello, Dublin
In Dublin, Portobello is an area stretching westwards from South Richmond Street as far as Upper Clanbrassil Street bordered on the north by the South Circular Road and on the south by the Grand Canal....
area of Dublin. Reading the Book The Women's Room
The Women's Room
The Women's Room is a novel by American feminist author Marilyn French first published in 1977.French was almost unknown among feminist circles before the publication of the book. It has been described as one of the most influential novels of the modern feminist movement...
by Marilyn French, at 17, greatly influenced her politics and around the same time, The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists
The Ragged-Trousered Philanthropists is a novel by Robert Tressell first published in 1914 after his death in 1911. An explicitly political work, it is widely regarded as a classic of working-class literature.-Background:...
by Robert Tressell
Robert Tressell
Robert Tressell was the nom-de-plume of Robert Croker, latterly Robert Noonan, an Irish writer best known for his novel The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists.-Early life:...
was also very influential, conveying a powerful anti-capitalist message.
University politics
Her term as president of Trinity College, DublinTrinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
Students' Union ended prematurely when she resigned in 1990 after it was discovered that she had broken a mandate received from the Union membership, regarding voting for candidates at a Union of Students in Ireland conference. Despite 13 TCD representatives being mandated to vote for one candidate, Martin Whelan, a former TCD SU president, it transpired that candidate received only 12 votes, Bacik's vote instead being given to the feminist former UCD SU officer, Karen Quinlivan. A controversy erupted in the Students' Union and a subsequent internal investigation led to Bacik's resignation.
She was taken to court by the pro-life group, the Society for the Protection of the Unborn Child (SPUC), for providing information on abortion
Abortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
. SPUC were successful in the court case, albeit that success came in the 1990s, long after Bacik had graduated from Trinity College.
Politics and campaigns
Bacik's policies may be described as liberalLiberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and social democratic and she has been described as "Labour's queen of political correctness
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
".
Her career as a national politician commenced when she stood as a candidate for the Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
at the 2004 election
European Parliament election, 2004 (Ireland)
The 2004 European Parliament election in Ireland was the Irish component of the 2004 European Parliament election. The voting was held on Friday, 11 June 2004. The election coincided with the 2004 local elections...
to the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
in the Dublin constituency
Dublin (European Parliament constituency)
Dublin is a constituency of the European Parliament in Ireland. It elects 3 Members of the European Parliament using the single transferable vote form of proportional representation .-History and boundaries:...
. She ran with sitting MEP
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
Proinsias De Rossa
Proinsias De Rossa
Proinsias De Rossa is an Irish Labour Party politician and Member of the European Parliament for the Dublin constituency. He a former President of the Workers' Party and subsequently leader of Democratic Left, and later, a senior member of the Labour Party. He was Minister for Social Welfare from...
, who was also the party president, on the same ticket. She polled 40,707 first preference votes (9.6%) but was not elected.
Despite this setback, Bacik remains a prominent member of the Irish Labour Party, representing the party on numerous occasions in public debates and in the media.
She did not stand as a candidate for the Labour Party at the 2007 general election. However, she contested the Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
elections for the third time in the University of Dublin constituency, as an independent candidate and was elected a Senator on the eighth count, over the quota but behind rival Independent candidates Shane Ross
Shane Ross
Shane Peter Nathaniel Ross is an independent Irish politician and Business Editor of the Sunday Independent. He was the longest-serving member of Seanad Éireann , until he was elected to Dáil Éireann for the constituency of Dublin South at the 2011 general election.-Early life and career:Born in...
and David Norris, who had already been elected. She previously contested that same election and constituency in 1997 and 2002 as an independent candidate, but had been unsuccessful.
In September 2006, Bacik was one of the 61 Irish academic signatories of a letter published in The Irish Times
The Irish Times
The Irish Times is an Irish daily broadsheet newspaper launched on 29 March 1859. The editor is Kevin O'Sullivan who succeeded Geraldine Kennedy in 2011; the deputy editor is Paul O'Neill. The Irish Times is considered to be Ireland's newspaper of record, and is published every day except Sundays...
calling for an academic boycott of the state of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
In January 2009 she declared that she wants Ireland to break off diplomatic relations with Israel and in February 2009 called for a general boycott of Israeli goods.
In June 2009, Bacik was the Labour Party
Labour Party (Ireland)
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in the Republic of Ireland. The Labour Party was founded in 1912 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, by James Connolly, James Larkin and William X. O'Brien as the political wing of the Irish Trade Union Congress. Unlike the other main Irish...
candidate for the Dublin Central
Dublin Central (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dublin Central is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
by-election
Dublin Central by-election, 2009
A by-election was held in the Dublin Central constituency in Ireland on Friday, 5 June 2009, following the death of the Independent Teachta Dála Tony Gregory on 2 January 2009. The by-election was held on the same day as the 2009 European and local elections. A by-election was held in the Dublin...
but was not elected.
She joined the Labour Party group in the Seanad in September 2009, and became Labour Party Seanad spokesperson for both Justice and Arts, Sports and Tourism.
In May 2010 she did not obtain Labour's nomination to run for the Dáil in Dublin South East.
In December 2010, she was selected as the second candidate beside Labour Party leader, Eamon Gilmore
Eamon Gilmore
Eamon Gilmore is an Irish Labour Party politician and the current Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. He has been the Leader of the Labour Party since September 2007, and a Teachta Dála for the Dún Laoghaire constituency since 1989, first with the Workers' Party of Ireland, and...
, in the Dún Laoghaire
Dún Laoghaire (Dáil Éireann constituency)
Dún Laoghaire is a parliamentary constituency represented in Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Irish parliament or Oireachtas. The constituency elects 4 deputies...
constituency for the 2011 general election. Gilmore topped the poll and Bacik got 10.1% of first preference votes but she was not elected. She was re-elected to Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann
Seanad Éireann is the upper house of the Oireachtas , which also comprises the President of Ireland and Dáil Éireann . It is commonly called the Seanad or Senate and its members Senators or Seanadóirí . Unlike Dáil Éireann, it is not directly elected but consists of a mixture of members chosen by...
at the subsequent election, after which she became Deputy Leader of the Seanad.
Non-political work
In 2006, Bacik acted as Junior CounselJunior barrister
A junior barrister is a barrister who has not yet attained the rank of Queen's Counsel. Although the term is archaic and not commonly used, junior barristers can also be referred to as utter barristers derived from "outer barristers" or barristers of the outer bar, in distinction to Queen's...
in the unsuccessful Irish High Court case brought by Katherine Zappone and Ann Louise Gilligan (KAL case) over non-recognition of their Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage is marriage between two persons of the same biological sex or social gender. Supporters of legal recognition for same-sex marriage typically refer to such recognition as marriage equality....
by the Irish Revenue Commissioners. The case is currently on appeal to the Supreme Court of Ireland.