Ivana Bacik facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ivana Bacik
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Bacik in 2021
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| Leader of the Labour Party | |
| Assumed office 24 March 2022 |
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| Preceded by | Alan Kelly |
| Teachta Dála | |
| Assumed office 9 July 2021 |
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| Constituency | Dublin Bay South |
| Leader of the Labour Party in the Seanad | |
| In office 25 May 2011 – 9 July 2021 |
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| Leader |
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| Preceded by | Phil Prendergast |
| Succeeded by | Rebecca Moynihan |
| Deputy leader of the Seanad | |
| In office 25 May 2011 – 6 May 2016 |
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| Taoiseach | Enda Kenny |
| Leader | Maurice Cummins |
| Preceded by | Dan Boyle |
| Succeeded by | Catherine Noone |
| Senator | |
| In office 13 September 2007 – 12 July 2021 |
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| Constituency | Dublin University |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 May 1968 Dublin, Ireland |
| Political party | Labour Party |
| Spouse | Alan Saul |
| Relations | Charles Bacik (grandfather) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Alexandra College |
| Alma mater | |
Ivana Catherine Bacik (born 25 May 1968) is an Irish politician. She is the current Leader of the Labour Party. She has held this role since March 2022.
Ivana Bacik is also a Teachta Dála (TD). This means she is a member of the Irish Parliament, called Dáil Éireann. She represents the Dublin Bay South area. She became a TD in July 2021 after winning a special election. Before this, she was a Senator for many years. Senators are also part of the Irish Parliament, but in a different house called the Seanad. She was also the Labour Party leader in the Seanad.
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Early Life and Education
Ivana Bacik's family has interesting roots. Her grandfather, Charles Bacik, came to Ireland from the Czech Republic in 1946. He helped start Waterford Crystal, a famous glass company. Her mother's family is from County Clare.
Ivana lived in different places as a child. Her father was an astronomer, so the family moved often. She lived in London and South Africa. When she was six, they moved to Crookstown, County Cork, in Ireland. Later, they moved to Cork City and then to Dublin when she was 14.
She earned a scholarship to attend Alexandra College in Dublin. She studied law at Trinity College Dublin and the London School of Economics. She now lives in Dublin with her husband, Alan Saul, and their two daughters.
Political Journey and Campaigns
Ivana Bacik has been involved in politics for a long time. She first tried to become a Senator in 1997 and 2002. She ran as an independent candidate but was not elected.
In 2004, she ran for the European Parliament. She was a candidate for the Labour Party. She received many votes but did not win a seat that time.
In 2007, she tried again for the Seanad Éireann and was elected as a Senator. She initially sat as an independent Senator. She later joined the Labour Party group in the Seanad. She became a spokesperson for Justice, Arts, Sports, and Tourism.
She ran in general elections in 2011 but was not elected to the Dáil. However, she was re-elected to the Seanad. She kept her seat in the Seanad in 2016 and 2020.
Winning a Dáil Seat
In April 2021, a Dáil seat became available in Dublin Bay South. Ivana Bacik decided to run in the special election. She focused her campaign on important issues for families. These included:
- Making housing more affordable.
- Improving healthcare services.
- Better childcare options.
- Fighting climate change.
- Working towards a "true republic" where church and state are separate.
She also highlighted her work as a Senator. She had helped pass many laws on workers' rights, women's health, and LGBTQ+ equality. She also wanted more sports facilities for children.
Ivana Bacik won the election in July 2021. This was a big success for her and the Labour Party. She was very happy to become a TD.
Becoming Labour Party Leader
In March 2022, Ivana Bacik announced she would run to become the leader of the Labour Party. She was the only candidate, so she became the leader without opposition. In her speech, she promised to focus on important issues. These included the rising cost of living and other big problems facing Ireland. She also said the Labour Party would fight the next election on its own.
In the 2024 general election, Ivana Bacik was re-elected to the Dáil.
Key Political Views
Ivana Bacik's political ideas are often described as liberal and social democratic. This means she believes in:
- Fairness and equality for everyone.
- Helping people who need support.
- Protecting human rights.
She has supported various causes throughout her career:
- She has called for the government to take action against religious groups involved in the Mother and Baby Homes scandal.
- In 2020, she helped change laws to make it easier for children born in Ireland to get Irish citizenship.
- She also suggested fast-tracking citizenship for foreign medical workers who helped during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- In 2022, she called for higher pay for workers and a special tax on energy companies that made large profits. She also supported increasing the minimum wage.
Legal Career
Besides her political work, Ivana Bacik is also a legal expert. She was a professor of Criminal Law at Trinity College Dublin. She taught students about criminal law, how crime is studied, and how laws affect women's rights and equality. She was made a Fellow of Trinity College Dublin in 2005. She resigned from her full-time role in 2022 but is still connected to the university.
She has also worked as a barrister, which is a type of lawyer. She helped with a famous court case in 2006. This case was about whether same-sex marriages performed abroad should be recognised in Ireland.
Awards and Recognition
Ivana Bacik has received awards for her work:
- In 2019, the Irish Women Lawyers Association named her the Irish Woman Lawyer of the Year.
- Also in 2019, Irish Tatler magazine chose her as their 'Woman of the Year.'
Images for kids
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Ivana Bacik in 2021
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Ivana Bacik campaigning with Michael D. Higgins in 2011
