Results 61-80 of 487 for speaker:Vincent P Martin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Vincent P Martin: Will the Commissioner address the question on the post-Christmas operational response?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Vincent P Martin: Will there be the same number of units after Christmas? Will there be any diminution? Will the same strength and priority be visible after Christmas as before Christmas?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Vincent P Martin: Is it agreed to come back after Christmas to discuss the issue of the public order units?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Matters: Discussion (Resumed) (29 Nov 2023)

Vincent P Martin: Can the Commissioner reassure us there will be no cliff edge after Christmas?

Seanad: Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2023: Second Stage (14 Nov 2023)

Vincent P Martin: As always, the Minister is very welcome to the Chamber. This Bill is the first legislation on e-cigarettes. Will the Minister confirm whether the Bill, which a Seanad colleague has suggested represents light-touch regulation, goes further than required by the EU? The Bill requires annual licensing, bans sales to minors and sales at events for children and introduces additional restrictions...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2021: Second Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Vincent P Martin: At a time when it appears increasing numbers of younger people are disengaged, apathetic or, worse, alienated from society, sometimes distracted by addictive social media feeds and misled down dark roads of substance abuse and social alienation, it behoves the political leadership of this country to sit up and endeavour to take appropriate action.What action is appropriate? The response must...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment) (Voting at 16) Bill 2021: Second Stage (7 Nov 2023)

Vincent P Martin: I would respond to that by pointing out that a young person can work full-time at 15, change their name when they are 16, drive a car, join the Army with parental consent and do many other things but they cannot vote. Allowing 16-year-olds to vote make sense. Interestingly, lowering the voter eligibility age to 16 is part of the manifesto of Keir Starmer of the Labour Party, which is...

Seanad: The Political Situation in Northern Ireland: Statements (25 Oct 2023)

Vincent P Martin: The Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber. In opening the debate, the Tánaiste referred to parity of esteem. That is, of course, from the two governments who affirmed the importance of the principle of just and equal treatment for the identity, ethos and aspirations of both communities. As a guarantor of the agreement, one cannot say today that there is fairness,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ireland and the EU 2023 Poll Results: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Vincent P Martin: I commend European Movement Ireland on the excellent work. It is quite fascinating and enlightening. In respect of polling in Northern Ireland, in years gone by, for example, before the Good Friday Agreement, it was reported by many that polling was notoriously unreliable due to personal security issues, perhaps. With this online version, I imagine European Movement Ireland is satisfied...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Ireland and the EU 2023 Poll Results: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Vincent P Martin: European Movement Ireland has achieved that. Well done.

Seanad: Situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Statements (19 Oct 2023)

Vincent P Martin: We can all agree on the seemingly obvious point that one should not execute people or children to advance a political aim. Slaughter is slaughter, no matter the flag or cause, and be it visited by any group or people on any other group or people in any name. It poisons the room of the peacemaker. My heart went out to the innocent Israelis attending a concert who were cut down and murdered...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Office of Public Works (18 Oct 2023)

Vincent P Martin: The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is, as always, very welcome to the Chamber. It is unfortunate the Minister of State with direct responsibility in the matter I am raising, Deputy O'Donovan, is unavoidably absent. I appreciate the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, stepping in for him this morning. I know he will relay back to his colleague our deliberations and discussion. It is well...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Office of Public Works (18 Oct 2023)

Vincent P Martin: I thank the Minister of State. It has been said on many occasions that we acknowledge the very many millions of euro invested by the OPW to secure as much of the lands as it has done to date. The proposal to create a carpark in the meadow, which immediately adjoins the River Liffey, was off the wall and might not have been in compliance with planning laws. Thankfully, the proposal has been...

Seanad: Situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories: Motion (18 Oct 2023)

Vincent P Martin: As I said in this House last week and at a meeting of the Committee on European Union Affairs, it was disappointing that some people could not bring themselves to condemn barbaric slaughter. Apart from being disappointing, however, it was also reflective of how broken politics and geopolitics are. There should have been an instantaneous condemnation. I commend the Government, the...

Seanad: Screening of Third Country Transactions Bill 2022: Second Stage (18 Oct 2023)

Vincent P Martin: The Green Party will support the Bill because it brings us a step in the right direction. It protects us from what are often more subtle threats which influence or could or have control over strategic assets by hostile foreign actors. It will also help to guard against the interlinked threat of cutting-edge technology being exported from Ireland and getting into the wrong hands. One of the...

Seanad: Provision of Free HRT Treatment: Motion [Private Members] (18 Oct 2023)

Vincent P Martin: I second the motion.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 Oct 2023)

Vincent P Martin: The horrendous slaughter in Israel over the weekend was promptly and unequivocally condemned by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Government. Indeed, I believe those words of condemnation have been uttered from all political parties in these Houses of the Oireachtas. For words of condemnation to have credibility and genuine meaning, they must have consistency. I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: General Affairs Council: Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (11 Oct 2023)

Vincent P Martin: I concur with other contributors and recognise that the Tánaiste and the Government were out very promptly, as, I think, were all political parties represented in these Houses, in condemning the barbaric slaughter of innocent people. A ceasefire, a de-escalation, a release of all the hostages and an opening of the humanitarian corridors are absolute imperatives. For words of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Oct 2023)

Vincent P Martin: Following the extensive pre-legislative scrutiny undertaken by the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, it was reported that yesterday the planning and development Bill 2023 has been approved by the Cabinet. The former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Mr. Justice Frank Clarke, who was a guest speaker at a conference held last Friday morning, warned that Government...

Seanad: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Second Stage (4 Oct 2023)

Vincent P Martin: The Bill, which the Minister moved to be read a Second Time this afternoon, contains a considerable amount of detail. It is substantial legislation which the Minister proposes to enact. It is important to emphasise that at its core is community safety. Some of the people listening to these proceedings may not be instantly or keenly interested in Garda oversight structures, internal...