Results 101-120 of 195 for going forward speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2017)

Martin Conway: We need to be very careful in discussing the issue raised by Senator Humphreys given there is an ongoing court case concerning a lottery claim. My understanding, having sold many lottery tickets over the years in my former role as a retailer, is that people are advised to sign the back of their ticket after purchase. When the national lottery pays out on a win, payment goes to the persons...

Seanad: Convictions for Certain Sexual Offences (Apology and Exoneration) Bill 2016: Second Stage (1 Feb 2017)

Martin Conway: ...have seen what only a couple of years ago one would have thought was a dream or a horrible nightmare. That is the reality. Politicians are regularly accused of not fulfilling their promises but what is going on in the United States at the moment is over-fulfilling promises. It is creating a new definition of political promise and delivery upon promise and rhetoric and all that is going...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Rural Resettlement Scheme (14 Dec 2016)

Martin Conway: ..., has been responsible for relocating hundreds of families from Dublin to towns and villages all over the country. The children of those families went to village schools and their children are now going to village schools. Many schools were able to keep extra teachers, certainly in the 1980s and early 1990s, because of the wonderful families from inner city Dublin who had difficulty in...

Seanad: Recognition of Irish Sign Language for the Deaf Community Bill 2016: Second Stage (19 Oct 2016)

Martin Conway: ...politics. People such as Senator Mark Daly and I who are on opposite sides in many debates are at one on this issue, as are the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, Sinn Féin and all of my good friends and colleagues on the Independent benches. We all want to see this happen. Yet again, Seanad Éireann has stood up to the plate to delivers something tangible which will...

Seanad: Judicial Council: Motion (19 Oct 2016)

Martin Conway: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. It is great to have a busy Minister of State take time to come to the House and show respect for the Seanad and the work it does. I thank Senator Victor Boyhan for proposing the motion. He and his team put much thought into justice issues, as is reflected in the important motion before us. I listened carefully to Senator...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments and Threatened Industrial Action by An Garda Síochána: Statements (12 Oct 2016)

Martin Conway: ...long, the system of judicial appointments has not been dealt with. I share Senator McDowell's concern about a moratorium. The legislation the Tánaiste proposes is a very important incremental step forward in tidying up the process. We have been very lucky to have an effectively unblemished record of judicial decency and honour. We have great judges, many of whom are coming out of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Policing Authority: Discussion (28 Sep 2016)

Martin Conway: ...her colleagues for attending. I was a member of the joint committee in the previous Dáil. The role has changed and evolved greatly and the establishment of the Policing Authority is a timely step forward. Members of the former Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality went to see how it was done in Scotland and Northern Ireland. We garnered a lot of information and knowledge...

Seanad: Legal Services Regulatory Authority: Motion (19 Jul 2016)

Martin Conway: ...are buying and selling property, it would also save a huge amount of time. We would have a situation where, instead of it taking a month to six weeks to process a house because of documentation going from one stakeholder to another, it would be done in a week. E-conveyancing is the way forward. Many other industries in this country are now managed effectively by ICT. There is...

Seanad: Housing for People with Disabilities: Motion (13 Jul 2016)

Martin Conway: It is a pity the Minister has to go but he has an able deputy. I join others in commending Senator John Dolan on tabling a very opportune, appropriate and detailed Private Members' motion. He is no stranger to advocacy work and has been involved in the disability movement for many years through his role as CEO of the Disability Federation of Ireland. I acknowledge the representatives of...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2016)

Martin Conway: .... I wish to see equality, awareness of disability and of difference and diversity become a mandatory component of primary education in this country. As legislators, we can introduce the most forward thinking, radical legislation one could possibly imagine to prevent inequality, prejudice and people being treated in a bad way but no matter what we do we must change people's mindset. The...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2015)

Martin Conway: ...over the years, the staff in the Seanad Office are among the best I have ever come across. These remarks also apply to the Leader's office. Ms Orla Murray and Mr. Frank Mulqueen keep that office going, much of the time under severe pressure. Obviously, Ministers are demanding that legislation be passed. The Leader must try to co-ordinate business to ensure sufficient time is devoted to...

Seanad: Bankruptcy (Amendment) Bill 2015: Second Stage (17 Dec 2015)

Martin Conway: ...different on this occasion. This legislation is badly needed. I respectfully suggest to all concerned that were it not for the efforts of Deputy Willie Penrose, it would not have been brought forward. Sometimes it requires somebody sitting in the back row at a parliamentary party meeting to continue to raise an issue week in, week out, month in, month out to finally focus people's...

Seanad: Mental Health (Amendment) Bill 2008: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (17 Dec 2015)

Martin Conway: This day, 17 December, is a great day. It is my wedding anniversary also. It is great to see all this legislation going through the House. It is shocking, however, that this matter has featured since 2008. It is a great credit to the Minister of State that she acknowledged the three Senators who sponsored the original Bill. It proves the system works, although one may no longer be a...

Seanad: Order of Business (21 Oct 2015)

Martin Conway: ...some Members of the House might be aware, but I suspect many are not. Many practitioners involved in mediation, be it through professional bodies, the Family Court, company mediation services and NGOs, are giving of their time this week to promote mediation services. When one thinks of the problems in the North, society is always conflicted. Individuals, community groups businesses and...

Seanad: Marriage Bill 2015: Second Stage (20 Oct 2015)

Martin Conway: ...appealing to them to vote and telling his story in the letter. That type of action was powerful. It changed a perhaps unintended mind set in a lot of people to get them to do the right thing. I look forward to the Bill's passage through this House. It will be completed by Thursday, with the co-operation of all parties. I commend it to the House and look forward to the remaining Stages...

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Oct 2015)

Martin Conway: I agree with Senator Kelly’s point on the bail laws. I understand the process relating to proposed legislation has begun but it probably does not go far enough. I join Senator Heffernan and others who paid tribute to Paul O’Connell. He is an iconic Irish sportsperson who hails from Munster. Paul O’Connell epitomises everything that is good about Munster, sport, rugby...

Seanad: Longer Healthy Living Bill 2015: Second Stage (30 Sep 2015)

Martin Conway: ...this Bill on "Morning Ireland" this morning and I listened very attentively to his contribution. I could not but agree with him: it makes absolute sense. I am happy to inform the House that the Government will not be opposing this Bill. It will allow it go to Committee Stage, where it can be teased out in more detail. It is a common-sense approach. We are dealing with a population...

Seanad: Civil Debt (Procedures) Bill 2015: Second Stage (17 Jul 2015)

Martin Conway: ...deals with the cruel issue of indebtedness and so on, it is evolving. It has given some credence to the series of recommendations that the LRC has made in this regard. Most people do not want to see someone going to jail for not paying a television licence fee, for example. The revolving door is an issue and has presented challenges to the Prison Service, with people going to jail only...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Jul 2015)

Martin Conway: ...time in the House than some Members at this stage as he is here so often. He is always very insightful when he comes into the House and he is always most welcome. I also welcome Senator Brian Ó Domhnaill, my good colleague and friend, and his contribution. I am sorry to hear about his friend in north County Dublin. Most of us come across situations like that of his friend from...

Seanad: Choice of Court (Hague Convention) Bill 2015: Second Stage (8 Jul 2015)

Martin Conway: ...Ireland in America recently. It was a very difficult time for young people and their families, particularly the families of students participating in the J1 visa programme. He represented the Government with dignity in very difficult circumstances.I am keen to put that much on the record of the House. I agree with Senator O'Donovan that few people would have an issue with what is being...