Results 161-180 of 195 for going forward speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed) (16 Jul 2013)

Martin Conway: ...facing the country and voted as such, difficult though it was. Similarly, there are other cuts to disability services that I find unpalatable, but because they are necessary to protect the overall good, I have had to vote for them. We need to rethink the Whip system fundamentally, but that is for another day. However, I look forward to that debate. I am also looking forward to this...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Martin Conway: Given that one is dealing with 165 individuals trying to get speaking time, it would not have got the attention and deliberation in the other Chamber. The practitioners of restorative justice and those who advocate this new type of penal reform or pre-penal reform, before people go into the prison system, were very impressed with the manner in which this House dealt with the issue. It has...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: Céim an Choiste (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (10 Jul 2013)

Martin Conway: ...the abolition of the Seanad. It would be hypocritical of any Member of this House to say they will be voting in favour of the abolition of the Seanad and to continue taking a salary. I am certainly not going to be hypocritical. I do not intend campaigning either way. If I am asked for my personal view in any forum, public or private, I have no problem with and no hesitation in...

Seanad: Parental Leave Bill 2013: Second Stage (10 Jul 2013)

Martin Conway: ...to care for a child until the age of four or five, the State should not stand in the way of parents doing that. The public service is reasonably flexible in terms of people trying to achieve that goal in life. It is probably more difficult in the private sector, particularly for someone in management and those with specific expertise. With the greatest will in the world employers do not...

Seanad: An Bille um an Dara Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Deireadh a Chur le Seanad Éireann) 2013: An Dara Céim (Atógáil): An Dara Céim (Atógáil) - Thirty-second Amendment of the Constitution (Abolition of Seanad Éireann) Bill 2013: Second Stage (Resumed): Second Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2013)

Martin Conway: .... The Constitution provides for a referendum with a yes or no option. I hope that the people will opt to retain the Seanad. If they do, it will be very clearly with the obligation on a future Government to reform it. If the people opt to retain this House, within the present Government and its programme for Government there will not be the opportunity for reform. In future election...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Money Laundering (2 Jul 2013)

Martin Conway: ...interesting and worthwhile scheme that has been running since the 1970s or 1980s. The issue that now arises for prize bonds is that people purchasing bonds to the value of more than €25 have to go through a myriad of new regulations on money laundering. I acknowledge that money laundering is a serious problem in this country, but it also affects many other areas. One such area is...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Money Laundering (2 Jul 2013)

Martin Conway: ...interesting and worthwhile scheme that has been running since the 1970s or 1980s. The issue that now arises for prize bonds is that people purchasing bonds to the value of more than €25 have to go through a myriad of new regulations on money laundering. I acknowledge that money laundering is a serious problem in this country, but it also affects many other areas. One such area is...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Jun 2013)

Martin Conway: I will stick to positive notes, given the sunshine. I commend United Airlines on its launch last Friday of a Shannon-Chicago service five days per week. This is another incremental step in developing a business model for Shannon, one that was instigated by the new independent airport authority. This proves that the policy of an independent Shannon Airport that has severed its links from...

Seanad: Order of Business (29 May 2013)

Martin Conway: ...I commend RTE for exposing the issue because, unfortunately, the apparatus of the State did not do so. Senator Jillian van Turnhout's proposal should be given favourable consideration and I look forward to the Cathaoirleach's ruling in that regard. I feel sorry for the thousands of mothers and fathers going to work this morning with a heavy heart, wondering whether one of them should...

Seanad: Order of Business (1 May 2013)

Martin Conway: I welcome the publication of the heads of the Bill early this morning. At least people need not now speak in a vacuum but with something on which to go. In order to be positive and move forward this very important issue I suggest to the Leader and to the Committee on Procedure and Privileges that they make the Seanad Chamber available again to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and...

Seanad: Courts Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Mar 2013)

Martin Conway: ...embodies. The in camera rule needed to be changed. This is now being done, but in a delicate manner and with the necessary provisions to safeguard the identities of families who will be going through difficult periods. No family likes to end up in court. While the Bill is progressive in terms of transparency and accountability, it will ensure that the necessary protections are in...

Seanad: Restorative Justice Process: Motion (20 Mar 2013)

Martin Conway: ...process involved visits to Mountjoy Prison and Cork Prison, as well as St. Patrick's Institution. I was struck by the number of people who should really not have been in prison. Being there was going to do nothing for them or society. Unfortunately, prison life does not augur well in preparing people for life after incarceration. Despite the best efforts of prison governors and staff,...

Seanad: Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second and Subsequent Stages (13 Feb 2013)

Martin Conway: ...van Turnhout who have dedicated their lives to working for children's rights. Organising that referendum in 18 months was a significant achievement. As a student in UCD nearly 18 or 19 years ago, I discussed the importance of children with the Minister, who was then just Deputy Fitzgerald. It is good to see someone travel this distance. She has had her political battles and is doing a...

Seanad: National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Bill 2012: Second Stage (27 Nov 2012)

Martin Conway: ...It is pointless to require an individual who might take part in the annual sports day or the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in the community, where they are visible to the public at all times, to go through the Garda vetting process. It will just clog up the system and ultimately make it unworkable. This legislation targets individuals who have regular access to children, whether it is...

Seanad: Personal Insolvency Bill 2012: Second Stage (21 Nov 2012)

Martin Conway: I welcome the Minister. This legislation is a significant step forward in dealing with the financial difficulties of many thousands of people. The programme for Government set out clearly that this issue needed to be addressed through legislative measures to ensure a fair and realistic deal could be procured on behalf of persons in financial difficulties, many of them have been suffering...

Seanad: Order of Business (Resumed) (14 Nov 2012)

Martin Conway: ...Hospital Galway. It would appear, if the media reports are correct, that the system terminated the life of this unfortunate lady. Such a situation is intolerable in the extreme. I look forward to hearing the full facts of the case. We need to learn from mistakes of this kind. There is no point in engaging in the blame game, we must ensure it does not happen again. I thank the...

Seanad: Public Expenditure and Reform: Statements (8 Nov 2012)

Martin Conway: The Seanad will have its day in the sun in the same way the referendum on children's rights is having its day. I have no doubt that the good people of Ireland will almost unanimously endorse the constitutional amendment. The Government is doing an extraordinarily good job in extremely difficult circumstances., but there is a long way to go. A great deal has been achieved, but much more will...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Oct 2012)

Martin Conway: I, too, agree with colleagues regarding the mortgage interest rate increase in AIB although I would go further and say Government-appointed directors were asleep at the wheel. They should consider their position. They are there a long time, having been appointed in the dying days of the previous Government, and are not serving the public interest. It would be preferable if they could come...

Seanad: Thirty-First Amendment of the Constitution (Children) Bill 2012: Second Stage (2 Oct 2012)

Martin Conway: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. I want to be associated with all comments made on this Bill. I am not going to get into repetition mode but the mere appointment of a senior Minister with responsibility for children showed the rights of children were at the centre of the Taoiseach's concerns. It is a commitment on which he should be commended. The nomination of Senator...

Seanad: Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012: Second Stage (26 Sep 2012)

Martin Conway: ...this stage and enters into debate and discussion with us in a very healthy, open and useful manner. I commend the last speaker for his contribution. He was very positive, as always, and I look forward to helpful amendments. It will be interesting to see what they are. I particularly commend Senator Crown for his contribution. It is very telling that he stated that had he the...