Results 41-60 of 195 for going forward speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Smuggling of Persons) Bill 2021: Second Stage (29 Sep 2021)

Martin Conway: ...that person's background or circumstances. It is absolutely heartbreaking to see this. I also welcome the decision in Mullingar court yesterday. It is a first and a start. We have a long way to go but this legislation is an important incremental step in the right direction. I assure the Minister of State that this House will never be found wanting when the law needs to be strengthened...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (28 Sep 2021)

Martin Conway: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. I welcome her back to our original Chamber. I tabled a similar Commencement matter last April and I will continue to table this one because of its importance. This is particularly so from a County Clare perspective given the late Laura Brennan was from Ennis. She did so much in her campaigning to encourage both parents and...

Seanad: Nursing Homes Support Scheme (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (15 Jul 2021)

Martin Conway: ..., is very welcome to the House. Every time she comes here, she engages with us fully. Over the last 12 months, I have been most impressed with her openness, her dedication to her role in the Government and the progress she has made. It has not been easy. The last 12 months have seen the worst pandemic in living memory and yet upgraded legislation on the fair deal scheme comes before us...

Joint Committee On Health: Impact of Covid-19 on Mental Health of Travellers: Pavee Point (13 Jul 2021)

Martin Conway: I thank our guests for coming in today. I apologise for the time change but other matters were going on. Unfortunately, though, that time change has torpedoed all our schedules. I have great admiration for the work Pavee Point does. It can sometimes feel like two steps forward are being made, only to end up then taking five steps backward. I state that because housing obviously is a...

Seanad: Counterfeiting Bill 2020: Committee and Remaining Stages (29 Jun 2021)

Martin Conway: ...too late. I can never, for the life of me, understand how it takes so long to transpose European directives into Irish law. This is a commonsense piece of legislation that is agreed by everybody. Going forward, if there is one lesson from this it is that we need to be doing these transpositions into Irish law a great deal more quickly. The directives are created for a good reason and...

Seanad: Aviation Sector: Statements (21 Jun 2021)

Martin Conway: ...cap on the main airport. That is something that must be look at post Covid. When there is a cap, it means that if airlines want to fly into Ireland then they have to look at other areas. That is not going back to the Shannon stopover or anything like that; it is giving a commitment to our policy of regional development. We have motorways in this country now that we did not have before....

Seanad: Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (24 May 2021)

Martin Conway: ..., however, in order to protect human life, to protect our citizens and to ensure the most vulnerable are protected as much as possible, it is necessary. Nobody foresaw that this pandemic was going to last as long as it has lasted but that is the reality. There have been very many variants, including the UK variant that caused the deadly third wave in January, and we now have the Indian...

Seanad: Loan Guarantee Schemes Agreements (Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland) Bill 2021: Second Stage (17 May 2021)

Martin Conway: ...so many people back to work with non-essential retail opening.I wish the people in County Clare who are returning to work today for the first time since before Christmas the very best of luck and good fortune. It is great to see the main streets of our towns throughout County Clare open again and people going in and out of shops. Shopping online was very convenient, and in some ways...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff (11 May 2021)

Martin Conway: ...Street Children's Hospital and Crumlin Children's Hospital. At a very early stage, the number of referrals to the step-down support services has increased dramatically and the result that people go on to live independent lives has been demonstrated in recent years. Quick diagnosis, early intervention and fast engagement with services has proven to be invaluable. This has worked very...

Seanad: Reports on Department of Health Policy in RTÉ Investigates Programme: Statements (29 Mar 2021)

Martin Conway: ...Department, confirmed by the Minister of State today, that a senior counsel carried out a review following the protected disclosures made by the whistle-blower. I welcome the fact that the report is going to be published. The Joint Committee on Health wrote to the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, on Friday evening, requesting a number of things, including that the report be...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: School Accommodation (12 Mar 2021)

Martin Conway: Tá fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. As this is my first time addressing the Minister of State in the House, I wholeheartedly congratulate her on her appointment. She is a very strong female voice in the west of Ireland and it is good to see that. I have tabled this matter on behalf of the community of Ennis that attends the Educate Together school there....

Seanad: Local Government (Use of CCTV in Prosecution of Offences) Bill 2021: Second Stage (5 Mar 2021)

Martin Conway: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. I welcome him to the House. I salute his commitment to local government and to reforming this particular area. I also thank the Labour Party and Senator Wall for bringing this very important Bill before the House. For a long time I have said that GDPR is extremely important. The GDPR legislation was brought in for very good reasons but there...

Seanad: Health (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (1 Mar 2021)

Martin Conway: ...against Covid-19, with a similar figure in May and a similar figure in June. When there is a significant roll-out of the vaccine to a large number of citizens, then we can take some hope that the days going forward will be brighter and that we will have overcome the worst and harshest of this pandemic. This legislation is necessary. It is needed to deal with the international travel side...

Seanad: Special Education Provision: Statements (8 Feb 2021)

Martin Conway: ...structured system, one that, by and large, has seen significant increases in funding year-on-year for the past number of years. Very little good comes out of a pandemic. I am convinced that going forward the toolkits, support structures and alternative mechanisms that have been devised by the Minister's officials and teachers at national and local level will serve to enhance the...

Seanad: Central Mental Hospital (Relocation) Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Martin Conway: ...mental challenges. I fully agree with Senator McDowell that it probably is not big enough and that it probably does not provide enough supports, but it is certainly a great start. It has been going on for a long time. Certainly, quarter 1 of 2021 will be a giant leap forward in how we view people who find themselves in these circumstances, which would be welcomed by everybody. I...

Seanad: Annual Transition Statement on Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Statements (9 Dec 2020)

Martin Conway: Eamon being the absolute gentleman that he is actually bought something in the shop. I was not going to mention it because many Ministers turn up to do an event and go. Eamon actually bought in the shop which was well-noted and is a testament to the man. As I do not drive because of my disability, being visually impaired, I get the train to Dublin all the time when I come to the...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (1 Dec 2020)

Martin Conway: ...that it will. It is a problem and a difficulty. Like many other problems our small island has faced over the years, we will deal with it head on. It is only fair and appropriate to say that this Government and previous Governments have been involved in micromanagement levels of preparation for this day as it approaches. Even if there is no deal, we are as prepared as we could possibly...

Seanad: Reopening Ireland (Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment): Statements (26 Nov 2020)

Martin Conway: ...much of it. I do not see the harm in having a clothes shop or shoe shop open.This is the time of year when retail outlets need to sell their product in order to provide themselves with a cushion going into the early part of next year when things will be quiet. I acknowledge the arguments, discussion and discourse taking place about restaurants and pubs, the prevalence of alcohol and the...

Seanad: Planning and Development Bill 2020: Second Stage (25 Nov 2020)

Martin Conway: I very much look forward to what he will achieve. I know of his dogged determination and he will deliver. I echo what Senator Cummins said about this legislation. It is essential to continue the important work of local government and the process of passing county development plans. The pandemic has changed how we do business in the country. The Bill enables local authorities who are...

Seanad: Traveller Accommodation: Statements (17 Nov 2020)

Martin Conway: ...well done. There are a number of issues connected to this subject. It is appropriate that Seanad Éireann is discussing Traveller accommodation. I commend Senator Flynn for putting this issue forward or ensuring it was put on the agenda. There is no point in putting a tooth in it. The Traveller community is the most discriminated against group in Irish society and whether...