Results 141-160 of 195 for going forward speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: Racism in Ireland: Motion (4 Jun 2014)

Martin Conway: ...amendment No. 1: “To delete all words after “That Seanad Éireann:” and substitute the following:“notes–-that tackling racism and promoting diversity is not just the responsibility of Government: everybody in Irish society, including individuals, organisations, businesses, governmental and non-governmental organisations have a responsibility to...

Seanad: State Airports (Shannon Group) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jun 2014)

Martin Conway: .... There are many people based in Shannon, Limerick and along the west coast who took retirement in good faith. They made serious life decisions on the basis of an expectation that they had going forward and it is regrettable that the airport authority has not included people with deferred pensions in the negotiations. It seems that those with deferred pensions have been thrown to the...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (7 May 2014)

Martin Conway: ...concept of a personal assistant is to ensure that people can participate in what is a democratic society to their fullest potential. It is to ensure that people can do day-day-day activities such as going on a bus with their peers and attend school and college with their peers and where they can play to their strengths; where having a disability does not affect their ability; and where...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Mar 2014)

Martin Conway: ...McFadden, her children, her grandchildren, her aunt and her staff, including Una Mulhall, who worked here with Nicky. It is a very difficult day for them because they lost their leader. I look forward to contributing more when we have the formal tributes in due course. I agree with much of what Senator O'Donovan has said about the morale in An Garda Síochána. The systematic...

Seanad: Order of Business (12 Mar 2014)

Martin Conway: ...this year. I am delighted that €8.7 million of the total will be made available to the people of County Clare, the shoreline of which was ravaged in the recent inclement weather. The money will go a significant way towards ensuring proper flood defence mechanisms are put in place on a long-term basis to ensure what we witnessed at the beginning of 2014 will not be seen again. The...

Seanad: Action Plan for Jobs: Statements (5 Mar 2014)

Martin Conway: ...jobs is beginning to show significant delivery but I must sound a note of caution about a number of things. Obviously, we very much welcome it and the interdepartmental, front-up approach across Government Departments in terms of jobs. The Taoiseach is talking about 2014 being the year for jobs, jobs and jobs and I certainly look forward to that. There have been a number of very...

Seanad: Recent Flooding: Statements (12 Feb 2014)

Martin Conway: I apologise to the Minister of State that, unfortunately, I will not be in the Chamber for his responses later as I have to go down to the west to the wind and the rain. I acknowledge the fact he was the only one from the Government at the beginning who realised the seriousness of this problem. He was the only Minister who went on the public airwaves after the disaster inflicted on the...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: I welcome the imminent announcement of the medium-term economic plan which is taking place today. We can certainly go forward with a new sense of renewal following the exit from the bailout. However, it is always worthwhile to remember that the human cost of the recession is still impacting on and being felt by hundreds of thousands of our citizens, people who lost their jobs and those in...

Seanad: Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction (Fixed Penalty Notice) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 Nov 2013)

Martin Conway: I welcome the Minister to the House. He is doing a phenomenal job trying to increase employment in the fishing industry and engaging with Europe as proven by his successful negotiations, on our behalf, last December. I have no doubt that he will return with good results this December. We are all concerned about the potential cut in quotas and wish him well in his endeavour. I thank the...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Direct Provision System (19 Nov 2013)

Martin Conway: ...people who come here seeking asylum and to ensure that regard is given to their sense of integrity, belonging and decency. What I saw in the two centres I visited was people putting their best foot forward. The visits were arranged, with the centre management aware well in advance of our attendance. I suspect we might have seen many different things if we had arrived unannounced. Other...

Seanad: Asylum Support Services: Motion (23 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: ...women giving birth to children who have not seen the outside of these centres at all. Luckily, some of them did the leaving certificate and benefited from our education system but they were unable to go on to college because there is no facility to enable them financially or otherwise. They cannot find the money anywhere because they are not allowed to work. I refer to a contrasting...

Seanad: The One Percent Difference National Giving Campaign: Statements (22 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: ...governance. I refer, in particular, to the smaller charities which might not necessarily possess the resources required to put in place such checks and balances. I am of the view that this campaign is going to be a fundamental part of our recovery. Senator Ó Murchú referred to the 450,000 people who visited Derry for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Everyone is aware of the...

Seanad: Irish Sign Language: Motion (9 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: ...contributors from all sides of the House. Each group except one was represented. I also commend the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, on her extremely comprehensive synopsis of what the Government is doing in every area, from the Revenue Commissioners and education to social welfare and the various pilot initiatives. They are all extremely welcome, but we are still a long way...

Seanad: Irish Sign Language: Motion (9 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: ...in the State; - recognises Irish Sign Language as an expression of culture and an instrument for access to education and equal opportunities; - notes and commends the work of the many State and non-governmental organisations to support and promote the use of Irish Sign Language in the State; - calls on the Government in partnership with the representatives of the deaf community to develop...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. As public representatives, we are embarrassed when we are not in a position to deliver something for people which we believe they deserve. There is very little that embarrasses me as much as having to stand up here without a comprehensive solution to an appalling problem. To be fair to the last Government, it introduced the Land and...

Seanad: Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries, Privileges and Procedures) Act (Commencement) Order 2013: Statements (24 Sep 2013)

Martin Conway: ...the Irish public wants an inquiry, but one that is cost effective and conducted properly by people who are elected and well capable of conducting it. We all spoke on this legislation when it was going through the House and welcomed it as an important step in the right direction. I remember well the night the guarantee went through. I was on holiday at the time in Naples and the people...

Seanad: Directive of European Parliament on Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children: Statements (19 Sep 2013)

Martin Conway: Absolutely. It is great to see his meteoric rise in politics from being in this Chamber a few years ago to being in Government. It is well deserved and well earned. He left the corporate world to pursue a career in politics and the public service, and that deserves to be recognised. His contribution as Minister of State has been well noted. His views on the future of the House will be...

Seanad: Junior Cycle Reform: Motion (18 Sep 2013)

Martin Conway: ...and technology, he also realises the importance of history. We do not know who we are unless we know where we came from and what our history is. As a nation, we have a phenomenal history going back centuries, but our democracy is a very short history. Sometimes it can be a very blinkered or thwarted history, depending on the teacher. It often would not have been a very fair history....

Seanad: SI 325 of 2012 - European Union (Quality and Safety of Human Organs Intended for Transplantation) Regulations 2012: Motion (20 Aug 2013)

Martin Conway: ...to today's debate. It is unfortunate that we have not made the type of progress we should have in recent decades in respect of the system of organ donation. There is something slightly mischievous going on here in that the House has been recalled to nullify a directive we should be seeking to enhance. I have spoken to significant numbers of people within the medical profession in recent...

Seanad: An Bille um an Tríú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Cúirt Achomhairc) 2013: An Dara Céim - Thirty-third Amendment of the Constitution (Court of Appeal) Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Jul 2013)

Martin Conway: ...have a court of appeal. The Minister, in his comprehensive contribution, outlined how he believes the new court will work in practice. I note there is a delay of approximately four years in cases going before the Supreme Court. If the referendum is passed, it will enable the new court of appeal to quickly acquire some of the current caseload of the Supreme Court and address the logjam....