Results 261-280 of 544 for speaker:Vincent P Martin

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I welcome the Minister. We are all familiar with the horrific tragedy of the Stardust. On Valentines' Day 1981, 48 young people died and another 214 were injured as a result of a fire in the Stardust nightclub. The families of these victims have waited justice since then, more than 40 years, for justice. I am glad we are finally beginning that process but it should not have taken so long....

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Once again, I welcome the Minister to the House. She is a frequent visitor. It is always great to see her in the House. I thank her for her opening statement. It was comprehensive and full of candour but it was very depressing. In her opening remarks, the Minister said: On 5 April this year, the Court of Justice delivered its ruling. In essence, the court confirmed that general and...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I see some merit in the Labour Party's amendment No. 82. I note that it makes reference to section 46N, which relates to the rules that apply in these instances. This is an important area and one in which I have a particular interest. We all know we live in a constitutional democracy and there are statutory obligations as well as constitutional obligations. However, all signposts and roads...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Last Sunday, an extraordinary general meeting, EGM, of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association, IABA, took place in Roscommon town where the delegates voted against allowing company EGMs and annual general meetings, AGMs, to take place in Northern Ireland. Furthermore, again concerning EGMs and AGMs, a motion to change the wording in the company's constitution from State to the island of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: The IABA delegates acted in a reckless way with no regard whatsoever for the fine boxing heritage and history in this country. They do not reflect the followers of boxing. They do not reflect the Kellie Harringtons and Katie Taylors. They do not reflect Eric "Lilywhite Lightening" Donovan from County Kildare, who epitomises all that is decent in the sport of boxing and wish him well as he...

Seanad: Night-time Economy: Motion (13 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: The night-time economy task force report was published in September 2021. It contained 36 actions across a broad range of issues associated with the night-time economy, all with the aim of increasing the diversity of events, increasing cultural opportunities for families and other age groups into the evening, and looking at new ways of encouraging innovation and creativity in the night-time...

Seanad: Night-time Economy: Motion (13 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Lillie's and Renards as well.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Sep 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Many words of sympathy and condolence have already been spoken in respect of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. I commend those who arranged a minute's silence in this House yesterday. I attended that with His Excellency, Paul Johnston, the British Ambassador to Ireland. I recall the Leader of the House, while she moved the motion of sympathy, including that we should remember people in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I appreciate we will be talking about the budget later but I want to acknowledge that the Government really seemed to have a go today at making a tangible, robust response to the crippling issue of the cost of living. It has done so in a robust way but in a way that is not economically reckless. In this cost-of-living crisis, we should not lose sight of mental wellness and the power of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2022)

Vincent P Martin: As he would tell people, his life was full of adversity but he turned it around. He would say boxing probably saved his life and now he is a role model who visits schools and gives talks. TG4 brought his boxing fight live into many homes in Ireland. Gabhaim buíochas le TG4 agus déanaim comhghairdeas le Eric Donovan. Is ambasadóir iontach é don dornálaíocht...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by the Rt. Hon. Lord John McFall, Lord Speaker of the House of Lords (5 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: On behalf of the Green Party, I extend a very warm welcome to Seanad Éireann to Lord McFall of Alcluith. He is a reforming voice in his own House and, in many respects, his quest for reform of the House of Lords mirrors an appetite for real reform of Seanad Éireann. For instance, he is on record as saying that he would like to see the House of Lords as a vibrant outward-facing...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: The Minister is very welcome to the Chamber. I surmise that the heart of this legislative initiative is more transparency and open competition. Each generation should not fear review and reform. Ways can always be found to make things better than they are because nothing is perfect. However, as other speakers have said, the appointments process in this State to date has served us very...

Seanad: Passport Office: Motion (5 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I commend the motion. The proposer of the motion cited Article 2 of Bunreacht na hÉireann and other contributors have referred to the symbolic nature of the motion, as well as the substantive point. Article 4 of the Constitution states "The name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland." Article 5 of the Constitution proclaims "Ireland is a sovereign,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Enforcement of Road Traffic Offences: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I do not wish to go over ground that has already been covered. I thank all the expert contributors to this important discussion. I was going to make a point in respect of automatic number plate recognition technology but it has more or less been made already by Deputy Leddin. I understand why people adversely impacted by this issue have questions regarding the technology having been rolled...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Enforcement of Road Traffic Offences: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I am at an advanced stage of researching a Bill for regulation of the sale, supply and manufacture of number plates. The cloning and fraudulent use of number plates is a problem for An Garda Síochána. Although my Bill is aimed at combatting crime or making crime more difficult, it would come into play in this regard as well. It would be complementary in the sense that there would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Enforcement of Road Traffic Offences: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I thank our guests.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Last weekend, Naas and Kill saw the inaugural Féile Liam O'Flynn, a festival on a national stage that will become an annual festival to celebrate the life, times and contribution of famous and renowned Kildare uilleann piper Liam O'Flynn. It also celebrated the contribution of so many Kildare people to music. There were workshops, scholarships and sessions, and thousands flocked to...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Young Voices on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Like the previous Senators, I thank all of the participants from the bottom of my heart for their wonderful contributions. Ms Anderson is brave, courageous, and so articulate. Probably the most difficult question for Ms Anderson is "How do we get more Blairs on the front line of Irish life and society?" I would like that. How can we facilitate more Blairs? I loved Mr. Taylor's...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Young Voices on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: If not in the Green Party then I must be selfless here because there is a bigger picture than the Green Party and Ireland comes first. I would like our guests, as formidable people-----