Results 4,161-4,180 of 6,020 for speaker:Martin Conway

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019 (Resumed): Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Martin Conway: We could start in Leinster House by making it a complete no-smoking campus.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019 (Resumed): Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Martin Conway: I would be the first to support it because the smoking areas in Leinster House are disgusting to pass. I know I will not be popular with certain people for saying this but I believe that needs to happen. There seems to be a lot of agreement on what needs to happen vis-à-visthis legislation but as a committee, we should prepare a report on increasing no-smoking areas in the public realm.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019 (Resumed): Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Martin Conway: Well done on that. I would certainly support such a measure. We have come a long way and the silent majority are on the side of further restrictions. I suspect that if there was a proposal to reintroduce smoking in pubs, there would be an outcry, similar to the outcry in 2003 when the current Taoiseach and then Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Micheál Martin, introduced the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Public Health (Tobacco and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Bill 2019 (Resumed): Discussion (17 Nov 2021)

Martin Conway: The witnesses are calling for plain packaging as part of this legislation but I believe e-cigarettes should be completely banned or at least kept under the counter, the same as cigarettes. I also believe that vaping shops should be closed down because they are made to look trendy. They are usually beside mobile phone shops and we know that young people love their mobile phones. A type of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: On 30 November I stood in the House and called for all the resources of the State to be deployed to deliver the third vaccine dose, also known as the booster. I looked for pharmacies, especially those in rural areas, to be facilitated to open late, for the Defence Forces to be used where appropriate and for any possible resources needed in order to get booster jabs into people as quickly as...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: Yesterday, 14 December, was International Sign Language Day. We should always celebrate that day because this House, under the Cathaoirleach's leadership, was responsible for the Irish Sign Language Act, which was signed into law on 24 December 2017. During the pandemic, we saw, front and centre, how important signers are. I offer a shout-out to the people who work in sign language, train...

Seanad: Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: I endorse all that has been said by the Minister of State and Senator Clifford-Lee. It is because of this virus the Government has to bring in restrictions. I take great heart from the research made available yesterday which states that following on from what has been articulated in terms of the difficulties and challenges that this new variant is causing, 80% of people have altered their...

Seanad: Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: Everything we do in this House has to be predicated on human rights. It is very difficult to bring through legislation that in any way impacts on civil liberties, but the reality is that we are in a health emergency. We are in a pandemic the likes of which has not occurred previously in our lifetime or that of previous generations. As I understand it, the last pandemic dates back over 100...

Seanad: Health and Criminal Justice (Covid-19) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: There is merit in what is being proposed here regarding oversight and the availability of information. The more information people have, the more informed they are about why decisions have to be made, the purpose of those decisions and the effect they will have. Information is powerful and no organisation should ever be afraid of sharing as much information as possible. I believe there...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (15 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. I will take this opportunity to wish her all the very best for Christmas. I hope she will get a bit of a break. This Bill is legislation that comes before us annually. There are always little bits and pieces of it that change. I agree with my colleague and friend, Senator Boyhan, in wanting to know a little more about the stamp duty...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (15 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: Will the Minister of State keep us posted on this issue?

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (15 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: I thank the Minister of State.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: I acknowledge the Cathaoirleach and wish him a very happy Christmas. I thank the Clerk and his team for the great work they do, and all the great people in Leinster House who do so much for us. I also thank all our colleagues across the House. Since we resumed meeting in person we have got to know each other a lot better. The work we do here is absolutely fantastic. It is going to be a...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2021: Second Stage (16 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: As always, the Minister is welcome to the Chamber. She is heading up a Department known as "Social Protection", with the idea being that we protect our people at a time in their lives when they need us. Thousands of people never thought they would have to engage actively with the Department during their healthy working lives until 18 months ago when they were let go from work because of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: It would be appropriate to give the Minister five minutes to outline them and that it would not eat into Deputy Cullinane's time.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: To be honest, it is bad practice.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: I am glad the Minister acknowledges it. It is terrible.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: Chairman, may I take my slot, please?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: I have just been sidelined.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Review of Scope and Structure of Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act: Engagement with Minister for Health (8 Dec 2021)

Martin Conway: Yes. That means a precedent has already been set, and that is just one example I can think of. A precedent has already been set within the Department of the Minister appointing a chair. It is a ridiculous argument. The Minister has said the hope is for a chair to be in place by early January. Going through a tendering process, there is surely to God a period in which people can respond....