Results 1,041-1,060 of 6,020 for speaker:Martin Conway

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Shannon Aviation Services and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2013: Discussion (16 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: In terms of previous aviation policy, I contend we have had too many airports in the west and other regions getting State support from Donegal, Mayo-Galway, Kerry, Waterford and so on. For an island of our size aviation policy in the past was thwarted and not very well focused. Mayo airport has proven itself above and beyond the other airports I mentioned and there is a significant role for...

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: I would like to bring to the attention of the House an issue that was mentioned to me yesterday by a couple of old people. It appears that electronic panic buttons are connected through landlines. If this is the case, perhaps the Leader might suggest to the Minister for Finance that the forthcoming Finance Bill should provide for some sort of financial assistance to be given to older people...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: Like many others, I regard as very difficult and distasteful the personal campaign against the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly. To be quite honest-----

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: It is deeply personal, vindictive, bad minded, unfair and unjust.

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: When criticism is deserved, like others, I give it, but, by God, when it is not deserved, I will defend the person being criticised. What was said in the media over the weekend against the Minister was nothing short of a scandal. People should begin to realise that we all have responsibilities as Members of the Oireachtas to do the right thing. Governments do not always get it right. More...

Seanad: Order of Business (22 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: When an effort is being made to do things right, people should appreciate it. I agree with Senator O’Donnell that we need to see people, not just in the construction sector such as engineers and architects who signed off on bad buildings, but also the bankers brought to book. Will the Minister for Justice and Equality update the House as to how the investigations into bringing some of...

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

Martin Conway: I welcome the Minister, Deputy Hogan. I assure Senator Ó Murchú that The One Percent Difference campaign is designed to encourage, in a targeted and focused way, businesses, companies and corporations to start giving. The Irish people are known for their generosity but we have not co-ordinated our efforts in the context of how we might procure money from them. The Government has...

Seanad: Order of Business (23 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: Will the Leader ask the Minister for Finance to examine the possibility of every citizen over the age of 18 years with a PPS number being required to make a tax return, even if it is a nil return? This works in other countries and would reduce the temptation to operate in the black market if people had to make a statutory declaration at the end of October every year. It would also create a...

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

Martin Conway: I commend Senators van Turnhout and Mac Conghail and their colleagues on tabling this important motion. I welcome the Minister to the House. Everybody wants a better system than what is in existence. Unfortunately, Ireland was probably caught with its eyes closed to this problem in the mid-1990s when asylum seekers travelled here for a better life and to escape torture and so on. The...

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

Martin Conway: At 10.30 a.m. tomorrow.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: I join other colleagues in expressing my deepest sympathy to the family of Niall Donohue, a great hurler. We saw him play last year in the all-Ireland, when many hoped Galway would win. It is desperate. I welcome the announcement by Ryanair this morning of eight new routes to Shannon. It is estimated that they will bring an extra 300,000 passengers into the airport and create 300 jobs....

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: It will result in the creation of many more jobs than just the 300 at the airport. It is a good news story and it is the responsibility of all of us to welcome that. I commend him.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: I commend the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport on the work they have done in the background over the past number of months to ensure this has happened.

Seanad: Order of Business (24 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: I can guarantee the 300,000 extra passengers that they will get a great céad míle fáilte in County Clare.

Seanad: EU Scrutiny and Transparency in Government Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: I might detain people but I shall make my contribution nonetheless. I welcome the Minister of State. He is probably one of the most frequent visitors to the House and is always extremely welcome. We have often heard about a scrutinising role during discourse here. Even yesterday, during the Seanad discussions with the Taoiseach, it was stated that the House could play a key role in the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Commercial Rates Issues (5 Nov 2013)

Martin Conway: Often, politicians and journalists do not agree. That can often happen for valid reasons on both sides. Journalists can be overly critical of politicians at times, sometimes unfairly so. Martin Breheny from the Irish Independent is a journalist for whom I have high regard. Most of the time, he reports on sport and does a very good job. His article last Wednesday was particularly damning...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2013)

Martin Conway: As a member of Clare County Council I had the opportunity to serve on the western river basin water consultation committee. This was a hugely enlightening experience which allowed us to develop a forensic knowledge of water pollution and the challenges facing the country in terms of producing purified water. There has been a proposal by Dublin City Council for some time to extract between...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Martin Conway: Fianna Fáil cut the Christmas bonus.

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Martin Conway: This is an important section which reflects the genuine effort by the Minister to deal with what Senator David Norris rightly described as an extremely difficult situation. I would not necessarily disagree with the Senator when he attributes the difficulty to capitalism. We had a right-wing government in this country for 14 years and a particularly right-wing Administration for nine of...

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions Bill 2013: Committee Stage (6 Nov 2013)

Martin Conway: Indeed.