Results 181-200 of 439 for long speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Martin Conway: ...committee with regard to sign language. We need to reconstitute the Seanad Public Consultation Committee and I propose that the first work the committee would do is a report on domestic violence. Long Covid is becoming a big problem and we need a strategy for dealing with it.We need a strategy on long Covid. Many people who get Covid are asymptomatic. Some end up being sick, but most...

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

Martin Conway: ..., making an unstinting commitment. I also salute the thousands of volunteers who give blood regularly and not so regularly. On this day, I encourage those who might not have given blood for a long time to consider doing so. If there are those who are in a position to donate and have not done so to give it a try because it saves lives. The hospitality industry is open and, hopefully,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Disability Matters: United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Ratification of Optional Protocol: Discussion (27 May 2021)

Martin Conway: ...elected, it is a minute - tiny - proportion, because of the ten in the European Parliament, my understanding is that a number of them get elected through the list system. I think that for a long time, former MEP Mr. Brian Crowley was the only one directly elected by the people. If there were more who were directly elected or got through the list system, it would certainly help the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Air Services (24 May 2021)

Martin Conway: ...for it to survive. The company must survive. It is critical from an Irish perspective and to secure connectivity. If, however, we are to write the cheque, it cannot be a blank cheque. We need commitments. First, we need a long-term commitment from Aer Lingus that it will keep the Heathrow slots to create and maintain connectivity between Shannon and Heathrow. Second, we need a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Air Services (24 May 2021)

Martin Conway: .... If it gets €150 million, which I understand it is seeking, we need three commitments from it. First, it must maintain the Heathrow slots in and out of Shannon. Second, it must commit to long-term to strategic routes, transatlantic and in and out of Heathrow, because that is what is required from a foreign direct investment and tourism perspective, particularly with North...

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

Martin Conway: ...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 variant, which...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 May 2021)

Martin Conway: ...in respect of reducing the impact of mandatory hotel quarantine and to remove it for a number of, if not all, European states. However, I am still waiting for meaningful short-, medium- and long-term plans regarding how we are going to assist our aviation industry in getting out of the situation in which it currently finds itself. This morning, Ryanair announced a loss of €850...

Seanad: Young People: Motion (17 May 2021)

Martin Conway: ...and commendable. This generation of young people will define our future in a very positive way. As a society, we have a responsibility to make Ireland attractive to young people. For too long, we have seen our young professionals leave the country as soon as they qualify and gain a year's experience in employment. We have lost thousands of medical professionals, from doctors and nurses...

Seanad: Carer's Allowance: Motion (10 May 2021)

Martin Conway: I second the motion as clearly laid out by my colleague, Senator Seery Kearney. For too long carers were completely undervalued in this society. I believe it is changing. I believe the mindset regarding carers and the great role they play in our society is changing. This was very much formalised in the clear, precise and concise commitments made in the programme for Government last year....

Seanad: Business and Covid-19: Statements (30 Apr 2021)

Martin Conway: ...is our landscape, heritage, culture, tradition, shorelines and so on. It is fantastic in that regard. Aviation is clearly important in my area of the country. We need a plan in terms of short, medium and long-term air traffic and aviation recovery, not just in terms of travel but the aviation industry. We have seen GE Capital Aviation Services, GECAS, and AerCap are joining up....

Seanad: Post Office Network: Motion (26 Apr 2021)

Martin Conway: ...good when compared with international standards. The future of the post office has been debated in the Houses of the Oireachtas and within communities or the media in this country for a long time. Many post offices that had been open and served their communities with distinction are no longer open and were probably not viable. My goal today is to secure what remains of post office...

Seanad: Water Quality: Motion (19 Apr 2021)

Martin Conway: ...I commend my county colleague and friend, Senator Garvey, on tabling one of the most substantial Private Members' motions I have seen. It is very important. I recall when investment was planned a long number of years ago when I started in the House, and the Irish Water model was proposed. People protested in the streets. Paying for water is appropriate if people can afford it because...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: Operation of the Medical Card Scheme: Discussion (30 Mar 2021)

Martin Conway: That is fine; I would appreciate if Mr. Flanagan could make it available. I have had a concern for a long time that a percentage of people have medical cards in their possession simply because they are used as a criterion for accessing other services such as school bus transport. I have been concerned that the number of medical cards is inflated to some degree because of that requirement. I...

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

Martin Conway: ...of the Department of Health to ring the director general of RTÉ to intervene in a programme to be aired that night. I will not say it was inappropriate because he had good reasons for doing so and is a long-standing civil servant. I do not question his motivation. However, it is rather unusual that it would happen. I would like to know why it happened and what was the information...

Seanad: Covid-19 Vaccination Programme: Statements (29 Mar 2021)

Martin Conway: ..., as the Minister knows. Regarding tomorrow's announcement, I will probably go against what has been said by many. I want NPHET and the Government to be conservative in what they reopen. We have gone a long way in tackling this disease. People are being vaccinated and a great job will be done in that regard over the next three months. For the sake of another six to eight weeks, why...

Seanad: Matters Arising from the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU: Statements (29 Mar 2021)

Martin Conway: ...is commendable. He has done this country and Europe enormous service in his calm, sure-footed approach to dealing with a tricky, complex and difficult issue that will, if not done right, have long-term implications for the country. At least we can minimise those implications. I listened to Senator Byrne and others talking about flour.There is a case to be made. It will be an issue...

Seanad: Quality in Public Procurement (Contract Preparation and Award Criteria) Bill 2021: Second Stage (26 Mar 2021)

Martin Conway: The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. I commend Senator Alice Mary Higgins on what is very prudent legislation. For too long procurement has been price driven. The rule of thumb is 15% in terms of quality and 85% in terms of price but that is not reflective of a modern world where we want and deserve quality. I refer to one of the well known examples that is in the public...

Seanad: Covid-19 (Tourism): Statements (22 Mar 2021)

Martin Conway: ...potential benefit there is to the surrounding communities. Whatever happens at the Cliffs of Moher has to complement the other towns and villages in north Clare, not compete with them. For too long, the Cliffs of Moher experience has not lived up to the hope and expectation in terms of driving economic development and visitor numbers in the surrounding towns and villages. That needs to...

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

Martin Conway: ...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 are times when it has unintended consequences and, in my...

Seanad: Student Nurses (Pay) Bill 2021: Second Stage (19 Feb 2021)

Martin Conway: ...have also gone above and beyond the call of duty in providing essential services. The people who clean the hospitals have an absolutely critical role to play, a role they have been playing for a long time and particularly during this pandemic. The porters have also played a very important role. The whole healthcare community has been elevated significantly in the public's admiration....