Results 201-220 of 544 for speaker:Vincent P Martin

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (16 Dec 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I would like to be associated with the warm congratulatory remarks. I offer the heartiest of congratulations to the Cathaoirleach and extend my best wishes to all of those leaving their posts, including Senator Mark Daly but also Senator Doherty who will pass on her position to a wonderful replacement in Senator Chambers. I recognise the work she has been done in pushing the boundaries....

Seanad: Election of Cathaoirleach (16 Dec 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Dynamic.

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

Vincent P Martin: I join those commending the Leader on arranging a most appropriate minute's silence for the late Private Seán Rooney. On behalf of the Green Party, an Comhaontas Glas, I convey our deepest sympathies to the family of Private Rooney, his counterpart from Ireland who was injured and the other soldiers who are not from Ireland and who were also injured in the attack. We have praised the...

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second and Subsequent Stages (14 Dec 2022)

Vincent P Martin: As always, the Minister of State is very welcome to the Chamber. As has been stated, Ireland has a community-rated voluntary private health insurance market, which means all people pay the same price for the same health insurance policy. The risk equalisation scheme is the mechanism designed to support the objective of our community-rated health insurance market. The content of this Bill,...

Seanad: Animal Health and Welfare (Dogs) Bill 2022: Second Stage (14 Dec 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I welcome the Minister of State, Senator Hackett, to a particular seat in the Chamber. It is always good to see her there. She has a keen interest in the subject matter of the Bill. I commend the Sinn Féin Seanad group on putting together a most worthwhile Bill. The Bill further strengthens provisions in animal health and welfare legislation relating to dogs, in particular re-homed...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Vincent P Martin: The language is interesting. We start with a “may”, as in “may have failed”, and then the “ordinary member may have been such as to bring the Board into disrepute”. Affording the chairperson the absolute discretion in one sense would not tie the hands of the chairperson. Because it is an absolute discretion, this person, who we would expect to be...

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Vincent P Martin: It cannot be any worse.

Seanad: Planning and Development and Foreshore (Amendment) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Dec 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I thank Senator Higgins for being vigilant on these matters. Part 3 of the Bill seeks to change the definition of foreshore. That has raised concerns, including among the wind energy developers. It is also likely to be of concern to any marine survey providers or to those who carry out wildlife surveys or geological surveys or even wildlife photography. Is the Minister of State in a...

Seanad: Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (7 Dec 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Senator Ó Donnghaile may be a relative newcomer to Seanad Éireann but Comhaontas Glas, or the Green Party, is brand new to it. This is our first time as a separate grouping in the Chamber. The opening words of Senators McGahern and O'Sullivan, who are from the two big parties that have been around since the foundation of the State, aptly summed up the late Senator Brennan. They...

Seanad: Childcare Services: Motion [Private Members] (7 Dec 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I commend the Labour Party grouping on tabling a motion into which they clearly put much thought and research. They were very professional and dedicated in their approach to this burning issue. The differences in the reality of politics between the Government parties and the Opposition are probably not as big as we think they are but there are differences. In her opening remarks, Senator...

Seanad: National Tourism Development Authority (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (6 Dec 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. The Bill is technical in substance and quite straightforward. Its main purpose is to permit the Minister to increase the aggregate level of advances that can be made to the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland, out of capital moneys approved by the Oireachtas. This funding is of use in supporting enterprises and...

Seanad: Wood for Construction: Motion (30 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I second the motion.

Seanad: Wood for Construction: Motion (30 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I congratulate and commend the Minister of State on the recent €1.3 billion investment in forestry. That will represent the largest ever investment by an Irish Government in tree-planting and is indicative of how seriously the Minister of State is taking this matter. In the 1600s there was 10% timber coverage in Ireland. In the following 300 years, our country was asset-stripped and...

Seanad: Wood for Construction: Motion (30 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: And our approach to-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Rule of Law Report: Engagement with European Commissioner for Justice (24 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Yes, I have a dual mandate. I thank the Commissioner for his comprehensive address. I welcome him and his delegation. A lot of ground has been covered but I have three questions on areas that have not been covered yet and I would be grateful if he could answer them. First, in March, the office of the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court opened investigations into war crimes...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Rule of Law Report: Engagement with European Commissioner for Justice (24 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I do not want to prejudice the matter but I just mean general information.

Seanad: Public Order and Safe Streets: Statements (23 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit go dtí an Teach. One way in which the national broadcaster did the State some service was by shining a light on this issue and not sweeping it under the carpet. It was upsetting to see the scenes on the premier street in Ireland, which is steeped in history. That situation is a microcosm of an issue that faces people in many parts of...

Seanad: Ireland's Military Neutrality: Motion [Private Members] (23 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I commend Senator Clonan and the Independent Group Members on tabling this important motion on what we in the Green Party regard as a crucial issue of Ireland and a much-valued neutrality. We have a proud history of neutrality of Ireland, given our Defence Forces have the longest unbroken record of overseas service with the UN of any country. This has always centred on humanitarianism and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: In respect of the disturbing events that have been highlighted and that are unfolding off the football field in Qatar, I rise to my feet on behalf of the Green Party, Comhaontas Glas, to associate myself as closely as I possibly can with the eloquent words of Senator Buttimer, who is a forthright and passionate campaigner on a quest for equality.That is all that Senator Buttimer and...