Results 2,761-2,780 of 6,065 for speaker:Martin Conway

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation Expert Review: Discussion. (13 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: It would.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation Expert Review: Discussion. (13 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: Why is the number of Travellers being given accommodation by approved housing bodies lower than it should be? Say that 15 houses are to be allocated, and the local authority give the approved housing body a list of 13 names, ten of whom are Travellers. The Travellers still might not be allocated a house. Has Professor Norris done any research on why that figure is so low?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation Expert Review: Discussion. (13 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: Would Professor Norris agree that a CEO of a local authority not using emergency powers because he or she wants to curry favour with the elected members at budget time is simply not good enough? Not only does the Department need to show more leadership in this area, but so too do CEOs and elected members in local authorities.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Traveller Accommodation Expert Review: Discussion. (13 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: I absolutely accept and welcome those recommendations, all of which must be implemented by the Government. It really annoys me that there are provisions in place under the current structure which are not being used effectively.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Latent Defects: Discussion (7 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: Apologies, I had to step out for a few minutes as I was doing a radio interview. I have listened to the witnesses' submissions. I have dealt with people affected by this issue in County Clare, if that can be believed. Two or three of those cases have been reasonably successfully resolved after a long time but others have not. There are two primary issues here. First, a pathway has to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government: Latent Defects: Discussion (7 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: Yes, exactly.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: Gabhaim buíochas a Leas-Chathaoirligh. I thank the Minister, Deputy McHugh, for coming in to deal with this important Commencement matter. I am from Ennistymon in County Clare, a town that has three schools which are doing their best in primitive buildings to provide quality education facilities and supports to more than 600 students. The Department has made a commitment and the money...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (6 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: I thank the Minister for renewing the Government's commitment to delivering this school as it is very important that it happen. I have no doubt about the Minister's personal commitment because I have spoken to him on numerous occasions in the last 12 months since his appointment about the importance of this project for the entire area of north Clare. It is reasonable to say that, after the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: I would like the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, to come in here and explain what is going on between the National Transport Authority, NTA, and Clare Bus with the delay in funding. It is totally unacceptable that vulnerable people in County Clare, who require the services of Clare Bus, would be hearing stories or speculation that there are issues. Whatever the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: Appalling.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Departmental Transformation Programme: Department of Justice and Equality (6 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: I welcome Mr. O'Driscoll and his senior officials. We all very much welcome what is on paper. Of course, time will tell whether it works. I, and all of us in the room, sincerely hope it does. Mr. O'Driscoll has headed the Department for just over a year. Would he agree with the Taoiseach's assessment at the time that the Department was dysfunctional, based on his experience over the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Departmental Transformation Programme: Department of Justice and Equality (6 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: That is very positive. The backdrop to the reviews which have taken place are based on what happened. A former Tánaiste had to resign and was subsequently exonerated by a tribunal of inquiry, largely because of the dysfunctional nature of the Department of Justice and Equality. Would Mr. O'Driscoll agree with that analysis?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Departmental Transformation Programme: Department of Justice and Equality (6 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: I have no doubt about that. Mr. O'Driscoll's statement is welcome because it is the first time the Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality has acknowledged that failures within the Department were at least partly responsible for the resignation of the former Tánaiste, Frances Fitzgerald, MEP, who was subsequently exonerated. Like other members, I welcome that....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Departmental Transformation Programme: Department of Justice and Equality (6 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: Does Mr. O'Driscoll agree with those former Ministers?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Departmental Transformation Programme: Department of Justice and Equality (6 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: I accept that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Departmental Transformation Programme: Department of Justice and Equality (6 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: Yes-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Departmental Transformation Programme: Department of Justice and Equality (6 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: I will just ask about two other areas, as I am conscious that other members also have questions. Some of the failures related to escalating issues to Ministers, a matter to which Mr. O'Driscoll alluded. What changes have been made in deciding whether something is worthy of escalation to ministerial level? That is the first element of the question. Second, has the Department developed new...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Departmental Transformation Programme: Department of Justice and Equality (6 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: That is very positive. Most people would agree that much transformation taking place within An Garda Síochána as well. I have a question about a current issue. Is Mr. O'Driscoll happy with his Department's recent handling of emergency accommodation and direct provision facilities for asylum seekers? Has the Department learned lessons from this ongoing issue? Will changes be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Departmental Transformation Programme: Department of Justice and Equality (6 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: I welcome the initiative in Borrisokane. Can Mr. O'Driscoll give us any indication as to whether the difficult and challenging issue on Achill Island is being resolved or has been resolved? When does the Department expect to move the 13 vulnerable women who were earmarked for Achill? Has the Department come to a final decision on whether that emergency accommodation will be used or not?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Departmental Transformation Programme: Department of Justice and Equality (6 Nov 2019)

Martin Conway: Just to be clear, the Department is currently paying for services on Achill Island that we are not using.