Results 3,461-3,480 of 6,065 for speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (4 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: The last Minister for Justice and Equality was not a practising------

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Movement Therapy Programme (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: I would like to welcome the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Naughten, to the House. I met two ladies, Ms Aoife Caulfield and Ms Judy Breen, in Ennis two or three weeks ago. I have a particular interest in education, particularly that of small children. I am committed that they should be able to read and write as proficiently as possible. These two...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Movement Therapy Programme (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: I thank the Minister for a very detailed explanation of the theory, which I am getting my own head around. It appears to be very convincing. It is appropriate that it would be referred to the body to which the Minister referred. Is there a timeline? We all know about things being referred to bodies, and it seems to be an infinite timeline. Is there a specific eight-week, 12-week,...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: Senator Norris should try not to do it again.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: It is liberals.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: I had indicated some time ago.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: I indicated at the very start that I wished to speak. I am just pointing that out to the Acting Chairman.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: I indicated my intention to speak was before it was resumed. It was before it finished the last time.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: I thought I was the one with the eyesight problem.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: This debate has already proved to be a very interesting and provocative debate. I listened with great intent to Senator McDowell who made genuine points. I do not question his motivation but I do not agree with him either. The word "diversity" has been bandied about a lot but it still is and will always be an extremely important word. Diversity is something that should define us a people...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: That is a totally separate issue. There is no point in blurring this important debate with a political charge.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: To be fair to Senator Craughwell, he will present us with a presidential election. I wish him the very best of luck and I am sure every Senator in the House would also wish him well. Of course, Michael D. Higgins is a great President. I sincerely hope that he stands again and, if so, he will have our full support.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: Yes. A presidential election is inevitable.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: It seems that Sinn Féin-----

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: -----will field a candidate anyway.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: The presidential election will be very interesting.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: If I was not interrupted it would be grand. Diversity is what should define us and it should be an aspiration. Senator Ruane was right to table her amendments as it has provoked this debate. I wish to say the following to Senator McDowell. Merit is a basic requirement. I believe that nobody should be considered for appointment unless he or she has merit, irrespective of his or her...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: They should not. Senator McDowell gave very detailed examples yet I did not hear him outline the type of scenario that I have just done. In order words, I wish to reverse his argument. Let us say somebody from the Traveller community was lucky enough to reach the level of junior or senior counsel, and the position of a District Court judge was being considered, and let us say it was noted...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Committee Stage (Resumed) (3 Jul 2018)

Martin Conway: I have not finished my contribution yet. I urge the Minister for Justice and Equality to see what he can do in the next week in terms of Report Stage. I urge him to come up with a formula that embraces what Senator Ruane wants to achieve and what I presume that we, as a group, want to achieve. We may approach the matter from different angles and I sincerely hope that everybody in the House...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2017: Second Stage (20 Jun 2018)

Martin Conway: I also welcome the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, back to the House. He is a regular visitor at this stage. I will begin on a positive note. It is commendable that Senator McDowell will not oppose this Bill on Second Stage. People putting forward Bills often call for Bills to go to Committee Stage, and ask others that they not oppose Bills on Second Stage but allow the debate to continue....