Results 4,521-4,540 of 6,020 for speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (15 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: I welcome the Minister for Health to the House. This is very progressive legislation, because it brings equity, fairness and certainty to the health insurance market. We do have competition in the health insurance market now, which we did not have some 15 or 20 years ago when one state-owned operation controlled it. Now people can chop and change and benefit from competition. This is...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: While of course we take people's word on things, we must have proper checks and balances. I always have made that point and as a member of Clare County Council, I tabled a motion to that effect. Although I lost that motion, I felt I had done the right thing.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: That is what is important in politics. Second, Christmas is coming and the Seanad has discussed homelessness and various other challenges many citizens face. However, another group in society in Ireland are those people in direct provision who will spend a further Christmas in that system as a result of Government inaction. I sincerely hope this will be the last Christmas in which people...

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: I rise today for two reasons. The first one is, funnily enough, in agreement with Senator Norris.

Seanad: Order of Business (11 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: I am a Clare Senator but I do believe flights should be inspected. We should have the confidence in ourselves, as an independent sovereign State, to be able to tell any of our international visitors, whether they are friendly nations or not, that we are going to inspect their planes.

Seanad: Restructuring of Pensions at Aer Lingus: Statements (10 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: I welcome the Minister to the House. He is a Minister for whom I have huge regard. Of all the Ministers in government, he is certainly doing an exceptionally good job. On this particular issue, I find myself in agreement with my colleagues on the other side of the House. Let us look at the scenario as it is. Many of the people on these deferred pensions agreed to retire early and have...

Seanad: Homelessness: Statements (3 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: I also welcome the Minister. This is our first opportunity to welcome the Minister since his significant announcement last week about a multi-annual social housing programme, which is ultimately the one way of reducing homelessness. As we all know, homelessness is a very complex problem, which requires multi-agency intervention to resolve. Many homeless people unfortunately have drink...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: It is welcome.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: I thank Senator Burke for stepping in on my behalf earlier on and I welcome the Minister of State to the House again. The Minister of State breathes fresh air in a political system and culture that needs to be shaken up and fundamentally changed.

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: Senator Crown's Bill also echoes the type of fresh air and grown-up politics we need in this country. I am glad that the Government, at least on this occasion, is not opposing Second Stage. I hope that follows through into Committee and Report Stages, because the time has come in this House - and, indeed, in the Lower House - that we started taking a more mature approach to Private Members'...

Seanad: Defamation (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (3 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: He is honest.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Aggressive Begging from a Public Order Perspective: Discussion (3 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: It is great to see such a broad church of groups coming together. The fact that Oireachtas Members know many of the witnesses means that they are effective in lobbying. I am glad that they defined aggressive begging because I wondered what it was. It is a phenomenon in most cities, but it is difficult to find best practice in dealing with it. I suggest the best way of dealing with it is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Aggressive Begging from a Public Order Perspective: Discussion (3 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: I would like to hear Mr. Cummins's view on this because I experienced it myself in one of his association's restaurants on Dame Street. On two occasions, somebody came in to the outside area of the restaurant selling lines to people who were having a meal. I see Ms Devitt's point but one cannot really divide the two. In my view, it really is aggressive begging.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Aggressive Begging from a Public Order Perspective: Discussion (3 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: The biggest challenge for Mr. Cummin's members is that there are outside areas, be they for smoking or during the summer. The business owners tend not to have the same control outside for whatever reason. However, I would like Mr. Cummins to factor it into his future deliberations.

Seanad: Geological Survey of Ireland: Statements (Resumed) (2 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: I commend the Minister on his embrace of Gaeilge. He will be an inspiration to many who unfortunately fell between the cracks when it came to learning Irish at second level. I speak on behalf of my colleague, Senator Mulcahy, who is not available to speak on it. I do not know a great deal about this issue but I find it fascinating. The evolution of the teaching of geography has been...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: I echo the sentiments expressed by Senators across the House in respect of homelessness. I recall, during my first Christmas as a Member of the Seanad, raising the fact that a homeless individual was sleeping rough across the road from the Leinster House complex. People who could have made a difference were continually entering and leaving the Houses at the time but that gentleman was still...

Seanad: Flood Management: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Martin Conway: She has a big support base.

Seanad: Flood Management: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Martin Conway: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. I agree with my good friend, Senator Byrne, particularly his comments on planning and what our predecessors across the political divide have done in zoning land on flood plains. They contributed significantly to the cynicism that people have about politics. It is heartbreaking to see the flooding of houses that unfortunate people had purchased...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Martin Conway: I wish to distance myself from the remarks made about the Garda Commissioner. I wish Noirín O'Sullivan the best of luck. It is a great week for her and her family. To be the first female Garda Commissioner is a significant achievement. It is worth noting that practically all of the senior positions in the justice sector are now held by females. We are witnessing positive changing...

Seanad: Order of Business (27 Nov 2014)

Martin Conway: It is all par for the course.