Results 4,801-4,820 of 6,020 for speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: I congratulate Ryanair. The Taoiseach is on his way to Dublin Airport to officially open the new Ryanair block. Ryanair has developed a global brand and is an example of what can be achieved by a small country. It is the leading airline in Europe and went from carrying 1 million passengers to almost 90 million passengers and I understand that in the coming years that figure will grow to...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Vaccination Programme (2 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: I thank the Minister of State for his reply. In the past five weeks, there have been seven meningitis B cases. I raise this in case I got the figure wrong earlier. I fully accept that the Minister cannot intervene in the recommendation process but he certainly can give a timeframe. The Minister can say he wants a recommendation by a particular date. We need a timeline. I cannot see any...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Vaccination Programme (2 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: I will get my office to contact the Minister of State's office.

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Vaccination Programme (2 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: I welcome the Minister of State. I am pleased a Minister from the Department of Health is responding to this important debate. The Government demonstrated a deep commitment to children by appointing a senior Minister with specific responsibility in this area. Through this and the children's rights referendum, it has displayed a commitment to children above and beyond what any previous...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: Including the Senator’s own.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: Could the Senator not send her an e-mail? That would be easier.

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: It was announced this morning that Ms Angela Kerins, the chief executive officer of Rehab, was to retire. I wish her well in her retirement. We have had many discussions on the charity sector recently and the fact that significant State support goes to what are called section 39 companies. With a debate on section 39 and a statement from the Minister on our position on reviews and acting...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Obesity Strategy (1 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: I thank the Minister for a positive and appropriate response. Recently I heard a story about a school, I am not sure which one, where after each class students were taken out to do two laps of the school and, apparently, productivity has increased dramatically. That is one simple example of a school being proactive in terms of physical activity. I am on the board of directors of the CARA...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Obesity Strategy (1 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: We have a problem with obesity. There has been significant research that shows that if children up to the age of 12 years are obese the likelihood of being obese into adulthood ranges from 80% to 90%. We all know the health implications and challenges that presents to the health service. I understand that based on this research the Government is planning to produce a task force report on...

Seanad: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: Such co-operation happens in the Seanad; it does not happen in the other House.

Seanad: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: Ar 10.30 maidin amárach.

Seanad: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: When Senator Quinn speaks on issues related to business he has to be taken extremely seriously because he created thousands of jobs in this country over many years. That said, I do not necessarily agree with his position on a third person. I believe it should be cost-neutral and should not end up being a negative cost to an employer if he or she has to deduct at source. This Bill aims to...

Seanad: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: I forgot when commenting on the section to ask what is the logic for not including attachment orders to State pensions and social welfare payments? Surely it is reasonable, if the burden of attachment orders is imposed on SMEs and other businesses – and I sincerely hope that can be ironed out on Report Stage – the same logic should apply to the State and its payment sections?...

Seanad: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: It just does not make sense.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: I wish to amend the Order of Business to the effect that we take only Committee Stage of the Bill today and take Report Stage next week.

Seanad: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (Resumed) (1 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: I appreciate what Senator Barrett says. Sometimes, however, prison needs to be used as a deterrent. Unfortunately, all too often the first response was to send someone to prison. In recent years, 8,000 people have been imprisoned, even just for a day, for non-payment of fines. This Bill is reforming in that it will dramatically reduce that number and make alternatives available, such as...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: My understanding is that the Leader proposed on the Order of Business this morning that we take Committee and Remaining Stages.

Seanad: Business of Seanad (1 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: I stand to be corrected. Perhaps a direction from the Chair is required. I believe that if the Leader makes a proposal on the Order of Business, it supersedes what is on the Order Paper. Is that the case?

Seanad: Fines (Payment and Recovery) Bill 2013: Committee Stage (1 Apr 2014)

Martin Conway: The issue Senator Quinn has raised has validity to be examined in greater detail based on the Minister of State's reply that this could happen under the Fines Act 2010 anyway. It is an excellent point but perhaps the Fines Act 2010 needs to be rectified. I ask the Minister of State to revert to the Minister for Justice and Equality on studying the possibility of changing that Act....