Results 4,941-4,960 of 6,064 for speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: We are cleaning up your mess.

Seanad: Protection of the Public Interest from Tobacco Lobbying Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: I agree with Senator Norris that one must be savage when one is dealing with these people. Their behaviour in this country, internationally and in the European Parliament in recent years has been appalling. I commend Senator Crown. We have had discussions on this issue on numerous occasions and I have tabled a number of Adjournment matters regarding the little things I have seen tobacco...

Seanad: Protection of the Public Interest from Tobacco Lobbying Bill 2013: Second Stage (18 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: It was a brave action at the time. I recall the publicans saying on the television, "We run Ireland. The meetings are held in our establishments. We say what happens." Thankfully, Deputy Martin had the courage of his convictions to stand up to that and lead the way. Many countries in Europe followed by imposing a ban on smoking, and rightly so. In fact, if I had my way, there would be...

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: I agree that we need to be very careful in what we say about NAMA. Senator Darragh O'Brien has done the State some service.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: When things go wrong and are not done the way they should be done, the people deserve to know. Senator O'Brien has fulfilled his responsibilities as a Member of this House.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: Of course he would pass information on to the Garda. He would always do what is right.

Seanad: Order of Business (18 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: I thank him in that regard. In the week that is in it, I support Senator Kelly's call for a debate on poverty. In each of the past two years, I have spoken in the run-up to Christmas about a homeless gentleman I used to see on the steps opposite the front gate of Leinster House. I have not seen him there so far this year. I shudder to think where that poor man might be at this time....

Seanad: Order of Business (17 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: I welcome the imminent announcement of the medium-term economic plan which is taking place today. We can certainly go forward with a new sense of renewal following the exit from the bailout. However, it is always worthwhile to remember that the human cost of the recession is still impacting on and being felt by hundreds of thousands of our citizens, people who lost their jobs and those in...

Seanad: Local Government Reform Bill 2013: Second Stage (16 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: I welcome the Minister. It is to his absolute credit that he has delivered on a commitment made to the Irish people during the most recent general election campaign that there would be radical local government reform. This was the final point in Fine Gael's five-point plan and the Labour Party also made a significant commitment in respect of this issue. In its election manifesto, Fine Gael...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Departmental Correspondence (11 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: I thank the Minister of State for his response. I acknowledge that the Minister is sincere in her endeavours in this area. The point of this matter on the Adjournment is that decisive action is required at the time of the issue of a death certificate. There needs to be very strict protocols so that as soon as a death certificate is issued, the Department of Social Protection is informed...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Departmental Correspondence (11 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: I have tabled this Adjournment matter as a result of the public highlighting of the fact that relatives of deceased people are receiving correspondence from the Department of Social Protection. I have had several telephone conversations and items of electronic correspondence with the Department since tabling the matter to establish why I did so. The reason is quite simple. I have been...

Seanad: Child and Family Agency Bill 2013: Fifth Stage (5 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: As a Member who participated in the debate, I would like to thank the Minister for the briefings which were made available to us in advance of the Bill. In particular, I pay tribute to Senator van Turnhout who put an enormous amount of work into the Bill. Perhaps in the future when we are looking at political reform, there might be more scope for more engagement in advance of amendments...

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: It is a bit rich to listen to some people talking about the Irish language, given that they destroyed it for the 14 years they spent in government.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: It is an absolute fact.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: As a matter of fact, it destroyed it for the last 60 or 70 years.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: In fairness to Senator Ó Clochartaigh, at least he is making some effort to promote the Irish language within the Houses.

Seanad: Order of Business (5 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: I welcome yesterday's announcement that Garda recruitment will take place in the coming months. It is another step in the right direction. I commend the action taken by the Garda in west Clare in recent days to deal with money laundering and money lending. It is a significant step in the right direction as we try to deal with those who abuse vulnerable people who are in debt and facing...

Seanad: Mental Health Services: Motion (4 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: I welcome the Minister of State to the House and pay tribute to the Labour Party Senators for tabling this timely motion on an issue which has been given significant time in this House, in terms of discussion, over the past couple of years. It is important to acknowledge the Minister of State's deep, personal commitment to this area despite the challenging economic climate in which we find...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: I was delighted to hear the announcement by Aer Lingus's regional division that it will be bringing 100,000 extra passengers through the newly independent Shannon Airport next year. The airline intends to have a daily service between Shannon and Bristol and to double capacity on the existing routes to Manchester and Birmingham. This will create 20 jobs in Shannon and is a direct consequence...

Seanad: Order of Business (4 Dec 2013)

Martin Conway: Indeed. In addition to the abolition of the travel tax, we have had other successful tourism initiatives such as The Gathering-----