Results 4,981-5,000 of 6,020 for speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: What we need to do is get behind this budget. I suggest to the Leader that Seanad Éireann gets behind and promotes this budget and injects the confidence into our economy that this budget is clearly designed to foster.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Shannon Aviation Services and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2013: Discussion (16 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: In terms of previous aviation policy, I contend we have had too many airports in the west and other regions getting State support from Donegal, Mayo-Galway, Kerry, Waterford and so on. For an island of our size aviation policy in the past was thwarted and not very well focused. Mayo airport has proven itself above and beyond the other airports I mentioned and there is a significant role for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Shannon Aviation Services and Miscellaneous Provisions Bill 2013: Discussion (16 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: I apologise for being late; I was detained in the Seanad Chamber. I echo what Deputy Dooley and Senator Mulcahy said regarding Clare County Council's continued and important involvement. It is Government policy that the local authority would take a more proactive role at national level in economic development with the enterprise board legislation and so on. However, the role Clare County...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: I welcome the Taoiseach's weekend announcement that he will bring into law a decision of the people in the 1970s. I hate to disagree with my colleagues on the other side of the House but this is significant reform because it is the only reform since 1937. If it comes to pass, it will be a major step in the right direction. Of course we would all like to see a lot more reform but let us...

Seanad: Irish Sign Language: Motion (9 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Irish Sign Language: Motion (9 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: It was remiss of me not to pay tribute to the signers who had to listen to us and regurgitate what we have been saying for the past two hours. I thank them. It is great to see sign interpreters in the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Seanad: Irish Sign Language: Motion (9 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: At 1 p.m. on Tuesday, 15 October 2013.

Seanad: Irish Sign Language: Motion (9 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: This has been a very interesting debate. I thank the contributors from all sides of the House. Each group except one was represented. I also commend the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, on her extremely comprehensive synopsis of what the Government is doing in every area, from the Revenue Commissioners and education to social welfare and the various pilot initiatives. They are...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Heads of the Gambling Control Bill 2013: Discussion (9 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: Deputy Collins covered some of the issues I wished to raise. I have two questions for Mr. Quirke's representatives. Earlier Mr. Quirke said this Bill did not facilitate what they are proposing. Does that make his project unviable and will the investors not go ahead with the project? The second question is academic in a sense but very important. Money laundering is a major problem. His...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Heads of the Gambling Control Bill 2013: Discussion (9 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: The witness said the legislation did not facilitate his project. Are the investors not prepared to go ahead should the legislation be passed in its proposed format?

Seanad: Business of Seanad (9 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: Yes, due to a misunderstanding at the gate, members of the deaf community whose lives will be affected by the debate-----

Seanad: Business of Seanad (9 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: I propose that we suspend the House for five minutes.

Seanad: Irish Sign Language: Motion (9 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: I move: “That Seanad Éireann: - recognises unequivocally Irish Sign Language as the preferred sign language of the deaf community in the State; - recognises Irish Sign Language as an expression of culture and an instrument for access to education and equal opportunities; - notes and commends the work of the many State and non-governmental organisations to support and promote the...

Seanad: Political Reform: Statements (8 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: I will take up the latter point made in Senator Mark Daly's contribution on inviting the JFK School of Government at Harvard University to examine our system of government. I studied there briefly in the mid-1990s. Were we to consider taking that line, the JFK School of Government would have a very interesting role to play, as would other academic institutions. When I was in UCD, I studied...

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: That mandate brings with it a deep responsibility. We certainly need to live up to and honour that responsibility.

Seanad: Order of Business (8 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: I too call for a period of calm reflection after what was a bumpy ride, to say the least, for the last few weeks. It was one of those peculiar, bizarre and typically Irish situations that the Seanad found itself it in, where its very survival was a matter of considerable public discourse. I believe that reform will happen in due course because the people voted very clearly for reform. They...

Seanad: Order of Business (3 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: Today is like the parliamentary form of the last supper. We do not know whether we will be executed or survive or what will happen, but either way it is a significant exercise in democracy whereby the people have their say on the future of this House. People may well be surprised by the outcome. I have engaged with the people. As a Senator, I feel as if I am somewhat in a glass bubble...

Seanad: Upward Only Rent (Clauses and Reviews) Bill 2013: Second Stage (2 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire go dtí an Teach. As public representatives, we are embarrassed when we are not in a position to deliver something for people which we believe they deserve. There is very little that embarrasses me as much as having to stand up here without a comprehensive solution to an appalling problem. To be fair to the last Government, it introduced the Land and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Gambling Control Bill: Discussion (2 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: I have a quick question regarding betting shops. The social responsibility is quite impressive but is it a voluntary process when staff in the shops attend the training courses? They have human contact, which means prevention can occur very quickly. Are all of the associated shops engaging in this training once or twice a year? I imagine businesses are suffering considerably because of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Gambling Control Bill: Discussion (2 Oct 2013)

Martin Conway: I thank everyone for the presentations and submissions, which were interesting. I raised an issue with the chief executive officer of Paddy Power two years ago at a Fine Gael meeting about people being refused mortgages, the primary reason for which was the fact that they had an online account with Paddy Power. The CEO said the company was engaging with the Financial Regulator and financial...