Results 5,761-5,780 of 6,020 for speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2012)

Martin Conway: It is welcome that the Minister will consider some of these points and revert to the House on Report Stage. I urge him to consider the €90 charge for registering with the Teaching Council. It is a large amount if a teacher does not find a job. There should be a means of reclaiming at least a portion of this amount if someone does not secure gainful employment after six months. This is...

Seanad: Education (Amendment) Bill 2012: Committee Stage (Resumed) (31 Jan 2012)

Martin Conway: When it does not show humanity, the measure needs to be prescribed.

Seanad: Schools Staffing (31 Jan 2012)

Martin Conway: I thank the Minister for coming to the House to take this Adjournment matter. There has been much speculation and discussion on the decision to cut career guidance teacher numbers. I would like to come at this issue from a different slant. There are several secondary schools in my constituency with between 200 and 300 pupils. As such, they do not have the magic 500 required to have a...

Seanad: Schools Staffing (31 Jan 2012)

Martin Conway: I thank the Minister for his reply. It is important that schools are reminded of their responsibilities under the Education Act 1998. I come from a rural area four hours from Dublin and one hour from Galway and Limerick. Children going to school in cities and their commuter belts tend to be better informed. While teachers have expertise in their own fields, if the career guidance...

Seanad: Order of Business (31 Jan 2012)

Martin Conway: I commend the Taoiseach and his European colleagues for achieving agreement last night on a mechanism to deal with the euro crisis. I call on the Attorney General to burn the midnight oil to bring certainty and clarity to the question of whether a referendum will be required. Uncertainty is both unhelpful and destabilising. I do not know why the Attorney General cannot provide her opinion...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jan 2012)

Martin Conway: The way in which the House conducted its business last night elevated the standing of the Seanad. It was a new departure in terms of policy making, policy discussion and policy delivery, which is the reason Senators are here. We saw significant movement in the right direction last night. People with disabilities will have their rights enshrined in legislation and we will see long overdue...

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Jan 2012)

Martin Conway: As my Independent colleagues know, I spoke with passion about an amendment but I was still uncomfortable with it. Everyone here is singing from the same hymn sheet, as the Leader pointed out, and it is a very good day for Seanad Éireann.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Jan 2012)

Martin Conway: If anyone questions its value all he or she needs to do is come to the Gallery today or watch proceedings and he or she will realise there is some exceptional ability in this House that can and will provide leadership during this difficult time and be an inspiration for change. We are fortunate to have a Minister of State with such capability. I withdraw the Government amendment and unite...

Seanad: Tourism Promotion (25 Jan 2012)

Martin Conway: I welcome the Minister to the House and I thank him for taking this matter. I was surprised when I was contacted by representatives of surfing groups recently to point out that the 23% VAT rate applied to surfing lessons. Despite my limited knowledge of surfing, I was surprised to learn that. They made the case that given surfing lessons are primarily taken by local children and tourists,...

Seanad: Tourism Promotion (25 Jan 2012)

Martin Conway: I thank the Minister for a comprehensive and informative reply. In regard to his comment that rates "must be between 15% and 25%" can a case be made for creating a VAT rate of 15% for certain activities? There are health benefits to getting people out on the water to exercise. Perhaps he might investigate with the Minister for Finance whether there is scope for creating a rate of 15%....

Seanad: Tourism Promotion (25 Jan 2012)

Martin Conway: They are not good at hurling in Kerry.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Jan 2012)

Martin Conway: Awesome chocolate.

Seanad: Services for People with Disabilities: Motion (25 Jan 2012)

Martin Conway: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after ''That'' and substitute the following: Seanad Éireann, considering the need to take account of the current budgetary and fiscal situation facing the State, recognises this Government's commitments to people with a disability in the programme for Government including: developing, in partnership with the disability sector, a national...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Jan 2012)

Martin Conway: I ask the Deputy Leader to seek clarity from the Minister for Finance on the story in The Irish Times today regarding the possible threat to our corporate tax rate. Ireland is experiencing its worst economic recession in generations. For years a key element of our economic prosperity was our attractive corporation tax rate. While I understand the position in Europe is turbulent and...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2011)

Martin Conway: I wish to say a big "go raibh maith agat" to Senator Ó Clochartaigh. He has been an inspiration to all of us in terms of the Irish language, to such a degree that I now have my own Irish tutor. Perhaps sometime in 2012 I will make a contribution as Gaeilge on the Order of Business. I do not wish to say a great deal this morning because I am sure at this stage the staff are probably sick of...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2011)

Martin Conway: ——to ensure that those who do not have the same opportunities at least get some sort of dignity and quality of life. The year 2012 will be a challenging one. We will have enormous opportunity but as elected representatives we have a responsibility to chart the future of this country as best we can. I wish everyone a safe journey. I will see them all in 2012.

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Dec 2011)

Martin Conway: Well said.

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)

Martin Conway: I, too, welcome the developments yesterday in the United States on the provision of visas for Irish people who wish to travel to the United States. I suggest to the Leader that it might be a good idea to invite the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade to come to the House in the new year for a debate on the undocumented Irish in America. The people concerned would love to be...

Seanad: Modern Languages Initiative (13 Dec 2011)

Martin Conway: I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon, for waiting to take this final Adjournment matter. The modern languages initiative in primary schools is an issue that was brought to my attention this weekend, due to the plans introduced in the budget, unbeknownst to many people, to end the initiative. This programme was introduced some time ago and has proven quite successful in...

Seanad: Modern Languages Initiative (13 Dec 2011)

Martin Conway: I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. I am glad that I was wrong to state the scheme would be brought to an end immediately. It is welcome that it will continue until June 2012. However, I will continue to contend that the teaching of modern languages is important and that the earlier children are exposed to them, the better their chances will be of developing a love...