Results 1,261-1,280 of 6,020 for speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Environmental Schemes (15 Nov 2022)

Martin Conway: I thank the Minister for his response. There is no doubt that the ACRES scheme has huge benefits; nobody is disputing that. We are talking about a few hundred farmers who will be negatively impacted. In the overall scale of the financial commitment under ACRES, it is very small. There is a sense of morale, support, recognition and appreciation but ultimately, in these very difficult...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Nov 2022)

Martin Conway: I, too, echo the words of our Leader and Senator Daly on the passing of Vicky Phelan. As Fine Gael spokesperson on health, and having the privilege to be a member of the Joint Committee on Health, I am even more cognisant of the impact that Vicky's campaigning, and the terrible tragedy that happened to her, had in terms of positive change. That positive change certainly has a long way to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Martin Conway: I thank Deputy Commissioner McMahon and her team for attending today. She has outlined some very practical concerns that An Garda Síochána has with the proposed legislation. As a committee, we have a duty and responsibility to articulate these on behalf of the Garda and to ensure our pre-legislative scrutiny reflects them. The termination-of-pregnancy legislation has now been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Martin Conway: This law is being introduced because of feedback to the effect that there is intimidation at some of the facilities. Has Ms McMahon statistics on how often Garda support or services were requested at termination facilities?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Martin Conway: As for other laws of the land that would apply, including in respect of public order offences and intimidation, have there been any arrests associated with protests?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Martin Conway: On the safe access zones in general, the only parallel that exists is the 50 m rule applying to canvassing and intimidation at polling stations. The Garda seems to have dealt with this very effectively. Clearly, the Garda has concerns about being able to implement what is being proposed here. The four-E approach that is proposed has worked in the context of many laws and not just Covid...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Martin Conway: This system exists in other countries. Has An Garda Síochána engaged with international colleagues at European level on how they manage it? Has it had any formal or informal engagements internationally?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Martin Conway: Sorry -----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: General Scheme of the Health (Termination of Pregnancy Services (Safe Access Zones)) Bill 2022: An Garda Síochána (9 Nov 2022)

Martin Conway: Having been on the oversight committee for Europol in the previous Oireachtas, I know it could certainly help with that. I genuinely understand the concerns An Garda Síochána has about policing this proposed law. Our deliberations here will have to reflect those difficulties and challenges. Parallel to that, women who need and seek a termination should be able to do so in comfort...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Nov 2022)

Martin Conway: The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, visited Clare last week and as always, the Minister is always very welcome there. He turned a sod officially on the new Killaloe bridge project, which is badly needed in south-east Clare because there has been traffic congestion there for years. I sincerely hope that we will see the Blake’s Corner project in Ennistimon moving swiftly forward, now that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Nov 2022)

Martin Conway: Senator Gavan knows as well as I do how important this particular issue is. This is a project which was committed to by previous governments and my understanding of the programme for Government is very clear, in that any project that has been committed to would proceed. Where has the change happened in the programme for Government? We need clarity on that fairly urgently. The other issue...

Seanad: Housing for All: Statements (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)

Martin Conway: Hear, hear.

Seanad: Housing for All: Statements (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)

Martin Conway: The Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is very welcome to the House. I acknowledge the Minister of State's endeavours are genuine and I commend him on the work that he does. It is important to point out that nearly 100,000 houses have been built since 2011. That is a fairly significant number. Absolutely it is not enough. Clearly it is not enough but it is 100,000 families and people who...

Seanad: Housing for All: Statements (Resumed) (8 Nov 2022)

Martin Conway: It is also important to point out that people have been assisted in building houses, with 36,000 in receipt of the Rebuilding Ireland grant and 1,600 being assisted through the new scheme with the local authorities. These are very important incremental steps in the right direction. Yes, the targets are ambitious. They probably should be more ambitious but we must be realistic as well and...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Oct 2022)

Martin Conway: I again raise Shannon Heritage and the matter of what exactly is happening with it and with the funding requested by Clare County Council. It has been going on and on and there are many workers in Shannon Heritage who are very uncertain of what their future holds. There should be some way of having a debate or even statements on the future of Shannon Heritage because of its importance to...

Seanad: VAT Rate for Tourism and Hospitality Sectors: Statements (19 Oct 2022)

Martin Conway: I congratulate the Minister on what was an excellent budget and on being candid and blunt with the Irish Hotels Federation about its members' price gouging when he met its representatives. I would love to know if something can be done, from a legislative perspective, to try to prevent this type of thing happening. I do not know how you could go about it but it is totally unfair to the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Thalidomide Victims Compensation (18 Oct 2022)

Martin Conway: Go raibh maith agat, Acting Chairperson. I fully agree with your sentiments in welcoming Finola to the Public Gallery. Finola is the spokesperson for the Irish Thalidomide Association and it is fitting and appropriate that she should be in the House today to hear the response from the Minister. Two weeks ago tomorrow in Dáil Éireann, the Lower House, the Taoiseach responded to a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Thalidomide Victims Compensation (18 Oct 2022)

Martin Conway: I know the Minister of State is going to meet Ms Finola Cassidy after this Commencement matter. I appreciate that and thank him for doing so. I also thank him for his reply. There is no time here. Six of the women who took this drug are in their 90s. These people, sadly, do not have an enormous amount of time left. I know what is involved in organising a State apology. It needs to...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Oct 2022)

Martin Conway: On education, there was some good and some not-so-good news in the past 24 hours. The not-so-good news is the delay in publishing the junior certificate results. Many students did not go into transition year but went on to start the leaving certificate cycle. They will have been three to four months into the first year of a two-year cycle before they have the results of the junior...