Results 1-20 of 5,627 for speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: Order of Business. (1 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: I congratulate you, a Chathaoirligh, on your elevation to high office. I also congratulate my colleague Senator Maurice Cummins, on his appointment as Leader, which is well deserved. Can the Leader outline when the necessary legislative measures will be introduced to ensure the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities? Like Senator Mary Moran, I was nominated...

Seanad: Tourism Sector: Motion (1 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: The measures in the programme for Government and the jobs initiative already have given all those in the tourism industry significant hope. County Clare is very reliant on tourism and hotels, restaurants and other service providers there have been given a boost by the jobs initiative. These significant measures are reflective of the fact that tourism, the natural beauty of the countryside...

Seanad: Tourism Sector: Motion (1 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: There are several other ways of promoting tourism. Will the Minister of State see what practical steps his officials can take to assist in winning this competition?

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: I request the Leader to ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Leo Varadkar, to come before the House to outline his plans for the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, which as Members are aware, is burdened with debt. There is significant concern, particularly in the area of the country from which I come, about the authority's future plans for Shannon Airport. The DAA controls...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: This matter is very relevant. I am asking the Leader to discover for the House, through the Minister, the plans in place in respect of Shannon Airport. For example, will it continue to have links with Dublin Airport?

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: Absolutely. Will the Leader establish why the e-mail addresses of members of senior management at Shannon Airport end with the form "@daa.ie"? The organisation will prosper if it has some autonomy. I request, therefore, that the Leader discuss this matter with the Minister as a matter of urgency in order that he might come before the House to engage in a debate on it.

Seanad: Jobs Initiative and Competitiveness: Statements (8 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: I congratulate the Minister of State wholeheartedly on his appointment. I have worked with him before and his contributions were most impressive. If ever a portfolio was tailor-made for an individual, this one seems to be it for the Minister of State, Deputy Perry. People in Opposition should take note of the way he performed when in Opposition as he has transformed his home town of...

Seanad: Water Charges: Motion (8 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: I also welcome the Minister of State. I worked closely with his brother on the issue of the undocumented Irish in America. Water is a finite and precious resource. Good quality water is an even more precious resource and precious resources do not come cheap. I have always been an advocate of fair and equitable water charges and the proposals of the Minister and the Minister of State are...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: It would be remiss not to comment on the two maiden speeches of both Senator O'Donnell and Senator McAleese. It is evident that the Taoiseach chose well. I wish to make two points. First, I was disturbed to read media reports in recent days of significant overpayments within the Health Service Executive. Funds are tight and people are suffering enough but to see computerised self-generated...

Seanad: Schools Amalgamation (9 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: I congratulate the Minister on his appointment. What is the timeframe for the review on which the Minister is engaged? He proposes to engage with communities on a bottom-up approach. What structure does he propose to put in place to bring formality to that?

Seanad: Order of Business (14 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: I also thank the Leader for providing time tomorrow to express sympathy to the Lenihan family. The Cathaoirleach will know that the Lenihan family has very close ties with County Clare. The late Deputy's ancestors came from north Clare, very near from where I come. On behalf of the people of County Clare, I express our sympathy to the Lenihan family and, in my own case, to Brian's mother,...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (14 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: I wish to share two minutes of my time with Senator Michael Mullins.

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (14 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Ciarán Cannon on his elevation. I know he is already doing a fine job. Having listened to my colleague, Senator D'Arcy and others who have experience in the field of managing schools where numerous special needs teachers have come and gone, I stand here as a person who benefited from an integrated education service, as a person with a severe...

Seanad: Special Educational Needs: Statements (14 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: What about qualified nurses?

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: I have a concern about the signage plan of the National Roads Authority which is removing iconic signs all over the country. We do not want our beautiful country roads, particularly those in scenic areas, to be turned into boring American-style boulevards with generic signage and viewpoints throughout. In north County Clare from where I come there is some iconic signage that has been in...

Seanad: Order of Business (15 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: Yes. They are all supposed to be working for the common good. They have a responsibility to communicate with and inform local communities and bring them with them. I ask the Leader to discuss the issue with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government and the NRA as a matter of urgency as we approach what it is hoped will be a successful and busy tourist season in rural...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Brian Hayes, and congratulate him on his elevation to high office. He is already doing a good job so we need not hope he will do that. The last contribution from the Opposition side was a very positive one. It is good to see balance, which is most welcome, as is the jobs initiative. While this initiative...

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: I will. It was Café en Seine. I assure Members that if they come to Ennistymon, they will pay the same price for a drink at 11.23 p.m. as they will at 11.41 p.m.

Seanad: Finance (No. 2) Bill 2011 (Certified Money Bill): Second Stage (15 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: If we want to promote tourism, we need to respect tourists and work with people. Altering charges and having a till automatically set to up charges at a certain time of night is unethical and inappropriate and should not happen. The Government alone will not solve the problems of the country. We must all work together - businesses, workers, agencies and the Government. The jobs...

Seanad: Order of Business (16 Jun 2011)

Martin Conway: I refer to the Brosnan report on the Clare-Limerick boundary. I am heartened by media reports locally that the Minister will leave the communities of Shannon Banks and Westbury within County Clare. As the Leader appreciates, county boundaries are sacrosanct in Ireland. Families are proud of their county names, as we see in Croke Park on the first and third Sundays in September. The people...