Results 1-17 of 17 for speaker:Martin McAleese

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Restorative Justice Programmes in Northern Ireland: Discussion (18 Oct 2012)

Martin McAleese: I welcome Mr. Maguire and Ms Watters and thank them for two impressive presentations. They referred to their background. I want to emphasise both their backgrounds, on the one hand a republican one and on the other a loyalist one. It is a significant statement of where we are at in the peace process that they are working so closely together. I note that they have an ambition to grow...

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Martin McAleese: I also welcome colleagues back to the House. This morning I returned 11 tickets to Croke Park for Sunday's All-Ireland Football Final because I could find no one to take them off my hands.

Seanad: Order of Business (19 Sep 2012)

Martin McAleese: I recall stating, when I was first appointed to the Seanad, that I looked forward to working with colleagues to make this House a place to which citizens would look for inspiration, reassurance and encouragement. During the summer I reflected on the extent to which we had achieved this goal. In that context, I asked myself what the House had done to be innovative and imaginative and improve...

Seanad: Address by Mr. Drew Nelson, Grand Secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland (3 Jul 2012)

Martin McAleese: I would like first to acknowledge the presence of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, and Ambassadors Chilcott and Rooney in the Chamber. I join other speakers in warmly welcoming the grand secretary of the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland, Mr. Drew Nelson, to this House. I also welcome the delegation led by the grand master, Mr. Edward Stevenson, and, in...

Seanad: Decade of Commemorations: Statements (7 Jun 2012)

Martin McAleese: I welcome the Minister to the House and I commend him for all his good work on the forthcoming series of commemorations. I first spoke about the decade of commemorations or the decade of sensitive centenaries during a Private Members' motion debated in this House on 15 June last year I emphasised then that it was incumbent on all of us, North and South, Unionist and Nationalist, loyalist and...

Seanad: Report of Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments: Statements (24 Apr 2012)

Martin McAleese: I thank the Minister of State for her attendance. It is almost one month since publication of the report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments - the Mahon tribunal. The passage of time has not diminished the sense of shock at the implications of the report. In fact, the challenges posed by its findings grow deeper the closer they are examined. Many of the...

Seanad: Thirtieth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union) Bill 2012: Second Stage (23 Apr 2012)

Martin McAleese: I welcome the Minister of State to the House today. The European monetary crisis is having an impact on homes across the world, from Dublin to Delhi. It is increasingly evident that the problems of Europe have a local and a global impact. It is to Ireland's credit that since the beginning of this crisis, it has led the way by courageously facing tough realities. Ireland joined the...

Seanad: Child Abuse: Motion (29 Feb 2012)

Martin McAleese: I welcome the Minister to the House. I intend to make a few brief comments because this is an issue on which it should be possible for all us to agree without difficulty, as Senator Leyden stated earlier. Ireland is currently attempting to lead in many fields, for example, information technology, digital services and the smart economy. We should also be willing to lead in the prevention of...

Seanad: Standing Order 18: Motion (23 Feb 2012)

Martin McAleese: I want to record my support for this proposal to amend Standing Order 18, as recommended by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges. As we have heard, it entails 30 seconds of silent reflection prior to the recitation of the Christian prayer at the commencement of Seanad sittings. We know of one person - I suspect there are more - who would prefer to dispense with the Christian prayer...

Seanad: Electoral (Amendment)(Political Funding) Bill 2011: Committee Stage (15 Feb 2012)

Martin McAleese: Amendment No. 29 essentially relates to the application of Part IX to Independent and non-party Members of Dáil and Seanad Éireann. There should be no such thing as unvouched expenses or allowances. All such expenses and allowances should be fully vouched and justified. Allowances should only be expended for the purposes for which they are intended or in the course of the work of those...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

Martin McAleese: I am happy to add my support to the motion mentioned by Senator Byrne in regard to a papal visit for the simple reason that it is a good opportunity for the Government to reassure the Irish people that our continuing diplomatic relations with the Holy See, the Vatican, are as close and as cordial as they were prior to the decision to close the embassy to the Holy See. On that point, I...

Seanad: Order of Business (2 Feb 2012)

Martin McAleese: I have. I ask the Leader to ask the Tánaiste if such a transfer of passport functions will occur and, if so, what safeguards will be built in to ensure appropriate direct and speedy communication between the various offices and Departments, including our embassies, and to provide assurance that ease of access to passport services for our citizens is maintained. I ask the Leader to request...

Seanad: Suicide Prevention: Statements (12 Jan 2012)

Martin McAleese: I thank the Minister for coming to the House today and giving us a comprehensive review of the plans she has for her Department to deal with this issue into the future. We are increasingly becoming aware of the extent of the problem of suicide in this country in all its painful and heartbreaking reality. I will not get into the statistics other than to point out that it happens across the...

Seanad: SPHE Curriculum: Motion (20 Jul 2011)

Martin McAleese: I move: That Seanad Éireann notes that: — the social, personal and health education, SPHE, programme, incorporating relationships and sexuality education, RSE, has been a mandatory part of the curriculum in all primary and junior cycle post-primary schools since 2003; — all schools are obliged to have an agreed school policy and a suitable RSE programme in place for senior cycle...

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

Martin McAleese: I propose to share my time with Senator Mary Ann O'Brien.

Seanad: Seanad Reform: Motion (15 Jun 2011)

Martin McAleese: We are all agreed that the future of this House is uncertain and that its future will be put to the people very soon by way of a referendum. That is democracy at work and it is right. However, that fact should not deflect us who have been either elected or appointed to the 24th Seanad from doing our very best to make the workings of this House relevant to the people. I have no sense of...

Seanad: Order of Business (9 Jun 2011)

Martin McAleese: A Chathaoirligh, it is a privilege to contribute to the work of this Chamber and I thank the Taoiseach for the opportunity to allow me to do so. I thank the Seanad staff for their assistance to newcomers like me in recent weeks. I offer my best wishes to all members of the Seanad and hope this Chamber's connection with the people and its contribution to their welfare will be enhanced by...