Results 181-200 of 483 for speaker:Vincent P Martin

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I was not in the Chamber yesterday for the Order of Business. I was not physically present but, as Senators do, I viewed it on the monitor in my office. The Cathaoirleach will be glad to hear I will not make any comment on the controversy of recent weeks in respect of the President of Ireland. Suffice it to say I admire the President. I will not say that yesterday the Cathaoirleach agreed...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I will comment on that.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2021)

Vincent P Martin: Yes and I have no doubt the Cathaoirleach correctly interpreted what he called a practice of the House. My problem is that in due course that practice should be appropriately reviewed. Yesterday, the Cathaoirleach said to a Member of the House, which celebrates freedom of speech, that we can praise the President all we wish but the practice of the House is not to criticise. I respect the...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I am not questioning that. I am saying to a grown up Seanad that if there is any long-looming shadow of the words of the former Minister, Paddy Donegan, in the 1970s it is time to put them to bed and have a mature debate. It is not comparing like with like. I say this as an admirer of the President. I would detract from my fundamental comments if I were to comment on the controversy. I...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Sep 2021)

Vincent P Martin: Review, not change it.

Seanad: Interim Report of the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Motion (30 Sep 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I will make two points and try not to repeat those already made. I commend our Chair who chaired the committee most ably, inclusively and professionally. This was not about party politics. I hope communities, especially in the North, realise that this was a most sincere, professional attempt on our behalf to try to move things forward. Unionists have genuine concerns. From my contacts...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Oct 2021)

Vincent P Martin: More than a year ago, in another Chamber, I commended the newly launched East Belfast GAA Club. The club's crest depicts the Harland and Wolff cranes, a sunrise, a red hand, a shamrock and a thistle. The club's logo is written in English, Irish and Ulster Scots and states, "Together". I did not know when I commended the club that its first president was the Irish language activist, Linda...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Northern Ireland Protocol: Discussion (6 Oct 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I commend the contributors. I am sorry that I was not present for the entire meeting. I hope it has been recorded and that I can watch it later. My apologies for tuning in late, but I am glad I made it. As the Chairman stated, although I have been happily ensconced in County Kildare for a long time, I am from County Monaghan. This has been an important and illuminating discussion and I...

Seanad: Budget 2022: Statements (Resumed) (13 Oct 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I welcome the Minister of State. There are many different tests that can be applied when assessing and measuring the impact, be it positive or adverse, of budgets. For the commentariat, an initial preliminary test is whether there is a banana skin in the budget. Perhaps this dates back to the budget introduced by the then Minister for Finance, John Bruton, in 1982 - which members may...

Seanad: British Government Legacy Proposals: Motion (13 Oct 2021)

Vincent P Martin: Every life is precious and justice must always reign supreme. Atrocities were perpetrated on both sides and by state forces but this should not mean the surviving victims cannot have answers to their questions or the comfort of knowing that those who bestowed deep sadness on them by destroying their families would be held to account. We cannot cancel evil or sweep it under the carpet just...

Seanad: British Government Legacy Proposals: Motion (13 Oct 2021)

Vincent P Martin: No. Nationalist, but at times it is a bit of a kindergarten. The nationalist, republican house of the Twenty-six Counties is fractured at the moment. We should begin by healing the house of nationalism in the Republic of Ireland before we lecture the people in Northern Ireland. There is an awful lot more we could do here. There are people who have done terrible things in the name of a...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Oct 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I propose an amendment to the Order of Business that No. 19 be taken before No. 1. At the appropriate time I will formally move that request. No. 19 is the introduction of my legislation, the Protection of the Irish Native Honey Bee Bill 2021. Ireland is fortunate to have a pure population of its own native honey bees, which is perfectly adapted to this island, climate and flora. However,...

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: First Stage (20 Oct 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I move: That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to ban the importation of non-native honey bees with the aim of reducing the threat to and adverse impact upon biodiversity and the ecosystem arising from the introgression/crossing/cross-breeding of the native Irish Honey Bee, Apis mellifera mellifera, due to the importation of non-native species or sub-species of and/or...

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: First Stage (20 Oct 2021)

Vincent P Martin: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: EU Regulations: Motion (20 Oct 2021)

Vincent P Martin: On behalf of the Green Party, Comhaontas Glas, I confirm the party's support for this motion. A previous contributor commented that where crime should be, the State should be. That may be the case but it is often a reaction rather than being proactive. It is easy for me to say from the Seanad Chamber but if at all possible we must get ahead of the criminals who are so sophisticated in...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (3 Nov 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. Previous speakers have said that this is a positive legislative initiative. I would add that it is an essential initiative. It stems from the case of Mr. Ellis, who entered a guilty plea in the Circuit Criminal Court. The trial judge at the time, Judge Ring, suspended one of the counts relating to a five-year sentence. It is worth noting that...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 Nov 2021)

Vincent P Martin: Recent reports of serious antisocial and unruly behaviour on the State's public transport services are a cause of serious alarm. The State provides these transport services and so it has a responsibility to protect all passengers. The State needs to not only protect people but to incentivise them to avail of public transport because that is intrinsic to this country reaching its climate...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Nov 2021)

Vincent P Martin: On behalf of the Green Party, An Comhaontas Glas, we closely associate ourselves with the remarks of the Cathaoirleach and previous speakers in conveying our deepest sympathy to Senator Currie and her family on the sad passing of Austin Currie. Austin was a fearless voice and an advocate of equality. Articulating those views at that time meant putting one's life in peril. It is only a...

Seanad: Air Accident Investigation Unit Final Report into R116 Air Accident: Statements (18 Nov 2021)

Vincent P Martin: The Minister of State is very welcome to the House. "These things we do that others may live." "That others may live" is the closing line in the para rescue creed. This creed has been adopted as a motto by many search and rescue organisations around the world. I wish to start my contribution on behalf of the Green Party - An Comhaontas Glas by commending all those in the Coast Guard and...

Seanad: Air Accident Investigation Unit Final Report into R116 Air Accident: Statements (18 Nov 2021)

Vincent P Martin: It would be a safer way forward. If that could be the outcome of this, it would give some comfort in terms of this awful tragedy. The mission of Rescue 116 on that night was to provide top cover for another helicopter that had been tasked with airlifting a casualty from a fishing vessel. Traditionally, top cover missions have been provided by long range aeroplanes that have greater...