Results 201-220 of 484 for speaker:Vincent P Martin

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Young Voices on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Two ingredients have jumped up and hit me in the face during this session in a very nice way - passion and hope. Passion is something that we do need in the future and I heard lots of passion from Eoghan and Doireann, who mentioned great research. I am so happy that Kim said that she has hope for Ireland and I have greater hope for Ireland after listening to her.

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Young Voices on the Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland: Discussion (Resumed) (7 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Kim is facilitating hope. That is so important and finally there is Eimear. We have young people here but I want to mention one person who is not so young but has broken the mould and is a trailblazer, and that is Linda Ervine from east Belfast. Recently I visited Wales where all of the signs are bilingual. I believe that one only reinforces division by not allowing everyone to have a...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland - Public Policy, Economic Opportunities and Challenges: Discussion (7 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: It is really refreshing and helpful to have independent experts here today in an advisory role. They are not here to fight anyone's corner but to give an expert viewpoint in the spirit of Professor Whitaker's legacy. I would like to ask Dr. Lawless whether it is fair to say that Brexit has brought us closer together because our economic ties are getting closer. Is the trend likely to...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland - Public Policy, Economic Opportunities and Challenges: Discussion (7 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Professor Suiter stated that the clear preference would be for a citizens' assembly in the Six Counties and the Twenty-six Counties. That would be the ideal situation. Another option would be a citizens' assembly in the Twenty-six Counties alone but I am not at all enthusiastic about that in the context of a decision being made for the island. Is there a third option? If there is, has she...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland - Public Policy, Economic Opportunities and Challenges: Discussion (7 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I thank the speakers. It has been really enlightening stuff. I found the speeches, the papers and the presentations very interesting with regard to the areas of co-operation North and South and the comparisons made between human rights North and South. In the speakers' respective opinions,, has there been sufficient attention to environmental rights North and South and the ongoing cost of...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland - Public Policy, Economic Opportunities and Challenges: Discussion (7 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I commend Mr. Carlile, Senator Black and all concerned on organising the event that took place last weekend. I am intrigued by the papers that have been presented to the committee. Due to time pressure, I will comment only on the submission from Dr. Liston and Professor Maguire. As we all know, under Article 4 of Bunreacht na hÉireann, the official name of the State is Éire or,...

Seanad Public Consultation Committee: Constitutional Future of the Island of Ireland - Public Policy, Economic Opportunities and Challenges: Discussion (7 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I am probably pushing an open door but a new Ireland would be a wonderful opportunity for a new environmental, legally enforceable charter protecting rivers and animals, as in other countries. Maybe Dr. Peter Doran who has published on this question might briefly comment on that exciting possibility and how it is so lacking at the moment.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by the Rt. Hon. Lord John McFall, Lord Speaker of the House of Lords (5 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: On behalf of the Green Party, I extend a very warm welcome to Seanad Éireann to Lord McFall of Alcluith. He is a reforming voice in his own House and, in many respects, his quest for reform of the House of Lords mirrors an appetite for real reform of Seanad Éireann. For instance, he is on record as saying that he would like to see the House of Lords as a vibrant outward-facing...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: The Minister is very welcome to the Chamber. I surmise that the heart of this legislative initiative is more transparency and open competition. Each generation should not fear review and reform. Ways can always be found to make things better than they are because nothing is perfect. However, as other speakers have said, the appointments process in this State to date has served us very...

Seanad: Passport Office: Motion (5 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I commend the motion. The proposer of the motion cited Article 2 of Bunreacht na hÉireann and other contributors have referred to the symbolic nature of the motion, as well as the substantive point. Article 4 of the Constitution states "The name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland." Article 5 of the Constitution proclaims "Ireland is a sovereign,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Enforcement of Road Traffic Offences: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I do not wish to go over ground that has already been covered. I thank all the expert contributors to this important discussion. I was going to make a point in respect of automatic number plate recognition technology but it has more or less been made already by Deputy Leddin. I understand why people adversely impacted by this issue have questions regarding the technology having been rolled...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Enforcement of Road Traffic Offences: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I am at an advanced stage of researching a Bill for regulation of the sale, supply and manufacture of number plates. The cloning and fraudulent use of number plates is a problem for An Garda Síochána. Although my Bill is aimed at combatting crime or making crime more difficult, it would come into play in this regard as well. It would be complementary in the sense that there would...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Enforcement of Road Traffic Offences: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I thank our guests.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I appreciate we will be talking about the budget later but I want to acknowledge that the Government really seemed to have a go today at making a tangible, robust response to the crippling issue of the cost of living. It has done so in a robust way but in a way that is not economically reckless. In this cost-of-living crisis, we should not lose sight of mental wellness and the power of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2022)

Vincent P Martin: As he would tell people, his life was full of adversity but he turned it around. He would say boxing probably saved his life and now he is a role model who visits schools and gives talks. TG4 brought his boxing fight live into many homes in Ireland. Gabhaim buíochas le TG4 agus déanaim comhghairdeas le Eric Donovan. Is ambasadóir iontach é don dornálaíocht...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Sep 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Hear, hear.

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

Vincent P Martin: Many words of sympathy and condolence have already been spoken in respect of the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. I commend those who arranged a minute's silence in this House yesterday. I attended that with His Excellency, Paul Johnston, the British Ambassador to Ireland. I recall the Leader of the House, while she moved the motion of sympathy, including that we should remember people in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Last Sunday, an extraordinary general meeting, EGM, of the Irish Athletic Boxing Association, IABA, took place in Roscommon town where the delegates voted against allowing company EGMs and annual general meetings, AGMs, to take place in Northern Ireland. Furthermore, again concerning EGMs and AGMs, a motion to change the wording in the company's constitution from State to the island of...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (13 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: The IABA delegates acted in a reckless way with no regard whatsoever for the fine boxing heritage and history in this country. They do not reflect the followers of boxing. They do not reflect the Kellie Harringtons and Katie Taylors. They do not reflect Eric "Lilywhite Lightening" Donovan from County Kildare, who epitomises all that is decent in the sport of boxing and wish him well as he...

Seanad: Night-time Economy: Motion (13 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: The night-time economy task force report was published in September 2021. It contained 36 actions across a broad range of issues associated with the night-time economy, all with the aim of increasing the diversity of events, increasing cultural opportunities for families and other age groups into the evening, and looking at new ways of encouraging innovation and creativity in the night-time...