Results 221-240 of 484 for speaker:Vincent P Martin

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

Vincent P Martin: Lillie's and Renards as well.

Seanad: Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I welcome the Minister. We are all familiar with the horrific tragedy of the Stardust. On Valentines' Day 1981, 48 young people died and another 214 were injured as a result of a fire in the Stardust nightclub. The families of these victims have waited justice since then, more than 40 years, for justice. I am glad we are finally beginning that process but it should not have taken so long....

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Once again, I welcome the Minister to the House. She is a frequent visitor. It is always great to see her in the House. I thank her for her opening statement. It was comprehensive and full of candour but it was very depressing. In her opening remarks, the Minister said: On 5 April this year, the Court of Justice delivered its ruling. In essence, the court confirmed that general and...

Seanad: Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022: Report Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I see some merit in the Labour Party's amendment No. 82. I note that it makes reference to section 46N, which relates to the rules that apply in these instances. This is an important area and one in which I have a particular interest. We all know we live in a constitutional democracy and there are statutory obligations as well as constitutional obligations. However, all signposts and roads...

Seanad: Higher Education Authority Bill 2022: Committee Stage (6 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Hear, hear.

Seanad: European Directive on Strategic Lawsuits against Public Participation: Motion (5 Jul 2022)

Vincent P Martin: The Minister of State is welcome to the Chamber. The points have been well covered by my fellow Senators. I note the Minister of State said that he would monitor the situation to ensure there is no unintended consequence of this initiative. It is not so much a question of whether to SLAPP or not to SLAPP; it is a question of what a SLAPP is and could it ever be used in a situation that may...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (29 Jun 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber and acknowledge his dedicated efforts. Jury trials are a cornerstone of our justice system. The UN Human Rights Committee has said one should only dispense with a jury trial in very exceptional circumstances. They are extraordinary courts for extraordinary times. Senator Ward said they are a...

Seanad: Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019: Second Stage (22 Jun 2022)

Vincent P Martin: There is currently no external oversight of policing services within the Defence Forces, and no independent complaints process exists for the investigation of alleged Military Police misconduct or negligence. In addition, regular independent review and assessment of the quality of policing services is not undertaken.This lack of structured oversight is in contrast to the numerous oversight...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Engagement with the French Ambassador (15 Jun 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Most of the ground has been covered but it is always a pleasure to welcome a voisinto the Houses of the Oireachtas and acknowledge his generosity of time, as the ambassador has made himself so readily accessible to Members of the Oireachtas. He has communicated clearly, including when over a year ago he wrote an excellent piece in The Irish Timessetting out the new opportunities. No...

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Second Stage (2 Jun 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I welcome the Minister of State, Senator Hackett to the House. It is always a pleasure. It is a different type of welcome for the Minister of State because she is very familiar with the Seanad but it always a pleasure seeing her in the House. It is good that Seanad Éireann has a Member who sits at the Cabinet table. Ireland is the...

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Second Stage (2 Jun 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I thank my colleagues for their kind words and for their support, bar none, for this legislative initiative.I deliberately set out to have, if one looks at the list at the back of the Bill document, a representative from each of the groupings in this House and there are others who are not on the list who ought to be on the list. I know that Senator Keogan is a supporter as is...

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Second Stage (2 Jun 2022)

Vincent P Martin: The Public Gallery attendees may get the wrong impression that the Chamber is like this all of the time and it is not. That is why it is so incredibly amazing today. Last week we had the first member of the U.S. Congress here to address the House in the 100 year history of the Seanad and I was struck by the bipartisan congressional delegation. In America, politics is so fragmented but they...

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Second Stage (2 Jun 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I would also like to single out Senator McGreehan as part of that collaborative approach. We brought a Commencement matter together on this issue. I also acknowledge the support of Senators Boylan and Seery Kearney. Senator Seery Kearney's modesty pervades her when it comes to beekeeping but she is a respected member of the Law Library and would know this area of law and the legalities of...

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Second Stage (2 Jun 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Next Tuesday.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: Russia's Invasion of Ukraine: Engagement with Ukrainian Ambassador and the Chair of the EU Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament (25 May 2022)

Vincent P Martin: That was a very fruitful, productive session. One of the many benefits Ukraine will realise when it hopefully takes its place in the EU eventually is how we feed in. We had an Irish MEP here. He was elected by Ireland and he comes to our national Parliament. There is joined-up thinking. It was good to see Mr. Barry Andrews, MEP, contribute earlier. I would like to thank the ambassador...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by US Congressman Richard Neal (24 May 2022)

Vincent P Martin: The Irish Republic is proudly an independent sovereign state, having won its freedom after centuries of struggle and at great cost. We are also, however, proudly European, dating back not just to our accession to what is now known as the EU. For over 1,500 years Ireland has contributed enormously to the security and culture of western civilisation. The long title of a book by Thomas Cahill...

Seanad: Carbon Policy: Motion (19 May 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan. I commend my colleagues in the Independent Group for tabling this motion. All debate on this matter has to be good. I also commend them on their tenor and tone and the constructive way they are approaching this debate. They are bringing it into the heart of the democratic system and they have every right to be heard. It is a good day for...

Seanad: Carbon Policy: Motion (19 May 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Well, Monsignor Horan started Knock, so anything is possible. However, the scale of Ireland, as the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan said, does not suit what the Senators envisage for Ireland. As a member of the Green Party, I have attended many conferences over the years and I recall what Senator Mullen said, which is to keep all options open. Nobody has a monopoly on truth to dismiss...

Seanad: Europe Day 2022: Statements (11 May 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I welcome the Minister of State. Sometimes, we forget that the primary success of the EU has been peace. Monday was Europe Day, when we celebrated the Schuman Declaration. The Schuman plan was to establish long-term peace in post-war Europe. It has been a considerable success, as Senator O'Reilly stated. Europe has grown in strength at a time of crisis, with what Bono called "one man's...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Motion (11 May 2022)

Vincent P Martin: The Minister is very welcome to the Chamber. I commend the Sinn Féin team of Senators on having tabled the motion. It will, of course, see full support from the Green Party-An Comhaontas Glas, and I am glad to see that the House is speaking with one voice and that no one will oppose it. Earlier today I had the pleasure of meeting a delegation which included Dr. Joanne Stuart, OBE, of...