Results 321-340 of 484 for speaker:Vincent P Martin

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Environmental Policy (28 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I have written to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to see if we can get our bees here in Leinster House. If they are in the grounds of Leinster House we must ensure we use the native honeybee which is less aggressive, so it stings less, and is also less prone to swarming. We do not want swarming or hybridisation. In a nutshell, every beekeeper organisation, North and South, east and...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Environmental Policy (28 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: Will they be native ones?

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: On 27 June 1995, a former Senator, Gordon Wilson, passed away. The anniversary of his death was yesterday. His message of forgiveness and imploring people to live peacefully and to rebuild severely fractured relationships is a lasting healing legacy and comes into sharp focus in the current political instability in Northern Ireland, especially with the marching season looming.In Enniskillen...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Rehabilitative Periods) Bill 2018: Report and Final Stages (28 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: The Green Party is delighted to support this Bill. It was part of the programme for Government negotiations. I commend Senator Ruane. I am sure she is the first to admit that it is a positive, progressive step forward. She would probably like the sentencing thresholds to be even higher and to assist even greater r-integration. However, it is now on the Statute Book and we can always move...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Solar Panels for Public Buildings, Schools, Homes and Other Premises) (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (28 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. As always, he is a friendly face in the Chamber. I am delighted to be part of the green team sponsoring this Bill, introducing it to the House and bringing it to Second Stage. I often begin debates on climate related matters by reminding us that nine out of ten people in the world breath unhealthy air. According to the great David...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: Without exaggeration, this is an historic time for Ireland, including its Legislature. We are standing up, our voice is being heard and we are translating words into actions.Our voices are being heard and we are translating words into action. We are placing our targets on a statutory footing for the first time. That has massive import. It is an unfair comparison when looking at the...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (No. 2) Bill 2021: Second Stage (25 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: As has been stated, the purpose of this Bill is to extend the emergency period specified in the Planning and Development, and Residential Tenancies, Act. That makes perfect logical sense. It would be impossible, I hope, for anyone to oppose an extension of the emergency period. The aim of the extension is to further assist tenants who have been financially impacted by Covid-19, while...

Seanad: Offences against the State Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (22 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: It is a pleasure to welcome the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. I have been happily ensconced for many years in County Kildare with my wife and family, but I have fond memories of the Minister being a fellow county councillor with myself and the then councillor, Senator Gallagher. We had great times. The two of them were always very unequivocal when it came to being heard when speaking out...

Seanad: Offences against the State Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (22 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I wish to put that on the record, in view of what I am about to say. I have a difficulty with this motion and I am most reluctant to support it, but I will because the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, is obviously relying on intelligence in her Department. Senator Bacik said that she was a practitioner in the Special Criminal Court for many years. I have been there as well as a practising...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I will begin by formally seconding the proposal on the Order of Business by my party colleague, Senator Pauline O'Reilly, to take No. 20 on today's Order Paper before No. 1. I wish to mention two very sad matters today. First, 15-year-old Tiggy Hancock is being laid to rest this afternoon. She was an exceptional horse rider and had a bright future ahead of her in eventing but last week...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: Very good, a Chathaoirligh.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: Yes. In the case of Sergeant McCabe, the scoping inquiry took only a few weeks but, in this case, the scoping inquiry has gone on for almost 18 months. It has been extended repeatedly. This is not a criticism of Judge Haughton, but the family continue to hurt. They want to get to the bottom of this and to get the truth. It is compounding their upset. In addition, until it is resolved...

Seanad: Planning and Development (Amendment) (No. 3) Bill 2021: Second Stage (18 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I welcome the Minister to the House in a week in which, once again, he is thinking outside the box. It was reported in the media that there will be public housing on public lands in our two largest cities. I am often suspect of Ministers and the "steady as you go" approach, with the permanent government dwarfing the individual innovation of Ministers. That certainly cannot be said of this...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: Gabhaim buíochas, a Chathaoirligh. I wish Arlene Foster well in the next chapter of her life. The harsh reality for the people of Northern Ireland is that this morning they have woken up to having no First Minister or Deputy First Minister, with the clock ticking away for seven days in order for both parties to agree the nominations of new Ministers to those roles. For all of the time...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I will be as brief as possible. The Minister of State said that the Bill will "consolidate and simplify the law" on perjury and place it on a statutory footing. I contend that the offence of perjury already exists in common law but has seldom, if ever, been activated historically.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: It is all about intent. One can have all the laws in the world but will there be follow-up now that it is on a statutory basis? Maybe its very presence will make people reflect. I also think that fraud is a serious matter that must be challenged.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: Yes. At times there is a little bit of exaggeration. Insurance companies hide behind the legislation as a veil along with legal costs when they are not transparent with their own business. They ratchet up fees for ordinary consumers.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I wish to comment before the Minister of State speaks. I commend the realignment and reconfiguration of the penalties on a statutory basis. They are justifiably significant at the upper end of indictable offences if they are brought home. It will be a reminder for all legislators that a great deal is at stake. The standard principles of beyond reasonable doubt and the presumption of...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Perjury and Related Offences) Bill 2018: [Seanad Bill amended by the Dáil] Report and Final Stages (15 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: It will be difficult. As the Minister of State said in his earlier remarks, there will be an onus, hopefully, on judges to refer directly to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Seanad Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Trade and Co-operation Agreement, Northern Ireland Protocol, and EU-UK Relationships post Brexit: Commissioner Mairead McGuinness (15 Jun 2021)

Vincent P Martin: I congratulate the Commissioner and wish her the very best. This is the first opportunity I have had and how delighted we are she has found the time to meet us this morning. I wish Senator Dooley well on his recent appointment. I would like to get the opinion of the Commissioner on an issue and I invite her to comment on it. This is the much used phrase about the best of both worlds for...