Results 161-180 of 474 for speaker:Vincent P Martin

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: The lack of amendments from Senators does not demonstrate a lack of interest. This has been a collaborative approach-----

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: We are not speaking to the Bill.

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I thank Senators for the prompt and unreserved support for the Bill on Committee Stage. I welcome the Minister, Senator Hackett, my Green Party colleague, to the Chamber. She is a supporter of this Bill and is doing her best to find a way forward for it. That is to be acknowledged. Since around 2012, there has been an almost 1,200% increase in imports of non-native honey bees into...

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Okay, I will stick to acknowledgements and I will conclude-----

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: -----by saying that in 2020 alone, an increase of 327% in the importation into this country of non-native honey bee queens was documented. I thank Senators for their steadfast and continuing support. We have a wonderful gathering of Senators in the Seanad, including the horticulturist, Senator Murphy, and Senators Higgins and Wall. On the front line, we have more than 500 beekeepers in our...

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Next Tuesday.

Seanad: Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021: Committee Stage (8 Nov 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m.

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Bill 2022: Second Stage (27 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: It is always a pleasure to welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, to the Chamber. He is doing towering work in his own specific portfolio of responsibility. That is for another day, however. I would just like to commend him on that. He is here standing in to discuss a most pressing emergency. Previous speakers said that it is urgent and an emergency. In an emergency, normal rules...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Previous speakers have, correctly, made reference to "eviction", which is an emotive term. It is also draconian but, at the end of the day, that is what we are talking about. With regard to the legislation, in the many years in which it has made judgments, the RTB has never used the word "eviction". It orders what is called a "termination of tenancy" and may order that the tenants hereby...

Seanad: Residential Tenancies (Deferment of Termination Dates of Certain Tenancies) Bill 2022: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Personal rights are covered in the Constitution as fundamental rights; they may not be absolute rights. Article 40.1 of the Constitution provides that everyone is equal before the law and the State cannot unjustly, unreasonably or arbitrarily discriminate between two citizens. If the Houses of the Oireachtas were to enact legislation that would do that, it would be exposed to a...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: The proposal in the amendment is clearly very well intended. Diversity is clearly required and is not reflected on the Bench at the moment. However, I am not convinced of such listed detail in a specific statutory provision. I do not believe it is necessary and it could have an unintended consequence. It could become a distraction and burdensome. While a noble aim, it is disproportionate...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: This one single amendment is substantive. It is so central and fundamental. It is like a belt and braces approach to the whole thinking and statutory intention behind the Bill. It would have the benefit of, if needs be, saving the Bill from itself. There might be a constitutional challenge at some later date but the Legislature should never fear a constitutional challenge. That is part...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Constitutionally sound.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: I am old enough to remember the late Rory Brady in a different role and he was a wonderful Attorney General. I have no doubt that it was said in the Law Library that these were very non-party political appointments but that probably does not give the assurances going forward that it was done right now or it was done right then.

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Transparency is a very easy word to say and I have not met anyone yet who was not into transparency. I would make a general point with reference to invoking Article 26 of the Constitution, that it is rare that that happens. Ideally, that would be a wonderful way of extrapolating the point on whether or not this issue is constitutional. In the absence of that, this is an issue for an...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Supreme Court.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU-level Policy Response to Current Energy Security Issues: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: This is a most interesting discussion with experts. One area I would like to concentrate on is anaerobic digestion. It is like a second coming for it. I recall attending the launch of a local machine to great fanfare and hope more than ten years ago. It is a slow-burner – excuse the pun. Is it potentially a silver bullet? It is being listed as one of the areas of positive attack...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU-level Policy Response to Current Energy Security Issues: Discussion (19 Oct 2022)

Vincent P Martin: Deputy Harkin had one other question. Maybe the witnesses can emailed us. I have seen wind turbines as well. I have seen the one wind turbine in a large garden, which is for the family or household. If at all possible, I would like to hear some expert analysis of that.