Results 321-340 of 429 for long speaker:Martin Conway

Seanad: Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2014: Committee Stage (16 Dec 2014)

Martin Conway: ...and their entitlements when they reached retirement age. However, the trustees messed up and pensions were cut. I have no problem whatsoever if a pension or deferred pension is cut, so long as it is fair and equal to everybody. However, where somebody with a pension sees it reduced by 10% but a deferred pensioner sees a reduction of 60%, this is not what I espouse in politics, and I...

Seanad: Flood Management: Statements (27 Nov 2014)

Martin Conway: ...of flooding, start to address these problems and work our way down the list. We all remember the scenes broadcast on television on 3 January and 1 February depicting the destruction of many homes along the coast and the erosion by the sea of significant portions of the coastline. As the Minister of State noted, this was an event that only occurs once in a number of generations. It...

Seanad: Availability of Certain Medication: Statements (26 Nov 2014)

Martin Conway: ...this in an Adjournment matter a number of weeks ago and the response from the Minister then was the same as his speech today. Senator Darragh O'Brien has been campaigning on this issue for a long time because he has been contacted by people for whom this drug has worked. I was contacted by a lady who lives in Dublin who has received enormous relief from this drug. All we can do is rely...

Seanad: Commemoration Planning: Statements (13 Nov 2014)

Martin Conway: .... I have also spoken to other historians and have been contacted by the History Teachers' Association, which is deeply concerned about the diminution in the teaching of history. We can have a long-lasting impact with the commemoration. Obviously it will give us great meitheal and it will bring everyone together, but it will also have an effect in reigniting young people and getting the...

Seanad: Order of Business (6 Nov 2014)

Martin Conway: ...report, but it has been sitting on the Minister's desk. I do not doubt her honour or integrity but, through circumstances outside her control, the lifetime of the Government might not be as long as we would like it to be. This issue needs to be addressed urgently.

Seanad: Joint Policing Committees: Motion (15 Oct 2014)

Martin Conway: It has gone on a little too long.

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Mutual Assistance) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (15 Oct 2014)

Martin Conway: ...We are always very happy to take Bills in the Seanad and to facilitate getting good legislation over the line, given that the Dáil's schedule can sometimes be quite full. We are very happy to sit longer, if necessary, in order to take legislation, which is appropriate and beneficial. This legislation is extremely beneficial and important and gives effect to some decisions made at...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Drugs Payment Scheme Coverage (7 Oct 2014)

Martin Conway: ...disease very debilitating and compromising. My understanding is, however, that a new drug, Fampyra, gives incredible relief to sufferers, but it is not available as a prescribed medicine under the long-term illness scheme. My question is simple. Does the Minister have plans to provide this drug under the scheme for sufferers of multiple sclerosis to enhance the quality of their lives?

Seanad: Access to Educational and Other Opportunities for People with Disabilities: Motion (24 Sep 2014)

Martin Conway: ...drop out not because of SNAs or resource hours but because the important infrastructure is not in place. For example, they do not get books in braille, the technology is not in place, it takes too long for them to get audio tapes or there are no sign language interpreters when they are needed at lectures. As a result these people give up the ghost and fall out of education. For those...

Seanad: Betting (Amendment) Bill 2013: Second Stage (24 Sep 2014)

Martin Conway: I welcome the Minister and this very important legislation. It was an open goal that citizens and the country should have been scoring for a long time in terms of collecting money from online gambling. As has been pointed out, traditional bookie shops pay rates, taxes and everything else. Just because technology has advanced does not mean that the people who have embraced that technology -...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Voluntary Sector Funding (17 Jul 2014)

Martin Conway: ...acquire it. Our colleague, the late Deputy Nicky McFadden, passed away last March as a result of motor neurone disease. I know a number of people who suffer from the disease, as well as several who are no longer with us because of it. I do not think any fair minded person wants to see a reduction of €88,000 because most people would acknowledge the work that the association does....

Seanad: Court of Appeal Bill 2014: Second Stage (16 Jul 2014)

Martin Conway: ...other jurisdictions. The Minister said the legislation provided for significant tidying up to ensure our legal structures are fit for purpose, particularly in the High and Supreme Courts. This is long overdue and it is welcome. She also referred to the review of the judicial appointments process that was announced last week in the Dáil. When judges are appointed to the court of...

Seanad: Eye Care: Motion (16 Jul 2014)

Martin Conway: ...if we do not have a focused strategy. Politicians and political leaders must deal with the here and now but, as we are maturing as a society and coming out of the recession, we must take a more long-term view. It can be achieved because we have achieved consensus across the political divide today. Even if the present Government is not in office after the general election, alternative...

Seanad: Eye Care: Motion (16 Jul 2014)

Martin Conway: ...the vision strategy and will establish a strategy of its own encapsulating the views, objectives and targets of as set out by the national vision coalition. We have reached the stage in this country whereby a long-term approach to health care is needed. For too long, we have been reactive as opposed to proactive in terms of dealing with situations that present. Investment now will...

Seanad: Order of Business (26 Jun 2014)

Martin Conway: ...the remarkable generosity of the Irish people, whose hearts and wallets responded so commendably to this brave human interest story. I wish Gavin and his parents all the very best in what will be a long but, we hope, successful route to good health.

Seanad: Offences Against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (19 Jun 2014)

Martin Conway: ...there are many dissidents who seek to undermine that process and derail all of the good work that has been done. I suggest respectfully to everybody that it is just work in progress in that we have a long way to go. This legislation is necessary to protect our citizens and respect their human rights. People have a right to move freely in a democratic country knowing that the institutions...

Seanad: Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Bill 2014: Second Stage (18 Jun 2014)

Martin Conway: ...against the Paris Principles, which is no mean achievement. Sometimes we forget what we have achieved in this country in terms of human rights compared to other countries. Certainly, we have a long way to go, but we have come a long way as well. It is interesting to note that 32 states in the United States still allow the death penalty. We heard recently about an appalling case where...

Seanad: Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) (Amendment) Bill 2014: Second Stage (10 Jun 2014)

Martin Conway: ...categorised everyone within the same ambit. I think this is wrong and I am pleased the Seanad has, yet again, been the Chamber to highlight this issue and give a voice to people who have felt without a voice for too long. The people voted to retain the Seanad because its job is to reflect the views of those perceived to be members of minority groups. I hate labels such as minorities and...

Seanad: Order of Business (10 Jun 2014)

Martin Conway: .... The report was so bad that the chief executive of the hospital group was on local radio yesterday and felt it necessary to apologise to the people of Clare and Limerick for the extraordinarily long delays and the serious distress, discomfort and hardship caused to them as a result. While I am pleased a new state-of-the-art facility is being built, it will not be completed until the...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Forensic Evidence and DNA Database System) Bill 2013: Second Stage (27 May 2014)

Martin Conway: ...and international, and requires an international response. We need to ensure all methods of dealing with crime, all available information and infrastructure are put in place. While this is long overdue, it will put us in a proper position in terms of co-operation with our international colleagues. Some of my colleagues have asked me to highlight the importance of ensuring human rights...