Latest news with #MartinConway
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Foreign Affairs distances itself from Senator Martin Conway's speech in Finland
The Department of Foreign Affairs has stated that Senator Martin Conway, who has been the subject of a number of recent controversies, was not representing the State when he spoke at a recent political event in Finland. Mr Conway is subject to a Fine Gael disciplinary process following his arrest in January for being 'intoxicated' on O'Connell St in Dublin. In Helsinki last week he addressed the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)'s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) advisory panel on the political participation of persons with disabilities. The OSCE described the annual event as a 'chance to expand research, network with colleagues, and disseminate knowledge about the political participation of people with disabilities'. Mr Conway, who is visually impaired, was first appointed to the panel in 2021. More work needs to be done for inclusion & leadership of #PersonsWithDisabilities A great honor to provide opening remarks with Chair Martin Conway & @osce_odihr at the Advisory Panel meeting, in the spirit of #Helsinki+50 conference @IrishEmbFinland @Ulkoministerio @OSCE25FI — Katja Pehrman (@PehrmanKatja) July 30, 2025 In a post on social media platform X, Katja Pehrman, Finland's ambassador for human rights, shared a picture of herself and Mr Conway at the event. 'More work needs to be done for inclusion and leadership of Persons With Disabilities,' she said. 'A great honor [sic] to provide opening remarks with Chair Martin Conway.' She tagged the Irish Embassy in Finland in her post. A Department of Foreign Affairs spokesperson said Mr Conway was not representing Ireland at the event. 'Members of the ODIHR Advisory Panel on the Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities serve in their personal capacities as experts and do not represent any organisation or participating State,' they said. As such, this Department has no role in sanctioning participation or travel of members of the Advisory Panel. A spokesperson for Fine Gael stated that Mr Conway is 'no longer a member of the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party'. When asked about the ongoing disciplinary procedure, they referred to a previous statement from February confirming it had commenced. The Oireachtas did not pay for the trip. Senator Conway arrested in January Mr Conway was arrested on O'Connell St in Dublin in the early hours of January 22 'for being in an intoxicated state due to consumption of sleeping tablets and alcohol'. He was released without charge. He resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party just days after he was reappointed to the Seanad administrative panel for a fourth term. He was further accused of alleged inappropriate behaviour towards a female Oireachtas staff member working for Fine Gael. Mr Conway returned to Leinster House in early July. Sinn Féin TD Louise O'Reilly has repeatedly called for Fine Gael to address the scandal, amid reports that a €10,000 donation was made following alleged inappropriate behaviour. She told the Irish Examiner that the party and Mr Conway should be able to comment further now he is back at work. Ms O'Reilly said: There are questions for Fine Gael to answer in this regard and lots of questions left unanswered. 'He is still listed on the Oireachtas website as a Fine Gael member, so they will need to answer for him as a member. "I would definitely have concerns. I would definitely want to hear from him. 'Fine Gael really needs to settle all of these questions, given that the man is now back in work.' Mr Conway did not respond to phone calls or text messages.
Yahoo
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ireland's first visually impaired politician resigns after drunk arrest
The first visually impaired politician to serve in Ireland's parliament has resigned from his party after being arrested while drunk on a Dublin street. Just days after being re-elected to the Seanad (Senate), Martin Conway admitted that he was arrested in the early hours of 22 January "for being in an intoxicated state due to consumption of sleeping tablets and alcohol". He said: "I was detained at Store Street Garda Station and subsequently released without charge a number of hours later." The 50-year-old member of the Seanad (the upper house) admitted that he did not inform his party of the arrest. Senator Conway was a member of Fine Gael, led by the current deputy prime minister . In a statement, the senator said he "would like to apologise unreservedly for this to my family, colleagues, supporters and my nominating body, Vision ". Read more from Sky News:Harry and Meghan cheer during Invictus Games opening ceremonyFriends star urges Elon Musk to remove Kanye West from X He added: "I let myself down. I would also like to apologise to the members of An Garda Síochána [Irish police] for having to deal with this matter. "I have resigned from the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party. I understand that a disciplinary process will now commence." Fine Gael said it "notes" the senator's "statement, apologies and his resignation of the party whip", and confirmed the matter is now subject to a party disciplinary process. Senator Conway, from Co Clare, was born with congenital cataracts. He has been a board member of the charity Vision Ireland since 2013. The organisation has been approached for comment. His arrest took place just hours before the Dail (lower house of the parliament) met to confirm as the new taoiseach, or prime minister. over speaking rights led to that process being postponed until the following day. New senators were elected or nominated in an election in January. Just six days ago, Senator Conway said he was "absolutely delighted" to be re-elected and thanked his supporters. The Seanad consists of 60 members, who are elected to five vocational panels, from two university constituencies or nominated by the taoiseach. New senators include former Sky News broadcaster Alison Comyn.
Sky News
09-02-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
Ireland's first visually impaired politician resigns after drunk arrest
The first visually impaired politician to serve in Ireland's parliament has resigned from his party after being arrested while drunk on a Dublin street. Just days after being re-elected to the Seanad (Senate), Martin Conway admitted that he was arrested in the early hours of 22 January "for being in an intoxicated state due to consumption of sleeping tablets and alcohol". He said: "I was detained at Store Street Garda Station and subsequently released without charge a number of hours later." The 50-year-old member of the Seanad (the upper house) admitted that he did not inform his party of the arrest. Senator Conway was a member of Fine Gael, led by the current deputy prime minister Simon Harris. In a statement, the senator said he "would like to apologise unreservedly for this to my family, colleagues, supporters and my nominating body, Vision Ireland". He added: "I let myself down. I would also like to apologise to the members of An Garda Síochána [Irish police] for having to deal with this matter. "I have resigned from the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party. I understand that a disciplinary process will now commence." Fine Gael said it "notes" the senator's "statement, apologies and his resignation of the party whip", and confirmed the matter is now subject to a party disciplinary process. Senator Conway, from Co Clare, was born with congenital cataracts. He has been a board member of the charity Vision Ireland since 2013. The organisation has been approached for comment. His arrest took place just hours before the Dail (lower house of the parliament) met to confirm Micheal Martin as the new taoiseach, or prime minister. Chaotic scenes in the chamber over speaking rights led to that process being postponed until the following day. New senators were elected or nominated in an election in January. Just six days ago, Senator Conway said he was "absolutely delighted" to be re-elected and thanked his supporters. The Seanad consists of 60 members, who are elected to five vocational panels, from two university constituencies or nominated by the taoiseach.
The Independent
09-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Irish senator resigns from Fine Gael after arrest while publicly intoxicated
An Irish senator has resigned from his parliamentary party after admitting to being arrested by gardai for being intoxicated in public. In a statement issued by the Fine Gael party, Senator Martin Conway said he had been arrested on Dublin's main thoroughfare O'Connell Street on January 22 for being in an intoxicated state 'due to consumption of sleeping tablets and alcohol'. He said he had let himself down and resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party, adding that a disciplinary process would now commence. Mr Conway, from Co Clare, was recently re-elected to Ireland's senate, the Seanad. I was detained at Store Street Garda station and subsequently released without charge ... This was not disclosed to the party. I would like to apologise unreservedly for this to my family, colleagues, supporters and my nominating body, Vision Ireland Martin Conway The senator, who has a visual impairment, had been nominated by sight-loss agency Vision Ireland. In his statement, Mr Conway said: 'I was detained at Store Street Garda station and subsequently released without charge a number of hours later. 'This was not disclosed to the party. 'I would like to apologise unreservedly for this to my family, colleagues, supporters and my nominating body, Vision Ireland.' It follows reporting on the incident in the Sunday Independent which did not identify the senator by name. Mr Conway added: 'I let myself down. I would also like to apologise to the members of An Garda Siochana for having to deal with this matter. 'I have resigned from the Fine Gael parliamentary party.' Fine Gael said it noted Mr Conway's statement, adding: 'The matter is now subject to a party disciplinary process.'
