Results 25,821-25,840 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: The same applies but it is always in different circumstances. Ireland's relations with Canada have always been excellent, although this is often over-looked due to the importance of our relationship with the United States. Given the new links between Ireland and "Star Wars" movies, it was a pity the Taoiseach did not match the Prime Minister's celebration of 4 May.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: I have no doubt that when the leadership context is over between the Taoiseach's colleagues, both will be promising to make 4 May a national holiday. I wish to focus on CETA. In particular, six months ago I asked for a debate on CETA because the issue of free trade is central to our economic development. There have been many loud noises here. We have heard that the loudest vessels make...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: The point I am making is that there has been a certain narrative abroad suggesting that any free trade agreement is anathema to Ireland's interests, and that they are evil and should be condemned. CETA has been condemned even before it has been debated here. I remember when I was Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment I opened an Enterprise Ireland office in Toronto. Why did we...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (24 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: We hear the opposite. We here a torrent of negativity about the whole concept of free trade. I put it to the Taoiseach that we need that sorted with a debate. I call on the Taoiseach to indicate what measures Irish firms are taking to benefit directly from this agreement.

Questions on Promised Legislation (24 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: We need to look at what can be done in advance.

Questions on Promised Legislation (24 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: Under the programme for Government, there are commitments on the national security and defence policy. In the context of the appalling terrorist attack on young children in Manchester - from the impact of which people are still reeling and on which they are reflecting - attention must be drawn to whether our own structures and systems, particularly those relating to intelligence, are...

Leaders' Questions (24 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: Is the Taoiseach suggesting that the Government had not been forewarned about this catastrophe? Is he suggesting that the Minister, by means of an early warning system, would not have been alerted to the impending disaster? The dogs on the street knew about the impending disaster for some time. Indeed, the Director of Public Prosecutions was alerted to the issue as well as the manner and...

Leaders' Questions (24 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: We cannot simply prolong it in terms of reports.

Leaders' Questions (24 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: Will the Minister come before the Dáil this week?

Leaders' Questions (24 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: The collapse of the longest running criminal trial in history, involving charges against Sean FitzPatrick, former chairman of Anglo Irish Bank, represents a damning indictment of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, ODCE, but also reflects poorly on the Garda and indeed on the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. In essence, the State's capacity to investigate...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (23 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: My question was not in respect of Brexit.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (23 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: He proposed that we reduce taxes in that regard.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (23 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Richard Bruton proposed a cut in stamp duty which would have fuelled the boom.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (23 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: Six years ago the Government effectively abandoned the idea of taking policy consultations seriously. In retrospect, the evidence suggests that the mounting failures of Government to plan for a major crisis could have been avoided if there had been genuine political engagement, with policy debate and analysis. In the past, the NESC played a crucial role in providing a foundation for policy...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (23 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: The funding for it was cut.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (23 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: Yesterday, the General Affairs Council agreed the more detailed negotiating directives, which follow on from the guidelines agreed at last month's summit. I do not believe there was anything surprising in these guidelines and it contains the reassurance concerning the European Union's citizenship right of Irish citizens in Northern Ireland, which we have advocated for here and in Brussels...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (23 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: It is fair to say that the work of Government seems to be even more sidelined now that the election campaign is under way for the new Fine Gael leader.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (23 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: The current contest is very interesting and revealing, perhaps more so than the party might have wished. It is interesting that the Minister for Social Protection was using his regular weekend media briefing to promote his views on what he modestly called a dramatic infrastructure plan. Many outside observers saw the reports and wondered whether he was simply announcing the much heralded...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (23 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: When can we expect to see the new plan?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committee Meetings (23 May 2017)

Micheál Martin: I refer to the revised infrastructure plan on which we all made submissions.