Results 31,621-31,640 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: In 2009 the now Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Simon Coveney, published the NewERA policy platform of Fine Gael, which committed Fine Gael to establishing Irish Water as a utility to charge for water. This was the clear stated policy of Fine Gael at the time. I would like to know who advised Deputy Coveney at the time on this policy and whether his policy advisers had...
- Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: -----although they had already paid €12,000 to the local authority in development levies for water infrastructure. What is the Taoiseach's response to all of this? It is shabby and sleveen to undermine the chief executive officer, a process that started at last week's parliamentary party meeting when unparliamentary things were said about him behind closed doors, but cleverly leaked...
- Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Grants (21 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: 491. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if her Department is in a position to aid young students from the North of Ireland to seek placements in universities in the USA on the young leaders programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40260/14]
- Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Grants (21 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: 492. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the support available from any North-South programmes to assist students from the North of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40261/14]
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: I asked about Oireachtas scrutiny. It took 12 months for the document to be obtained from the HSE through a freedom of information request.
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: I was somewhat surprised this morning that the Tánaiste did not condemn any letter emanating from any local authority threatening eviction for people if they had difficulty paying water charges. She should make it clear that that is not acceptable practice. I do not think anybody in the House would justify that but she did not take the opportunity afforded to her to do that. When...
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: The Labour Party apparently met Irish Water two weeks ago.
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: We did ask. Our environment spokesman, Deputy Barry Cowen, has asked in writing.
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: There has been no response.
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: Obviously Irish Water feels it has to be more accountable to Fine Gael's internal committee or Labour Party Deputies than it has to be to the Oireachtas. That is the only lesson I can draw from that, but it is not good enough. There is an incredible arrogance on the Government benches-----
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: -----that the Oireachtas does not matter. The bottom line is that there was no debate on this. There never was a debate on the establishment of Irish Water or the legislation that underpinned it because all Stages were rammed through the House in about three or four hours. Deputy Cowen has written to Irish Water to seek a meeting but he was surprised to learn that the Labour Party had...
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: That is the Chief Whip, Deputy Kehoe's, attitude. It is jackboot stuff.
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: Deputy Seán Conlan knows all about it. That is how you guys run it. You might run the Fine Gael operation like that but do not think you are going to get away with running the Oireachtas like that.
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: I want an assurance from the Government that Irish Water will come before the relevant Oireachtas committee to answer questions that many people have. As regards the forthcoming finance Bill, there has been a considerable lack of detail in the health budget for 2015. The HSE deficit could hit €500 million. The comprehensive expenditure report published on Wednesday by the Minister...
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: Deputy Stagg is not the Chair.
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: There is legislation and I am coming to that. The bottom line, however, is that we are facing a similar situation this year. Health budgets have been produced that have no credibility at all. Last year we were given false figures. We know that now because through a freedom of information request we obtained HSE documents to the Minister at the time expressing alarm about safety. When...
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: Operations are being cancelled and operating theatres have been closed. That is what is going on right now. There should be far greater transparency for the health Estimate than has been provided to date, including last year. Such transparency was committed to by the Government a long time ago but it has not been realised in the context of the health Estimate.
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: Or the Oireachtas.
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: With the Oireachtas.
- Order of Business (16 Oct 2014)
Micheál Martin: No, with the Oireachtas.