Results 32,841-32,860 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Leaders' Questions (1 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: Perhaps the Taoiseach would answer my question about the briefing.

Leaders' Questions (1 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: I only asked one question, which was very straightforward.

Leaders' Questions (1 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: I did not ask about that.

Leaders' Questions (1 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach is distracting from the core question.

Leaders' Questions (1 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: The Minister received no briefing on the Monday evening from his officials?

Leaders' Questions (1 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: It is a week since the departure of the former Garda Commissioner, Mr. Martin Callinan, following a visit to his home by the Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality in which he conveyed the Taoiseach's view that the issue of telephone recordings was very serious. The following morning the Commissioner resigned, retired or was, as is my view, forced out of office. Last...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Universal Health Insurance White Paper (1 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: 551. To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding the commitment in the programme for Government on universal health insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11534/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (1 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: 150. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is concerned at developments in Ukraine; if he will discuss this issue with other EU leaders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10348/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion (1 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: 151. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he or his departmental officials attend Export Trade Council meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10482/14]

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland Issues (1 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: 152. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has spoken to the First Minister and or Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland regarding the recently announced judicial review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12778/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Programme for Government Implementation (1 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: 550. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the programme for Government commitment on legislating for post mortem procedures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10481/14]

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (1 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: 587. To ask the Minister for Health if he will re-examine the application for a discretionary medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Meath with a long-term illness who recently underwent a liver transplant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15312/14]

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Micheál Martin: The Government celebrates getting rid of urban councils as the best reform in 100 years. It is not. It is removing a fundamental, low-cost element of our democracy which gave people a voice and allowed them to try to help their local communities.

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Micheál Martin: We now have a situation with in Ukraine, Crimea and Russia which should remind us all-----

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Micheál Martin: -----of the absolute imperative of democracy, the importance of democracy and the degree to which we should cherish it. I hope the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, and his party will never again put up posters exhorting people to vote "Yes" for fewer politicians. What an appalling message to send young people in this country. What appalling cynicism. Some of Deputy O'Dowd's backbenchers...

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Micheál Martin: -----and the power of debate. I do not know whether Deputy O'Dowd saw Seamus Mallon's excellent programme with John Bowman yesterday. I noted Mr. Mallon's comments about how he enjoyed the House of Commons. What he enjoyed most was the debate, the engagement-----

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Micheál Martin: -----and the ideas. I was taken by that contribution because that goes to the heart of what democracy is about - alternative voices, debates, competing opinions. There is too much uniformity here. We as a political party need to change as well; I am not saying otherwise. Of course we have to change. We go forward in a spirit, in the aftermath of the collapse, of having learned lessons...

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Micheál Martin: This is Second Stage of the Bill. We acknowledge that it can be improved. The Second Stage speech of the Minister of State, Deputy O'Dowd, was almost like a Committee Stage contribution, going through the technical issues, the problems and so on. Apparently, it is impossible for us to allow our citizens to vote in embassies overseas, yet for many other countries there is no difficulty in...

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Micheál Martin: -----so that we can have a meaningful discussion with Members of the House. Some of his own party's members, even in their later contributions this morning, indicated they wanted that kind of debate.

Seanad Reform Bill 2014: Second Stage (Resumed) [Private Members] (28 Mar 2014)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Murphy stated earlier that he would welcome an opportunity to contribute. Therefore, I ask the Minister of State to allow this Bill to proceed to Committee Stage so that we can have discussions on it.