Results 37,781-37,800 of 51,299 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Constitutional Convention (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: Government sources are indicating to the media that people have been turning down the offer of chairing the convention. Will the Taoiseach comment? This might indicate the general sense out there that the Government's attempt to limit the work of the convention has essentially dampened a lot of interest in it. It has lacked credibility from the off and this may be a restricting factor,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Constitutional Convention (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: I would argue that this is a very special case. The first two items are a change in the voting age from 18 to 17 and the term of the Presidency. Clearly, no NGO groups are needed to consider those and, in fact, most people think it is a waste of time discussing those issues in a convention. They cannot fathom it at all and think it extraordinary. It really goes to the heart of the lack of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Constitutional Convention (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate that. My point is that there is a clear case for allowing the people whose rights are being considered to participate, even in the section dealing with the issue of marriage equality. Also, I am disappointed with the Taoiseach's response that he will not give a blanket guarantee on the holding of referendums that the convention may recommend. What is the point of it all if only...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Constitutional Convention (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: To ask the Taoiseach the reason the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network were not included in the membership of the Constitutional Convention; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38804/12]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Constitutional Convention (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: To ask the Taoiseach if he will provide an update on arrangements for the Constitutional Convention. [40263/12]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Constitutional Convention (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: To ask the Taoiseach the date on which the Constitutional Convention will meet for the first time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42656/12]

Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: I listened to the Taoiseach's language. He stated that the Government is actively aware of the issue, is interacting with various bodies and is reminding the banks of their duties, but the Government is doing nothing in any meaningful way to alleviate the disproportionate and unfair burden on standard variable rate mortgage holders. That is the bottom line, despite what the Taoiseach has...

Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: They increased the rate twice.

Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach is endorsing them.

Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: After he was elected, the Taoiseach said the Government would act decisively, forcefully and effectively with the banks and anybody else in the interests of those who held mortgages and were in difficulty in repaying them. Last week, for the second time in one month, AIB announced a major increase in its standard variable mortgage interest rate, to 4%, affecting 70,000 householders in the...

Leaders' Questions (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach committed to forcing the banks to forgo a 0.25 basis point rise through savings in administration costs. That was included in the programme for Government, but the Government has done absolutely nothing about this either. Both the Labour Party and Fine Gael have been silent about it. What is the Taoiseach's strategy? Does he accept that the differential between tracker and...

Other Questions: Universities Global Ranking (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the most recent world university rankings which showed that universities here have slipped again; the steps he is taking to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43069/12]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason he has replaced and renamed the five scholarship schemes for higher education, namely the Easter Week 1916 Commemoration Scholarship, An Scéim Scoláireachtaí Triú Leibhéal do Scoláirí ón nGaeltacht, An Scéim Scoláireachtaí Gaeilge Triú Leibhéal, An Scéim...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the employer and union representatives that he met in the period 1 July to 18 September 2012 regarding issues relating to the Croke Park Agreement. [40271/12]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has met the social partners recently to discuss the Croke Park Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40100/12]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has met or if he is planning to meet the social partners in the context of the Croke Park Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38805/12]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Croke Park Agreement (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his views on whether the Croke Park Agreement should be renegotiated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38797/12]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Allowances (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform his plans to allow the information on all of the public sector allowances to be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38808/12]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Freedom of Information Legislation (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide an update on the commitments made in the Programme for Government in relation to amending the Freedom of Information Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38802/12]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Committees of Inquiry (9 Oct 2012)

Micheál Martin: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has decided the format that the new banking inquiry will take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41259/12]