Results 19,781-19,800 of 50,830 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am not standing by any assertion by Deputy Cowen in respect of the Garda statement. Does Deputy McDonald understand that? I am not standing by the assertion in relation to the Garda record on the file. That is the point. I read the file yesterday. I spoke to Deputy Cowen the night before. There is a process in place and I do not want to prejudice it, but I have my own view on it. I...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I did not prevent-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: There was a tactical device to force a vote on the issue. The issue was on the Order of Business. I had come into the House after having asked Deputy Cowen to consider his position and reflect on his decision not to come into the House. In my view, he should have come into the House.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I was giving him time and space to reflect on that. In my view, he should have come into the House. In the afternoon, when he still refused to respond to my view that he should come into the House, I was left with no alternative then-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----but to seek the termination of his appointment. We both disagreed in terms of the route. He wanted to go the legal route but for me that was not tenable in the context of being an officeholder.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The first point I would make is that it now seems to be the case on the Opposition side that the assertion by a journalist, who is entitled to make assertions and points, is fact, and that one should act immediately on it. That seems to be the import of what is being said here this afternoon.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I cannot act on that, nor should I. In terms of the acquisition of the file, Deputy Cowen was faced with a situation where he was being presented with private material about himself from journalistic sources. In other words, they had information about him relating to a PULSE file on him that he himself did not have. His point was that he was very taken aback by any assertions in respect of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is a bigger question that everyone in this House should be concerned about as well in terms of data and the release of data. That is a wider more fundamental policy question that we all have to be conscious of. On another day in this House we will go on about companies and multinationals and citizens' rights, which is important too and is valid. Deputy Cowen then got access to his...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Ar dtús báire, ní aontaím leis an Teachta. Níl an ceart aici sa mhéid atá ráite aici go dtí seo. I strongly disagree with the Deputy's assertion that I knew about this on 3 or 4 July. Allegations, assertions and media questions are not facts. Deputy Cowen is still, as he was at the time, adamant with regard to the accuracy of the report from...

Termination of Ministerial Appointment: Announcement by Taoiseach (14 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I wish to announce for the information of the Dáil that the President, on my advice, this evening terminated the appointment of Deputy Barry Cowen as a member of the Government. Pursuant to section 4(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1946, I have assigned the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to myself. I will propose the appointment of a new member of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Growth (14 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is my understanding that it is in the functioning document.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Growth (14 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Anything can change over time.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Growth (14 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The committee has not been convened to deal with any one issue, including the situation pertaining to the Minister, Deputy Cowen. It will meet in advance of every Cabinet meeting to discuss the Cabinet agenda, including legislation which may be on the agenda on which agreement may not yet have been arrived. Ordinarily, agreement will have been arrived at. Someone may say his party wants to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Growth (14 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is, because this is a significant expenditure stimulus of the economy. I refer to the projects that will be identified and prioritised, the key as well being the pandemic unemployment payment and the wage subsidy on which the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, has ideas. I will not give Deputy Kelly the final quantum today because that will be announced on the day and work is still under way....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Growth (14 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: They do not have the Chairs. We chair it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Growth (14 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is not clumsy at all; I think it will work as a structure. Having been in previous Governments, I know that co-ordination is key. In coalition Governments - this is a three-party Government - where one has regular engagement, particularly between the three leaders and also to avoid issues that may be disruptive or may cause difficulties, it will require hard work but that is needed to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (14 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The architect of this model of government was the Labour Party.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (14 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is not rubbish. I recall Deputy Howlin and the then Tánaiste, Mr. Dick Spring, won a substantial number of seats. They no longer wanted to play second fiddle to the Fine Gael party and did not go into coalition with them. They entered into coalition with Fianna Fáil and developed this idea. We are political parties, and I do not mean political in the sense that one is just...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (14 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am not even criticising it; I just note it. The emails were flying to and fro on that between all the special advisers of all parties so let us not pretend that this is something new. Ministers of State either mean something or they do not mean. In my view, they mean something in terms of the policy areas that are under their responsibility. The Minister of State with responsibility for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (14 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is the whole idea. The Deputy must accept in that situation there has to be a need for policy input to drive things on and get things done. The security issue has surfaced with regard to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in terms of travel.