Results 20,001-20,020 of 50,830 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: Is it fair to say no advisers have been appointed up to today?
- Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: Why is the Minister already on record as saying the advisers have been appointed?
- Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: It is in black and white.
- Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: This is a very important point. It was announced today that they have been appointed. The Minister announced to the media they were appointed. Now the Taoiseach is stating the tendering is not complete and will not be until tomorrow. Either they have been appointed or they have not.
- Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: So what was said today was wrong. Obviously the Taoiseach wanted me to give way to allow him to interject, which I very agreeably did.
- Leaders' Questions (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: Will the Taoiseach confirm a sale has not been ruled out by the Government and that it is actively considering the sale of the 25% share?
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: 1. To ask the Taoiseach the position regarding the programme for Government commitment on Cabinet confidentiality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37632/14]
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: Will the Taoiseach explain why it is in the programme for Government that legislation relating to Cabinet confidentiality will be changed? It is in black and white and I have asked the Taoiseach about this before. Will he explain why he bothered putting this into the programme for Government at the outset? What was the objective and the intention behind its inclusion? Why did the...
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: It states:We will radically overhaul the way Irish politics and Government work. The failures of the political system [...]. Government is too centralised and unaccountable. We believe that there must also be a real shift in power from the State to the citizen.These were the heady days of 2011. The next line states "We will legislate on the issue of Cabinet confidentiality" and other...
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: No. When negotiating a programme for Government, parties outline their objectives. They might list X, Y and Z, indicating that they will deal with freedom of information or the Official Secrets Act, which the Government indicated it would amend, for certain reasons. For some reason, both parties agreed to formally insert a commitment as follows: "We will legislate on the issue of Cabinet...
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: So it was to be reinforced?
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: That is very strange as the Labour Party, while in opposition for years, would have railed against Cabinet confidentiality. It articulated strongly against it because it was too restrictive, it prevented inquiries and it was always used as a basis for not getting answers to questions. Now the Taoiseach is saying the Labour Party was conspiring with him to legislatively reinforce and...
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: Were there any more good intentions?
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: It would be excusable if it was the work of one Deputy, but it is worrying that is the work of more than one.
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: That is not correct. Cabinet confidentiality was in place long before 1997. What happened in 1997, and I stand corrected, was that there was an amendment to facilitate the breaching of Cabinet confidentiality in circumstances of a tribunal of inquiry going to a High Court in matters of public interest and getting access to Cabinet documentation. If I am not mistaken that was in regard to...
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: It did.
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: But we are being asked to pass the Central Bank (Amendment) Bill this week.
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: The entire House should get a presentation because the House passed the terms of reference-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: -----for setting up the banking inquiry. It is reasonable to say that at that stage people should have been made aware-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Confidentiality (27 Jan 2015)
Micheál Martin: -----of the limitations on what could come from the Central Bank. I do not think anyone is aware of the extraordinary limitations now in place, and that will be in place. All I am asking is that a comprehensive presentation would be made to all Members of the House, including legal advice and everything else because every Member of the House voted. That is only reasonable because they did...