Results 20,741-20,760 of 50,830 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: -----is not followed by the reality of support.

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: That is surprising-----

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: To be fair to the Minister, Deputy Coveney-----

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: -----when he came into-----

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: To be fair to the Minister, he stated when he entered office that Food Harvest 2020, which was produced by the former Minister, Deputy Smith, was an excellent blueprint for the development of agriculture and food.

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: He stated that he would not develop anything new. Rather, he would implement it.

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: And that was the bottom line.

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: The one change the Government has made in rural Ireland, and one that is shameful, is the dramatic cuts in the Leader programme-----

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: -----and the decision by Mr. Phil Hogan-----

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: -----to take away from communities on the ground-----

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: -----the autonomy of the Leader companies and local development funding.

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: The Government removed their autonomy.

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: In Cork county alone, the Government cut Leader funding by 71%. Go there and heckle the people of west and north-west Cork - they are outside my constituency - and east Cork if the Minister of State thinks it is so funny.

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: That is the reality.

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: No. The Government politically wanted to take control of giving out grants at local level away from Leader and cut it to the bone.

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: On page 27 of the Spring Economic Statement, the Government claims to have set out its vision in Food Harvest 2020, but the Minister of State should, like the Minister, Deputy Coveney, did when he started, remember and acknowledge that this strategy was prepared and published by Deputy Smith in July 2010. It provides the blueprint for all developments in the food and agriculture sector,...

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: Stop it, Taoiseach. This Government took 1,000 posts out of the system. Guidance counsellors were categorised as occupying ex-quota positions, and they were removed. The Government has cut support for disadvantaged schools, reduced special needs provision and ended grants for people who want to do PhDs.

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: Given the needs of the economy, the decision to withdraw grant supports for postgraduate students was an incredibly backward one. The costs involved were not huge. We should be doing more at fourth level to encourage the take-up of master's degrees and PhDs. The early school leavers scheme, which brought school completion to its highest ever level, is being fatally undermined. This is an...

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: A Leas-Cheann Comhairle, the debate has been adjourned.

Spring Economic Statement (Resumed) (29 Apr 2015)

Micheál Martin: The last debate has been adjourned formally so we are waiting.