Results 23,241-23,260 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: -----courtesy of "Tonight with Vincent Browne", a journalist, of course, whom the Taoiseach has never facilitated with a debate-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: Deputy Coveney is wrong. I am the only party leader-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: -----that went on national television. The Taoiseach did not debate anything to do with it on national television-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: I am not. Does Deputy Coveney accept that as a fact?
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: The point I want to make about the citizens' assembly is that I do not pretend that it was the Constitutional Convention that led to the referendum.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: It was not. It was a party political decision, and it took the Taoiseach longer than most to go with it. He was the last party leader, two years on, to eventually agree with it. Fine, he did, and I am happy that it worked. I do not want any divisive comment about it. It was a great day, and many people voted for it. Some had their views about it, to which they are entitled. People in...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: Regarding the eighth amendment, let me again state that the idea of a citizens' assembly is very curious. It should not be left to a citizens' assembly at all. It will take six months to establish. That is my point. Given the complexity of the issue, I believe that it is not clear at all how a citizens' assembly could work on an issue so dramatically more complex than anything examined by...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt Deputy Coppinger and I would appreciate if she would respect my democratic right to make my points. Freedom of conscience will apply, and the Oireachtas has dealt with this before through Green Papers that considered all the scenarios and options. I believe a judge-led commission initiative would feed into an all-party Oireachtas committee and would be the best route...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: I am taking that to mean it will be six months.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: When does the Taoiseach expect its first report?
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: No.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: Whose conclusions?
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: It will not be under any obligation to take anything from the citizens' assembly.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: I would just make the point that I was not saying anything about championing anything. I was making the point that the Constitutional Convention was not responsible for the marriage equality referendum. Many political parties here were in favour of marriage equality long before the Constitutional Convention had anything to say about it. The Labour Party was very clear about it. I was...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: Other people have different views and I acknowledge that.I would equally say to Deputies Coppinger and Bríd Smith that many women do not agree with the positions that they adopt.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: We live in a democracy and we should acknowledge that. There has been an attempt this morning to say that because I happen to be a male, I have no right to adopt any position on this. I live in a democracy. I am elected by the people and I am as entitled as the Deputy to have a position on this. I am not going to take the type of attitude from the Deputy to the effect that everybody else...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: That is a legitimate position to have.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: I equally accept the perspectives of other people. I accept the complexities and difficulties of the issues. We have all been through life experiences and no one has a monopoly on or uniformity of views on this.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: The more I hear about the citizens' assembly, the more I do not get the point of it because the Taoiseach has confirmed that, ultimately, everything has to be dealt with in here and that there is no obligation on the Members of the House to accept whatever emanates from a citizens' assembly. I put it to the Taoiseach that surely it would make far greater sense to establish a cross-party...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens Assembly (1 Jun 2016)
Micheál Martin: No one is suggesting, and I have not heard anyone say, that it be simply repealed and that there will be no law to replace it.