Results 23,741-23,760 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: There is nothing in the budget.

Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: The EPSEN Act was passed in 2005. It deals with special education and was meant to confer statutory rights on children with special needs in terms of assessment and the provision of individual education plans. What is quite extraordinary is that 11 years on key sections of the legislation have never been commenced. It is those sections which confer on children the right to an assessment...

Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: I have long been campaigning for therapists to go into the school classroom. That was the case with special schools until Progressing Disability came along. It is threatening to dilute the presence of such therapists in the special schools. The arrangement should be extended into mainstream schools across the country. My key question for the Taoiseach is based on the fact that the...

Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: I accept that point, but this only arises because the Act is not in place and does not provide for the assessment of children at the earliest stage possible. Does the Taoiseach not accept that, at the very minimum, someone in the Departments responsible for education and health and the Taoiseach's Department should have reviewed all this and identified the obstacles and policy response...

Leaders' Questions (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: I met those concerned and know all about them. I am talking about the Act.

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: The election of the Fine Gael and Labour Party Government in 2011 brought with it a decisive shift in budgetary policy. A progressive approach was replaced with one weighted to favour the very wealthiest. Five out of the five of the most recent budgets were regressive. Each year we heard speech after speech from Ministers talking about fairness, but the reality was always one of budgets...

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: We are all wondering what will emerge from that Department in due course.

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach may take the matter in hand. There was a time when he was very enthusiastic about report cards. I respectfully suggest the report cards of some of his Ministers would not be glowing at this juncture.

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: There is no room for taking fiscal risks at this time.  The international situation is far too uncertain.  We have to be in a position to respond to any number of possible economic crises.  The longer term debt target announced yesterday is essentially irrelevant as it is too far out to be meaningful.  What matters is the immediate future and in this regard, a prudent...

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: Because massive new taxes on the private sector and other targeted hits designed to drive up private rents show a consistent ideology.

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: While the Socialist Party and the Socialist Workers Party which form the core of the two alliances have still not been able to agree on everything, they have finally shown to every private sector worker what they stand for. It would result in the loss of thousands of jobs if Deputy Paul Murphy's policies were to be implemented.

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: Everywhere except in the private sector. You do not believe the private sector should increase the number of jobs.

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: I am, a Cheann Comhairle, through a circuitous route. Sinn Féin is obviously uncomfortable with the full scale of the policies it advocated in the Right2Change manifesto this year. Everybody should read the manifesto to which the party has signed up because its alternative budget includes almost €2 billion in new taxes.  The claim that this would have no negative...

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: We support the increase in all payments and, as we said repeatedly in discussions with Ministers, their decision to delay starting dates is bad policy. We regret that the Government has chosen to delay implementation of certain commitments on education.  The emptiness of the so-called action plan on education is reflected in the fact that the budget does not fund any initiative...

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is in never-never land.

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: Fair play.

Financial Resolutions 2017 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (12 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: We generally do not mug people.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Facilities (13 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: 68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to provide funding for a library extension at a college (details supplied) in view of the small size of the current library compared to student numbers and the need for development of a new library space for study; his views on whether a new library is needed at the institution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30155/16]

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: I am sure the Taoiseach agrees that justice delayed is justice denied. It is a fundamental core function of the Government to ensure the appointment of judges to our courts in a timely and effective manner. It is quite extraordinary that there is still a backlog of up to 1,800 cases waiting to be heard by the Court of Appeal. That court, as the Taoiseach knows, came about as a result of a...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2016)

Micheál Martin: It is a very basic matter in a democracy. Is it the case that there will be no judges appointed until the Government gets around to passing the necessary legislation? That is unacceptable. I put it to the Taoiseach that a Government incapable of appointing judges is dysfunctional. This must be rectified very quickly. Will the Taoiseach indicate that it is the Government's intention to...