Results 24,001-24,020 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: That is the point, but the Government still has not-----

Questions on Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: There is a crisis in respect of children with autism getting school places, particularly in second-level schools. There is a paucity of second-level schools that are making places available to young people with autism. Last night, for example, there was a meeting of 60 parents who were told that there are only eight places in a particular location. The situation is that shocking. There is...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: There is the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill and also the education (parent and student charter) Bill-----

Questions on Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: I am talking to the Taoiseach. The Minister of State, Deputy Regina Doherty, is not Taoiseach.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: The Minister of State should calm down. The role of the Chief Whip is to try to develop a bit of consensus, not to be at people all the time.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: It relates to the education (parent and student charter) Bill.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: It is true, by the way. Parents are at their wits' end, as are teachers.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: Some schools have stepped up to the plate but an awful lot of schools are not doing so in respect of accepting children with special needs, particularly those with autism. Something has to be done about it legislatively. It happened at primary level over a decade ago but it is not happening at second level. There are many other issues to which I could refer, including the lack of respite...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: An insertion is needed to the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: It is not your fault, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: I commend Deputy Howlin on raising this question because the absence of the council goes to the heart of what is wrong in the country in some respects, namely, the lack of independent thinking. The NESC has done a good job over the years. It has not been willing to play the role of ideological advocacy that some in this House might want it to do but it has helped work to get to some sort of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cyber Security Policy (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: 3. To ask the Taoiseach the position regarding IT security in his Department. [33803/16]

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cyber Security Policy (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Taoiseach for his comprehensive reply. This is a very serious issue. For some years other member states of the European Union have been subject to ongoing cyber intimidation. In the case of Latvia, a Russian-based attack brought down the country's Internet and paralysed official business. This year, we have seen a serious escalation in the use of cyber intimidation between...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cyber Security Policy (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: I commend the Taoiseach's humility and I join him in saying that I am not an expert either. We do not need to know the detail. It is a very big issue. Years ago, when I was the Minister with responsibility for enterprise, McAfee came to Ireland and the McAfee view was that it was protecting against viruses. The managing director told me he thanked God that there were people out there...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Seanad Reform (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: If anything meaningful is to be done, the drafting process needs to start soon. This has dragged on for far too long. During the lifetime of the previous Administration, we met and we stated that we supported the idea of a legislative mechanism to ensure a democratic franchise. This did not happen. We are open to the implementation of the Manning report recommendations, although I would...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Seanad Reform (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: Some of Deputy Howlin's former colleagues agreed with me privately that it was an appalling poster. It sent out all the wrong signals about what we thought of ourselves. In any event, the point is that we need to get on with this or otherwise, as Deputy Howlin stated, we will end up at the next general election without any change. There is a platform and a set of proposals that would...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Seanad Reform (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: Could we leave it?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Seanad Reform (16 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: I think we should leave it.

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: I wish to raise with the Taoiseach the behaviour of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, in relation to a number of key issues. His remarks on the Judiciary have been unacceptable. He is utilising his position as a Minister to undermine and attack the judicial pillar in a politically populist way. In short, he does not have respect for the judicial pillar which...

Leaders' Questions (22 Nov 2016)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach did not mention in his reply the vacancies to State boards.