Results 31,461-31,480 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I understand the profound nature of the judgment. Of course I do. The Government has only been in office for two or three months. We will deal with these issues. Of course Covid has changed the norm. The Deputy stated the Government is saying not to go on public transport. Public health is saying that and it is advising us. There was a view in this House that we adhered to the broad...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I do not see the Minister, Deputy Ryan, having any difficulty in committing to a feasibility study. He wants to accelerate light rail proposals and initiatives across the country. I will talk to him about the Galway situation. The Deputy said he has refused.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy made a comment and perhaps I could get clarification. She said he had refused a feasibility study.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: That was the previous Minister. Deputy Ryan is the current Minister.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: We should not be making such declarations. We should give the Minister the benefit of the doubt.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: From my conversations with the Minister, he is an enthusiast of light rail.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: He is an enthusiast of public transport.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: On the gender issue, it is a point well made. This kind of Bill will create opportunities in respect of agencies and councils and so on.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Constitutional Amendments (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Under the programme for Government, the Government is committed to holding constitutional referenda on the following matters: extending the franchise at presidential elections to Irish citizens living outside the State; housing; and Article 41.2 of the Constitution, concerning women in the home. In addition, the programme for Government also commits to refer the issue of...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Constitutional Amendments (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Immediate action is needed in housing to get more people housed, to get more houses built and, particularly, to get homelessness numbers down. Covid-19 is having an impact and we should be clear that it will have an impact on the timing of referendums. It has also had an impact in the early part of this year on house completions nationally because of the lockdown and so on. That said, in...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Constitutional Amendments (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Yes, but the Deputy did not bring in any proposals for a referendum on housing. By the way, we are committed to holding a referendum.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Constitutional Amendments (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: There are Bills everywhere. There is an ongoing debate on whether we can get things done through legislation and various taxation measures to reduce the incentive to hoard land, to create a punitive environment for the hoarding of land and to reduce the acceleration of land prices. That is the objective of Government. The programme for Government is the outcome of negotiations between...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland was formally established by Government decision on 6 July and the first meeting will be scheduled to take place over the course of the autumn. Brexit matters have, of course, remained firmly on the agenda of Cabinet. The Government has taken a number of decisions recently on Brexit, including to intensify work across government to ensure...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have been very clear in this regard. This is a unilateral action. It fundamentally undermines trust and trust is the foundation stone upon which agreements are made and negotiations conducted. I could not be any clearer than that. I think Deputy Kelly is right. The British Government, via legislation, today is unilaterally seeking to undermine or alter an international agreement....

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is a straightforward answer. I have significant experience of negotiations.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: It makes a lot of sense.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: They are, that is their decision and they have done it unilaterally.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: We will work with the European Union. I spoke last night to the President of the European Commission who is viewing this very seriously. The stakes are high. This is about the manner in which the UK is going to leave the EU. That will have a profound impact for ordinary people on the streets of Ireland, the UK and Europe. The stakes cannot get any higher. Brexit is bad and a no-deal...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (9 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet committee on Europe was established by the Government on 6 July 2020 to oversee implementation of programme for Government commitments in relation to the European Union and related issues. It met on 16 July 2020, in advance of the special meeting of the European Council held in Brussels from 17 to 21 July, when it discussed negotiations on the multi-annual financial framework,...