Results 33,101-33,120 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: This is about the future.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: If we want to convince people that we should share this island, Sinn Féin needs to stop glorifying past atrocities.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Stanley raised the issue of Narrow Water, the terrible atrocity there and the British establishment needing to learn lessons. He was, in my view, referring to what happened to Louis Mountbatten and two young boys who were murdered at Mullaghmore and to others. I understand that Sinn Féin will never condemn that atrocity. I ask Deputy Carthy to do so. That would be a step to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I heard the mother of Paul Maxwell on Joe Duffy's "Liveline" two weeks ago talking about what happened. The people who detonated that bomb could see who was on the boat. I cannot get that image out of my mind. They pressed the detonator and killed young people in a merciless way.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: What would really advance reconciliation and understanding would be if Sinn Féin, in an unequivocal manner, condemned that atrocity. I think Sinn Féin should do so. The endless attempt by it and others to glorify terrible atrocities in the past is holding back reconciliation in this country. Sinn Féin has a one-sided approach to history and a one-sided narrative. It is Sinn...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is my answer. Sinn Féin needs to face up to that and deal with it. I do not know whether it is that Deputy Carthy knew people who were involved in that atrocity that he is reluctant to condemn it. I ask him to condemn it. It is a very serious issue.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: We have had too much in recent times of Sinn Féin spokespeople saying different things to suit different agendas at different times. The overarching narrative has been that what Sinn Féin and the Provisional IRA did in all circumstances was justifiable and so on. There is a lack of a candid approach in terms of having the guts to condemn an atrocity committed by the Provisional...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of the all-island approach to Covid-19 as did Deputy McDonald. As far as Covid-19 in the North is concerned, I have left politics outside the door in all my dealings with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. I respect the two jurisdictions and I respect there are two chief medical officers. I am not sure Deputy McDonald has always left politics...

Guerin Report: Statements (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The House will recall that in February 2014, the then Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, appointed Seán Guerin SC to carry out a review of the actions taken by An Garda Síochána pertaining to certain allegations made by Sergeant Maurice McCabe. Mr. Guerin provided his report in May 2014, and following a meeting with Mr. Kenny, Alan Shatter resigned from the Government. Mr. Shatter made...

Guerin Report: Statements (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: There has been ongoing correspondence with the former Minister, Mr. Shatter, on this issue and this is the culmination of that correspondence.

Post-European Council: Statements (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I attended a meeting of the European Council in Brussels last Thursday and Friday, 10 and 11 December. I also attended a meeting of the Euro summit. We began as usual on Thursday with an exchange of views with the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli. In his contribution, President Sassoli stressed the urgency of having the recovery plan and multi-annual financial framework,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Communications (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I spoke by phone with Prime Minister Johnson on 27 November. I raised the Finucane case with the Prime Minister and I restated the Government’s position on the establishment of a public inquiry. Previously, I met with Geraldine and John Finucane on Monday, 23 November to discuss their case and reaffirm the Government’s support. Following this meeting I wrote to the British...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Economic and Social Council (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together. I have read the reports and as is the usual practice, they were considered and approved by Government prior to publication. Both of these reports were published by NESC in November, 2020. The National Economic and Social Council is an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of my Department. The Terms of Reference and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Younger people have been among the groups most affected by Covid-19. They have missed out on many of the formative experiences, and rites of passage that so many of us have experienced - from the final year in school, to the Leaving Cert, to starting college, starting work and all that goes with that and much more. Their social lives and their social networks, which are so important to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council Meetings (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I attended a meeting of the European Council on 10/11 December, which was followed by a meeting of the Euro Summit on 11 December. At the European Council, we discussed Covid-19, in particular the authorisation and roll out of vaccines. We reached agreement on the conditions in which Rule of Law measures in the MFF and recovery package can be invoked, enabling the Council and the European...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Reform Programme (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The National Reform Programme is an important element of the European Semester, the annual cycle of economic and fiscal policy coordination which takes place amongst EU Member States. As part of the Semester, Ireland, along with all other Member States, prepares and submits a National Reform Programme to the European Commission each April. This provides an overview of reforms and policy...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 to 27, inclusive, together. Tá roinnt gealltanas tugtha i Scéim Teanga 2019-2022 mo Roinne chun a chinntiú go gcuirtear seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge ar fáil sa Roinn lena n-áirítear sonraí i dtaobh dhá phost atá sannta ag an Roinn mar phoist ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge de dhíth. Tá ceangail ag an...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Budgets (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The 2021 communication budget for my Department is currently being planned. My Department will participate in all appropriate initiatives and public information campaigns as required, in light of events such as, for example, developments on Covid-19 and Brexit.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: On the first point, we are not allowing anybody to write our housing policies. Generally speaking, I think the budget was a landmark budget in terms of housing, with €3.1 billion allocation and the largest amount of social housing - to be built this year - on record. Obviously, Covid will interrupt that this month. Be under no illusion - we are taking a multi-strand approach to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I know what the Deputy is doing. She is engaging in a political branding exercise rather than making a serious intervention on housing and housing policy. Sinn Féin seems to be opposed to all home ownership initiatives by this Government and by previous Governments. Fianna Fáil did one thing in the history of this country. It was responsible for the massive social housing...