Results 49,301-49,320 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: Do I answer first?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: I have run out of time. I answered Deputy Lawless; I dealt with that. The Deputy should have come in early. He would have been the first man if he came in earlier but he was late.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: There was no Sinn Féin representative at the beginning of this. The Deputy shouts and roars about it all the time, and his leader is not here.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 22, inclusive, together. I attended an informal leaders’ retreat on 3 February hosted by the President of the European Council, António Costa, in Brussels. The main focus of our discussions was European security and defence. The meeting was an important opportunity for leaders to offer strategic guidance ahead of the publication of a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: I had my chance but it got complicated.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: I did.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: I absolutely did. The Deputy just made that up.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: Can I point out that we are about 40 minutes over time?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: I do not mind. I am not giving out. This could be over by now.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: This could and should be over by now if the Deputies were following all the rules all the time.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: They are trying to dictate to all of us.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies. I kind of responded to Deputy Ó Cearúil. I agree with what Deputy Daly said. We need to strengthen our defences and capability. What Deputy Daly said about a small business in his constituency is interesting. Some people in the House are oblivious about the level of cybersecurity attacks on the private sector in Ireland. Many companies are spending a lot...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: On the European Union meetings-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Deputies had their chance and did not even mention Russia. It is a one-way ticket as far as the Deputies are concerned. The fact is that the Baltic countries, Finland, Sweden and others feel there is a genuine existential threat to Europe. Europe feels exposed, and that it does not have the necessary capabilities yet. It needs to enhance its capabilities. That is why there is a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----and its member states. The geopolitical world is changing. The US is clear in saying that it will remain a member of NATO, but it seems to many in Europe that Europe will have to develop its own independent capacities and capabilities-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----as will member states. On Deputy Ó Fearghaíl's point, Europe will have to stand up and be the bastion of a multilateral, rules-based order. It will have to maintain its focus on the United Nations in a world where that is being threatened and undermined. There is no doubt of that. Ireland as a small country needs an international, global rules system. It is what we always...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: The European Union will take a strategic view on how it responds to whatever tariffs are imposed. We do not quite know yet what tariffs, at which level or in which sectors, will happen. We will know on 2 April and then Europe will take some time, though not too long, to see how it responds. Europe does not want any tariffs. Europe believes that tariffs are damaging to the economy, to jobs...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: In response to Deputy Bacik, in the past, I have defended LGBT rights at the European Council meeting in the face of decisions taken by Prime Minister Orbán to curtail such rights, and will continue to do so. Hungary's behaviour on the Council on a number of fronts has been a matter of grave concern in recent times. In respect of the Middle East, I have condemned the Israeli attack....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: I will indeed. All the focus of Deputy Boyd Barrett's remarks was on the European Union, without a mention of Russia.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: I have said consistently that the conduct of modern warfare is appalling, no matter where is waged. It leads to the killing of civilians in huge numbers. In Ukraine, it has been absolutely appalling. Russia illegally invaded Ukraine, with devastating impacts for ordinary people. There has been massive displacement of 12 million people. The population of Ukraine is estimated to have gone...