Results 49,641-49,660 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Security (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: It is a horrible assertion. It is a demonstrably false assertion and a misreading that is absolutely wrong. It should not be made.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Security (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: Deputies complain from time to time about assertions made about them and others. That assertion is very fundamentally wrong. It speaks to a kind of philosophy and mindset that is about how they can blame the Government or Irish parliamentarians for what is going on in Gaza and not the Israeli Government.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Security (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: Those Deputies' approach always seems to be, "Let us blame the Irish Government", rather than putting the blame where the fault lies. They are attempting to drive a wedge between the Irish people and the Irish public representatives who are not of their persuasion.

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: I move: That Dáil Éireann has confidence in the Ceann Comhairle, Verona Murphy T.D. As we begin this debate, I hope members of the Opposition will allow others to be heard and will not engage in the systematic barracking we have seen in recent months. This is an extremely serious debate that goes to the heart of a range of fundamental issues about how this democratic...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: Over the past 106 years, the Standing Orders and structures of daily business of Dáil Éireann have changed regularly and often quite radically. There has never been a requirement for all parties to agree a change before it can be implemented. There has never before been a debate as long and as disruptive as there has been on these changes - changes that will mean the Irish...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----has been seen here every day.

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: Day after day, it has become harder to be heard if Sinn Féin wants to have a go. The strategy has been implemented by means of the rigid discipline and control of elected representatives which is unique to Sinn Féin. We saw this last week when Deputy Carthy left his usual place to sit near the back and co-ordinate disruptions with Deputy Doherty, who led proceedings at the front.

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: Having collapsed the business of this democratically elected Parliament, Sinn Féin then did what it always does; it played the victim and blamed others for the scenes it had planned and orchestrated. Having broken every rule governing behaviour in the Dáil and making it impossible to hear anything, the party is not only disputing the Ceann Comhairle's ruling, it also disputing the...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: It should also acknowledge that the simple fact is that the majority of those in this Parliament supported the motion before the House, while the Opposition ignored every basic rule and democratic principle in trying to block it. It is important that everyone understands that this new aggression has been extended to other areas. Until the start of this Dáil, the tradition had been...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: If we continue to see this extreme escalation in the rhetoric deployed in debating every issue, the change to our political culture will be permanent and deeply destructive. It is extremely sad that two parties which claimed to the electorate that they are centre left have been full participants in Sinn Féin's cynical strategy of escalating rhetoric and disruption. They cannot even...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: Over the past few months, I have talked with many other European leaders about the growth of extreme politics, and the impact it is having on their parliaments. The disruptions we have seen here-----

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----and the attack on the Ceann Comhairle are very much part of a pattern where extreme parties have sought to undermine public faith in the idea that anything can be achieved. The one consistent message from every country is to stand firmly against this behaviour. If it is accepted as normal, it will be destructive of parliamentary democracy. This Dáil is still in its relatively...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: We do not have the time to waste on this effort to remove the Ceann Comhairle because she would not bow down before an Opposition which demands that the minority have the right to veto our business. This attempt at what I would say is a strategy of aggression and disruption will fail. Those of us on this side are willing to make this Dáil work. There has to be a will on all sides to...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Government is up for doing that and will work day and night to make it happen. We will then be able to get on with doing the people's business.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. This is without question the most serious issue to face the Irish economy in a long time. It is clear that the scale of these tariffs will be significant in European terms. Ireland does not believe in tariffs. The European Union does not believe in tariffs and does not want tariffs. The European Union has not started this; Ireland has not started...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: A meeting of party leaders will be convened. It would make more sense to wait until we see the announcement on the imposition of tariffs from the US side and the initial response from the EU. We have no issue with a Dáil debate. Next Tuesday would be a more optimal time because we will not have the full information as to what could potentially happen this afternoon or tomorrow. If...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----Ireland's detractors seek to undermine us in making those assertions.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: We have always objected to and fought against that idea and notion. We have increased investment in infrastructure exponentially. We have invested in research and development and will continue to do so. The results have been there to see over the last five years. A lot of foreign direct investment has come into Ireland over recent years for a broad range of reasons.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for making reference to Dr. McMonagle, whose bravery and courage we should salute. I did not get an opportunity to see the footage yesterday evening but I will in due course. Every child in this country has the right to a school place. That is a fundamental constitutional right and it is the function of Government to vindicate it. That is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: That is our commitment. That is what the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, are working towards to make sure that happens and also for future years. The growth in numbers identifying with additional needs is growing exponentially. If one looks at the most recent census compared with previous censuses, one can see that there has been a significant...