Results 5,921-5,940 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Rubbish.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are precedents of organising multiple referendums on various issues, such as electoral representation, divorce and abortion. There is no constraint on reverting to the people to allow them to decide on any particular question. Regarding pigmeat, the issue was handled in the context of the EU through the European Food Safety Authority. This showed the importance of belonging to an...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Taoiseach stated, detailed work will have to be carried out in respect of dealing with the issues on which we received undertakings from our European colleagues and obtaining legal guarantees. These three issues are the protection of our traditional policy of military neutrality, ensuring that nothing under the Lisbon treaty will affect our competence in the area of direct taxation...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The matter relating to the hotel industry does not revolve around introducing even further legislation, rather it relates to the implementation and enforcement of existing law. The critical issue is that Ireland has in place a minimum wage. Sweden did not have a minimum wage and, as a result, the Laval judgment is extremely specific to that country. The absence of legal frameworks in...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: We are consulting with the social partners in respect of the employment law compliance Bill. I was involved in the process to establish the National Employment Rights Authority and also the appointment of almost 60 additional inspectors.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Taoiseach stated, the decision on holding a referendum is conditional on our obtaining satisfactory resolutions in respect of the issues we have identified. In any event, it will all be implemented in 2009.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: There were fundamental contradictions in Deputy Ó Caoláin's original contribution in which he stated a better deal than expected was achieved. However, he quickly moved away from that. On his point in regard to the Commission, under Lisbon there will be fewer members of the Commission; that is a legal fact. There is no getting around this; an interim agreement cannot be provided.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I apologise. Under the Nice treaty the number of Commissioners must be reduced. That is a legal imperative.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy does not.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: No, through the Chair——

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I will address the point made by the Deputy.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt Deputy Ó Caoláin who asked about the Commission. I am making the point that we succeeded last week in obtaining agreement that under Lisbon there will be one Commissioner per member state. Everybody in this House knows that during the last referendum campaign Sinn Féin erected on every lamppost in Ireland posters stating "Vote No, Keep Your Commissioner".

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: If the Deputy allows me to finish, I will tell him. The member states in question are the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: They believed that there was an institutional balance to be arrived at and had no difficulty articulating the view that they believe a reduced Commission would lead to more efficiency and so forth. They have articulated this view publicly and within the Council. Others had reservations earlier in the negotiating phase. I respect the positions they presented to us. This was a difficult and...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Ó Caoláin jumped the gun prior to Council and during the debate. Sinn Féin's spokespeople continually stated we were getting meaningless declarations. They are more surprised than anybody by what has been achieved. President Sarkozy was open and honest and told the 27 members at the Council meeting that this will mean a legal guarantee, a protocol, will be attached to the...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I will do so. I wish to confirm that a substantial provision of up to €300 million was agreed for carbon capture and storage. There was a robust debate on that issue, in respect of which we obtained a satisfactory outcome. I will reply formally to the Deputy in regard to the committee's work.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I share the concerns of the Deputy about the oppressive treatment of the Baha'i minority in Iran. In my reply to Written Question 42351/08 on 25 November, I set out these concerns in detail, as well as the action taken by the Government to impress these concerns on the Iranian authorities. Further to that reply, I wrote last week directly to Foreign Minister Mottaki of Iran on a number of...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 346 together. The Government remain seriously concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has effectively been isolated since the Hamas takeover in June 2007, even during a ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas which was broadly respected from 19 June 2008 until 4 November 2008. Since then there have been a number of clear breaches...

Written Answers — FAI Welfare Scheme: FAI Welfare Scheme (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: On 27 November, together with Chief Executive of the Football Association of Ireland, Mr. John Delaney, I announced the appointment of Terry Conroy as the new FAI welfare officer for Britain. This followed a two-stage interview process conducted by the FAI and officials from the Irish Abroad Unit of my Department. This initiative is a direct response to concerns that the welfare needs of...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: While the situation in Thailand remains tense, the demonstrations mounted by the People's Alliance for Democracy, which paralysed the capital and key airports in recent weeks, have ended. A new Prime Minister — Abhisit Vejjajiva, leader of the opposition Democrat Party — was elected by the parliament on 15 December, and the process of establishing a new government is now underway....