Results 6,241-6,260 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: I ask the Deputy to stop interrupting.
- Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: In a policy statement, Fine Gael called for an examination of creative alternatives to recapitalisation which, it argued, might offer a better chance of success and greater protection to the taxpayer. Fine Gael went on to propose the creation of "brand new good banks with clean balance sheets" and so on. Meanwhile, the Labour Party has argued that we must get credit flowing to business,...
- Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: What the Minister announced yesterday amounts to a creative and radical proposal. It has nothing to do with saving banks or developers. That is an outrageous political slant to put on this debate.
- Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: It is disreputable for Opposition Members to put forward that claim. They are doing so for base political reasons. Their innuendoes are disgraceful.
- Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: It is not in the best interests of the country to put forward this false and dishonest presentation of the proposal. Business people know that credit is not flowing to business.
- Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: The reason for this is the overhang of bad debts. What we are proposing is a creative solution to take out that bad debt and develop clean banks that can begin once more to lend to the economy. If lending is not flowing to the economy, we will not have jobs and we will not have the facility for people to create jobs and develop the economy. Innovative companies need investment in order to...
- Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: The Minister has said that if the scheme does not make a profit in the next decade-----
- Financial Resolution No. 11: General (Resumed) (8 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: -----then the banks will be levied to ensure the taxpayer is protected. A similar model was successfully implemented in Sweden in the early 1990s. I urge the Opposition to cease resorting to base political innuendo in regard to this proposal. I welcome any contribution to genuine political debate but Opposition Members should avoid the temptation, which is clearly evident, to drag in other...
- Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: I am aware of the current serious humanitarian situation with regard to Roma families residing in camps in Kosovo which are exposed to dangerously high levels of lead. International Roma Day offers an opportunity to highlight this issue and others relating to the well-being of Roma worldwide. Ireland continues to support all efforts to re-locate Roma families to safe facilities and we have...
- Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (22 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: I am informed that a visit visa application in the name of the above individual was recently refused by the Visa Office in Abuja. Officials in my Department have reviewed the record of correspondence received by the Department and have been unable to identify any other correspondence in relation to this individual. If the Deputy is aware of any such correspondence I would be grateful if it...
- Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (22 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: The total Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget for 2009 will be â¬696 million. â¬571 million will be administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs, with the balance of â¬125 million being contributions to development co-operation by other Government Departments and through Ireland's allocation to the EU Development Co-operation Budget. The total budget of â¬696 million...
- Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: As a founding member of the Council of Europe, Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the European Court of Human Rights and its efforts to promote and protect human rights standards across member countries. Ireland has participated in recent discussions on the reform of the Court, which include proposals to increase the case- processing capacity of the Court aimed at alleviating the...
- Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: Events planned around the world to mark International Roma Day on 8 April 2009 provided an opportunity to highlight a number of important humanitarian issues facing this minority group, particularly in mainland Europe. Ireland fully supports the EU, the Council of Europe and the OSCE in their ongoing efforts to bring all prejudice and mistreatment of the Roma people to a definitive end. In...
- Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (22 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: Given the gravity of the humanitarian and political situation in Sri Lanka, I very much welcome and support all international initiatives underway to relieve the humanitarian situation in the short term and thereafter to help bring about a swift resolution to the conflict there. The Government have been strongly supportive of efforts by Mexico and others to have the humanitarian situation,...
- Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 to 500, inclusive, together. The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) was established pursuant to UN Resolution 60/251, adopted on 15 March 2006, to replace the much criticised Commission on Human Rights (CHR). Ireland fully supported the setting up of the Human Rights Council and, along with our EU partners, played an active part in the negotiations leading to...
- Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: The total official development assistance (ODA) budget for 2009 will be â¬696 million. Some â¬571 million will be administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs, with the balance of â¬125 million being contributions to development co-operation by other Government Departments and through Ireland's allocation to the EU Development Co-operation Budget. On current projections, total...
- Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (22 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: I have made clear the Government's strong condemnation of all uses of military force contrary to international law. This can relate to the types of weapons used and to the way in which weapons are used. It applies to all uses intentionally aimed at causing civilian casualties. There is no realistic proposal for an arms embargo which would address this problem in relation to the Middle...
- Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (22 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: The current situation in Georgia, following the outbreak of conflict there in August 2008, is tense but relatively stable. Since the conflict, continued efforts by the international community, most notably the European Union, the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe, have helped to return stability to the region. Work is continuing with a view to...
- Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (22 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be aware that the parliamentary elections in Moldova took place on 5 April and resulted in a victory for the ruling Communist Party. On 6 April, the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe's office of democratic institutions and human rights released a statement noting that the elections had met many international standards but that further improvements were...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Apr 2009)
Micheál Martin: The following table sets out the total number of uncertified sick days taken by staff in my Department during the years in question, along with the number of uncertified sick days taken on Mondays and Fridays: Year Total number of uncertified sick days taken Mondays Fridays 2007 1317.5 321 199 2008 1232 310 183 2009 334 62 42 The following table shows the number of staff taking fewer...