Results 7,581-7,600 of 50,213 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (10 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: Ireland fully supports the suggestion of the UN Special Rapporteur on Burma, Tomas Ojea Quintana, that United Nations institutions consider the possibility of establishing a commission of inquiry with a specific fact-finding mandate to address the question of international crimes in that State. In addition to the evident systematic repression of political dissent and expression throughout...
- Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (10 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: Passport applications for the first two named persons were registered with the Passport Office in Balbriggan on 19 May, 2010. On 3 June, the applicant contacted the Passport Service and provided information of imminent travel plans. The applications were subsequently prioritised and passports were issued on 8 June. A record of a current passport application for the third named person can...
- Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (10 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: On 9 June 2010, there were 62,946 applications in the system. It is presently taking up to twenty five working days to process individual applications submitted through the Passport Express Service, the Northern Ireland Passport Express Service and at the counters in the Passport Offices. Applications submitted through ordinary post are taking up to eight weeks to process. In recent days,...
- Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (10 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: The application in question was received in the Passport Office in London on 18 May, 2010 and has now been approved. The passport will be with the applicant in advance of travel.
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: There are some on the Opposition benches.
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: It is a great pity that it was necessary to table a motion of confidence. This debate is unwarranted and unjustified. Many of the contributions of Opposition Members bear out what I am saying. We should engage in a detailed, reflective consideration of the two reports published last week. From what I have heard, however, it appears that most people have not read them.
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: I only have five minutes in which to contribute and I did not interrupt previous speakers.
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: If people read the reports, they would gain instruction in how we formulate and develop policy. I will deal further with that matter in a moment. Deputies referred to our record. During the past decade, there has been unprecedented growth and development and the country has been transformed.
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: Many of the benefits from it are still with us. During the period to which I refer, we managed to halve the national debt. That was a significant achievement which has stood us in good stead in the context of the current crisis.
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: We established a levy of 1% of GNP to create the National Pension Reserve Fund. That was a wise and conservative move, particularly as the fund has been of enormous assistance in the context of recapitalisation of the banks.
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: Up to 2007, we used cash surpluses to transform road, health and education infrastructure.
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: Will I be given the opportunity to speak? Are Members interested in engaging in a sensible debate?
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: The level of infantile comment with which one must put up is ridiculous. People outside the Houses expect a bit more of Members.
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: Deputies referred to property and to relationships in politics, and so on. We have been treated to many slogans in that regard.
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: We are in the national Parliament. Will Deputy Shortall respect my right to make my contribution?
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: If people read the report by Regling and Watson, they would be aware that it states that our taxation system favoured the property and construction sectors. Regling and Watson identified two issues.
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: They instanced the fact that there was mortgage interest relief and no property tax. In recent years, would any Member of the House have advocated the introduction of a property tax and the elimination of mortgage interest relief? It is to obtain the answers in respect of questions such as this that it is necessary to read the reports.
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: The profound impact of the adoption of the euro has not been mentioned during this debate.
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: Regling and Watson's report refers to a quantum change in terms of the volume of wholesale money that came into our banks.
- Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)
Micheál Martin: There is also the matter of competition in the banking sector.