Results 11,601-11,620 of 50,453 for speaker:Micheál Martin

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Question 7: To ask the Taoiseach if he intends to speak against the proposal to harmonise taxes; if he will outline his reservations about the common tax at the EU Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5168/12]

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Question 8: To ask the Taoiseach if he intends to request that there needs to be immediate reform of the European Central Bank at the EU Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5170/12]

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Question 16: To ask the Taoiseach the proposals that were included in the joint sponsored paper prepared for the EU Council on priority actions to complete the single market including the potential in the digital single market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6178/12]

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Question 17: To ask the Taoiseach his views on his contribution to the joint sponsored paper on the necessity of an emphasis by the EU on the external dimension of the single market and its potential for growth. [6179/12]

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Question 18: To ask the Taoiseach the proposals that were included in the joint sponsored paper on reducing regulatory burdens on small and medium businesses; if targets were set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6180/12]

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Question 19: To ask the Taoiseach the particular labour supports and suggestions on tackling youth unemployment that were included from Government in the joint sponsored papers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6181/12]

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Question 20: To ask the Taoiseach the way the comprehensive review of national progress under the Europe 2020 strategy is being prepared; when it is expected to be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6183/12]

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Question 21: To ask the Taoiseach if he will circulate all papers which Ireland has co-sponsored for consideration by the European Council. [6194/12]

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Question 30: To ask the Taoiseach if he has held any bilateral meetings with any EU partner since the last EU Council meeting; if there are any bilaterals planned in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9360/12]

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Yes. I have some 13 or 14 questions in this group. The handling of these questions is a very good example of the way the Taoiseach has undermined his own accountability to the House. Many of these questions were put down well in advance of the summit but they were not taken due to the halving of the number of sessions of questions to the Taoiseach - we normally had two a week but that has...

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: There was no discussion of the role of the European Central Bank.

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Is the Taoiseach saying the bank is not relevant?

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach has made an extraordinary statement in saying that the European Central Bank is not an issue in so far as this treaty is concerned. In fact, the ECB is at the heart of all of these issues. Much of the critical analysis of the treaty is that it is the wrong treaty for the wrong problem and will not in itself provide a solution. It is a political response to domestic political...

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: Such concerns did not stop Chancellor Merkel from meeting people during a particular election campaign.

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: The previous Government also appointed a Minister of State with responsibility in this area and he, former Deputy John Moloney, did a very good job.

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: We told the Taoiseach that previously.

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: One of the central reasons we are a member of the eurozone, and one of its great benefits to us, is because we are an exporting country. We depend on exporting goods and services to markets abroad. I welcome the announcements on PayPal and Allergan because they bear out what has been a very successful and effective industrial strategy for the past decade. It was not today or yesterday that...

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach described Deputy Boyd Barrett's contribution as a rant. I am delighted the Taoiseach is now beginning to see the glass as half full as opposed to half empty. There was a time 12 months ago when he would probably have said something very similar to what Deputy Boyd Barrett said.

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: I remember him saying the country is banjaxed and like a corpse. Does the Minister, Deputy Burton, remember this?

European Council Meetings (21 Feb 2012)

Micheál Martin: The debate is on the issue of austerity. I agree with the need to balance and get revenue and expenditure in line. However, the real issue is why I asked whether the Taoiseach has raised the issue of broadening the role of the European Central Bank at these meetings and the need for fiscal union in its truest sense, not a narrow fiscal balance agenda but a fiscal union which means a...