Results 17,881-17,900 of 50,830 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Allegations in relation to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: When I was presented with this for the first time it was clear that it raised very serious issues. Before the Minister tried to distract me, I was about to raise the core question of whether failings ultimately lead to the murder of Sylvia Roche Kenny. Perhaps that murder could have been prevented. That is a difficult statement to make. I did not want to discuss these matters in detail...
- Allegations in relation to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: In another case, a man was savagely beaten and the case was not entered in the PULSE system for nine months. That is the point. We can dress up the issue or create smokescreens all we like, but the quality of internal investigations is at stake. It is not unprecedented in terms of the Morris tribunal or beyond belief that things could have gone wrong. The cases involved are grave. I sent...
- Allegations in relation to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: What we are dealing with here is not an isolated example. This is not a consistent pattern of behaviour built up over three years. For Fine Gael to defend one of its own is not surprising, but the length to which the Labour Party is willing to accept this becomes more incredible by the day. If the contents of the transcript are serious enough for Mr. Connolly to be fired, then they are...
- Allegations in relation to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: The appointment yesterday of Mr. Guerin is an acknowledgement that there is a legitimate reason for concern. Limiting his work to a review and placing on his shoulders the decision regarding the establishment of a full investigation is wrong. I believe his role should be to scope out the basis for such an investigation. There is a sense that this review is either a search for a way out or...
- Allegations in relation to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: -----admit that he got it wrong. It transpires that in this entire episode the Minister was the only person who accused Sergeant Maurice McCabe of not co-operating with Assistant Commissioner O'Mahony's report. Nobody else made that assertion. Assistant Commissioner O'Mahony did not make that assertion. Nowhere is it to be found in his report. If Sergeant McCabe had not co-operated, he...
- Allegations in relation to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: It brings to mind the comments of the confidential recipient: "If Shatter thinks you're screwing him, he'll come after you." Sergeant McCabe has remarked to me that Mr. Connolly was telling the truth in that the Minister, Deputy Shatter, did go after him. This was five weeks after a complaint was made to SIPO. Why did the Minister say that Sergeant McCabe did not co-operate? Why did he...
- Allegations in relation to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: The Minister knew Sergeant McCabe had not been interviewed and that he was protesting about the fact that he had not been interviewed, yet he accused him in the public domain of having not co-operated with an inquiry. The manner in which the Minister did so undermined Sergeant McCabe's reputation, character and credibility. This is a Government that is encouraging whistleblowers.
- Allegations in relation to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: The Minister, in issuing statements such as "This guy isn't serious, he didn't even bother co-operating" fundamentally undermined Sergeant McCabe's credibility. That was the import of what he said.
- Allegations in relation to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: The Minister would also have been conscious of the fact that the Comptroller and Auditor General had vindicated Sergeant McCabe in regard to the penalty point issue. The contrast between the outcome of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General and the outcome of the O'Mahony report could not be more stark, yet the Minister proceeded to make the allegations he made. I have with me a...
- Allegations in relation to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: That is what this was all about last week.
- Allegations in relation to An Garda Síochána: Statements (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: Then it ended up on "Prime Time" on Monday night with a sergeant in the Garda force, who happens to be a whistleblower, having to issue a statement in contradiction of either briefings or statements from the Garda Commissioner. That should never have been allowed to happen. The only reason we got to that stage was to protect the Minister's hide and to give him some fig-leaf to hang on to...
- Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: Yesterday in the House the Taoiseach announced the appointment of a senior counsel to deal with very serious issues pertaining to a dossier I sent him. I welcome that and I hope for at least an inquiry. However, I ask the Taoiseach to intervene in one aspect of the saga and try to bring it to some meaningful solution. It relates to the assertion and allegation on the floor of the House...
- Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: I thank the Taoiseach for his reply. The Minister has not dealt with it this morning and, of course, we got a copy of his speech very late in the day during the delivery of his speech - I think for obvious reasons. He said that he relied on material that he received, detailing the content of a direction given to Sergeant McCabe on a related matter. No one has ever said and no one is saying...
- Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: At no stage did the assistant commissioner, Mr. O'Mahoney, say that he did not co-operate. No one ever made that allegation until the Minister stood up on the floor of the House and said it. He is the only person who has made the allegation, which does not stack up at all.
- Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: A whole range of opinions and evidence would suggest the Minister was wrong in saying what he said. Sometimes it is much simpler to simply acknowledge that. I ask the Taoiseach to ask the Minister to withdraw the statement he put on the record of the House which is upsetting the person concerned, is not true and does not accord with the facts.
- Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: He was not invited in any shape or form to be interviewed by the O'Mahoney inquiry team, as the Commissioner said on the record of the Committee of Public Accounts when pressed by Deputies McDonald, Ross and others. It was very clear. This has become an issue because the Minister made a big mistake in saying that in the House. Everybody now has to track all over the place and trawl...
- Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: No.
- Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: He knew that he was not-----
- Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: You wrote to him about being interviewed.
- Leaders' Questions (26 Feb 2014)
Micheál Martin: That was after the inquiry was finished.