Results 1,781-1,800 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the opportunity to address the dispute at Irish Ferries: an issue which has such significant impacts for the travelling public, the workers in Irish Ferries and their families, Irish Ferries itself, exporters, importers, hauliers and many more people. It also has the potential to impact on the whole industrial relations environment, on the prospects for continued social partnership...

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: That is why I am satisfied that we have a realistic minimum wage here. The potential to re-flag in the maritime sector would appear to put the employment of seafarers beyond the minimum wage regime here. Therefore, directly comparable situations do not arise in other types of employment. However, there are issues arising from recent events which we all need to consider, including the...

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I understand the Taoiseach has already made clear to the Deputy that he was aware on the weekend before last that within trade union circles, it was expected the company would proceed in the immediate future to begin implementation of its plan. Last week's action was clearly planned in a careful and covert way and we can therefore assume it was planned long before any remarks made by the...

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: ——is fanciful in the extreme and clearly politically mischievous.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Government wants to do its best to protect Irish workers and does not seek to make party political capital out of this saga. I hope the Deputy and others, on further reflection, apply the same standard. I will set the context for the Taoiseach's remarks. They referred to the fact that, in the unique circumstances of the law relating to the marine sector, it would not be possible to...

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: That continues to be the position.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The legal position is clear.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Any undertaking that seeks to exercise its right of establishment under European law in another member state cannot be prevented from so doing.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The State cannot hinder the exercise of that right.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Otherwise, it would be in breach of its duties——

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Rabbitte should allow me to make my contribution to the House. He, or one of his colleagues will have an opportunity to speak, as other Members have done.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Otherwise, it would be in breach of its duties under the Treaty of the European Community. Once Irish Ferries satisfies the Minister that its proposed re-flagging in Cyprus is on foot of its right of establishment, the State cannot prevent the re-flagging. That is the stark reality. Pending that re-flagging approval, Irish employment laws will continue to be enforced and at all times Irish...

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: —— wherever they are flagged.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: However, once the vessels re-flag in Cyprus it is clear, as a matter of international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, that the terms and conditions of the employed seafarers on such vessels is to be decided exclusively by the flag state, which in this case will be Cyprus. Moreover, it is crystal clear that the State cannot prevent a re-flagging that...

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Once a right of establishment in accordance with European law is exercised, by definition, there would be a genuine link with the member state in which the vessel is re-flagged. Hence the Labour Party's proposed Bill will not solve the problem. In fact, it will compound the situation by unfairly raising expectations of a legislative solution.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: We offered to share our analysis of the legal position with the representatives of SIPTU and I understand this took place last Friday evening. It serves no purpose to provide the illusion of a solution which is not available. Equally, I reject the suggestion that the deplorable circumstances in Irish Ferries can be repeated in other sectors of the workforce. This is, as Members know, not the case.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Seafarers and states operate within well-defined international legal provisions and conventions. It is a regime that applies to that industry. That is not the position in other industries.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The position of other workers is entirely different.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Irish labour law and Irish regulations can and will be applied to workers from other member states, or from outside the European Community. Furthermore, the Taoiseach has signalled publicly and in direct discussion with the trade union movement, that we are prepared to strengthen the provisions to secure employment protection in the Irish labour market and to engage fully with them in that...

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: In the interests of the wider social and industrial relations environment, a negotiated solution should still be sought and we are determined that effective protection of employment standards will apply. Finally, we believe that this is best secured within the context of social partnership. As the House debates this issue, the Labour Relations Commission continues its deliberations in the...