Results 18,241-18,260 of 50,830 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: Can the Taoiseach explain to the House how the Secretary General - I will cite the report - briefed the Minister on the matter on Monday evening? How could he brief the Minister on the matter without briefing him on the letter? Can the Taoiseach explain that? The letter is comprehensive and outlines a series of actions that the Commissioner took since last November on this issue. It is...

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: -----detailing everything I was doing and voicing my concern?"

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: The former Commissioner wrote in his letter: "I am anxious to resolve any data protection issues... " The issue of substance is a simple one - for the first time in 30 years, we saw the forced resignation of a Garda Commissioner-----

Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: -----on the issue of telephone recordings because, as the Taoiseach told the House last week, he wanted the gravity of the situation conveyed to the former Commissioner. Sources close to the former Commissioner are saying that he was told by the Secretary General that there was anxiety in the Cabinet about the issue. He was clearly forced out of the position. That is why it is very...

Order of Business (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: The Government has belatedly published the White Paper on universal health insurance. I am not clear about its exact status. Is it a Green Paper or a White Paper?

Order of Business (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the substance contained within the paper, it is very shallow. It has no costings. One might suspect that many aspects of it are being deferred until after the local elections. Obviously, a substantial number of people will either face significant extra taxes or charges arising from it, or will have their existing level of cover restricted or cut back. Will the Taoiseach...

Order of Business (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: Does the Taoiseach know what we do with a Green Paper?

Order of Business (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: Regarding the consultation, will the Government publish the memos from the Ministers, Deputies Howlin and Noonan, who had some very important things to say about it?

Order of Business (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: I think that the internal Cabinet disagreements would be important in the public consultation we will have.

Order of Business (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: In any case, we have had no Bills recently.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: There is, unfortunately, a long and dishonourable tradition of a tiny minority abusing politicians and Ministers, in particular those of the Jewish faith. Everybody in this House is united in condemning this. The people who do things like this should be found and prosecuted.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: During this debate, Government members and backbenchers have stuck to the basic line that there is no legitimate reason even to raise the issue of whether the Minister, Deputy Shatter, should continue in office. They have said that partisan politics is the only basis for criticising him and that asking him questions is a distraction from the real issues that should concern us. I agree that...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: -----but to use this as an excuse to try and close down the crisis engulfing the tenure of the Minister, Deputy Shatter, is cynical politics at its worst.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: If we allow this attitude to prevail then it is the same as saying that no Minister can ever be held to account for their actions. The facts of this crisis show that anyone who was looking to the Labour Party to assert basic standards of accountability within the Government can now give up all hope. In this case, the Taoiseach and Minister for Justice pushed the Garda Commissioner into...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: The Minister managed to avoid answering questions on this issue. His stated position is that he is a dynamic Minister fully in charge of his Department and that he should not be held accountable for the ongoing escalation of controversies in his Department or his role in pushing the Garda Commissioner into resignation. He claims to be responsible for everything positive and accountable for...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: The Minister, Deputy Shatter, says that he is being vilified and being portrayed as public enemy number one. He has acknowledged the theory that everyone makes mistakes but has refused to admit that he has made any. In addition, he has fallen back on the worn-out, deeply cynical excuse that everything is the fault of his predecessors. Let it be very clear, Fianna Fáil fully supports...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: Taken with the Secretary General's confirmation that he briefed the Minister on the issue, this directly contradicts what we have been told on the record of this House.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: While each morning we find a new informed leak from Government seeking to explain their actions, nothing credible has yet been said.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: The most recent anonymous briefing says that they were scared that tapes were about to be destroyed. In reality, they received a briefing from the Attorney General and Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality, both of whom knew - as the letter of 10 March stated - that the tapes were "Now stored securely in Garda Headquarters pending the finalisation of legal advice". The...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: It has been claimed during this debate that the Minister, Deputy Shatter, is somehow a uniquely reforming Minister. This is just not true. His predecessors in the Department generated an average of 15 to 20 Acts per year and these often had a profound, reforming impact. Many of the Acts brought forward by the Minister have been good and we supported them. However, some important measures...