Results 1-20 of 634 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Martin Heydon

Criminal Justice (Community Service) (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (19 Apr 2011)

Martin Heydon: I congratulate the Minister, Deputy Shatter, on the Bill he has brought before us and wish him well in his new role. As this is the first time I have addressed the House since my election, I take the opportunity to thank my family, friends and supporters who assisted me in the general election campaign. Most importantly, I thank the people of south Kildare who put their trust in me and...

Agriculture: Motion (24 May 2011)

Martin Heydon: When we discuss recovery, we should start with indigenous aspects of our economy where we have a level of knowledge and expertise. We do not need to reinvent the wheel but to get back to basics. When one considers the quality of our land and suitability of our climate while concentrating on what we are good at, agriculture is an obvious sector with which to start. However, to do so we must...

Workers' Remuneration: Motion (Resumed) (22 Jun 2011)

Martin Heydon: We are living in extraordinary economic times which require radical actions to ensure our struggling businesses can be more responsive to changing economic circumstances and labour market conditions. Agreements that were appropriate for a different economic climate must now be reviewed to ensure they provide sufficient flexibility for employers, protection and legal rights for existing...

Central Bank and Credit Institutions (Resolution) (No.2) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Jun 2011)

Martin Heydon: In debating this important Bill on Second Stage I will concentrate on the credit union movement. It should be remembered that this legislation applies to authorised credit institutions, which include banks, building societies and credit unions registered under the Credit Union Act 1997. In discussing the wide range of powers being granted to the Central Bank under the Bill and the...

Electoral (Amendment) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (5 Jul 2011)

Martin Heydon: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak to the Bill this evening. During the recent election campaign I was asked many times, as a new candidate, why I had decided to run in politics. One of the main reasons was to become involved in political reform. There is a strong sense of cynicism in the electorate. People feel politics has failed them in many respects. I have always believed...

Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy: Motion (14 Sep 2011)

Martin Heydon: I too am delighted to get the opportunity to speak on this motion. I welcome the Minister's positive comments on the progress to date in the negotiations albeit that they are at an early stage. There is agreement in the House that agriculture and the agrifood sector are good news stories at a time when we have few such stories. The sectors offer an opportunity to drive economic recovery...

Closure of Army Barracks: Motion (Resumed) (5 Oct 2011)

Martin Heydon: It is ironic that Fianna Fáil has tabled this motion on the closure of Army barracks when, in the best of economic times, Fianna Fáil-led Governments saw the closure of up to 11 barracks. Now that it is in opposition and we are in troublesome economic times, does it believe it made a mistake closing those barracks or what has changed? We are living in very difficult economic times and...

EU Directives (30 Nov 2011)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to speak on this extremely important matter. I welcome the presence of the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Richard Bruton. I am troubled and deeply concerned that the EU agency workers directive is due to enter into Irish law on Monday, 5 December. I am disappointed by the lack of debate in the House and media on the...

EU Directives (30 Nov 2011)

Martin Heydon: I thank the Minister for his response. I feel extremely passionately about this issue. I have been pursuing it for a number of months. I wrote to the unions but the responses I received were quite alarming. When David Begg of ICTU responded to me, he said he had been told by representatives of the TUC in the UK that this measure has had no employment implications there. It should be...

EU Directives (30 Nov 2011)

Martin Heydon: His reference to exploitation and misery is a bit extreme for me. The unions have claimed that my concerns are misplaced. I do not think their statements can be backed up. The simple fact is they are playing Russian roulette with the agency workers directive in order to push their own agenda. They are raising issues like collective bargaining and joint labour committees to argue a point...

Food Industry (14 Dec 2011)

Martin Heydon: Question 8: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine his views that the targets set out in the Food Harvest Strategy can be achieved by 2020; the effects that the recent budget announcements will have on these targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38928/11]

Food Industry (14 Dec 2011)

Martin Heydon: I congratulate the Minister on the agricultural aspect of the budget. It is quite an achievement that despite a reduction of some €105 million in the allocation for his Department, there is broad acceptance that the budget included many positive aspects from an agricultural perspective. That deserves recognition. The stamp duty reduction and the retention of the half rate with a sunset...

Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Work) Bill 2011: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Jan 2012)

Martin Heydon: I will share time with Deputy Phelan. I welcome the introduction of the Bill and the opportunity to speak on it today. I also welcome the clarity that the introduction of this Bill will now bring for many agency workers, employers and agencies as to how the equal treatment for agency workers is to apply. I am on record as having raised my concerns about this directive in the House under...

Primary Schools: Motion (Resumed) (1 Feb 2012)

Martin Heydon: I want to avoid the political point-scoring that has been going on here this evening and be proactive in the limited time available. The reduction of teacher numbers in small primary schools involves a loss of dedicated learning support and resource teachers in such schools through a pool basis. One small three-teacher school in my own Kildare South constituency is currently allowed to...

Finance Bill 2012: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Feb 2012)

Martin Heydon: I am glad to have the opportunity to speak on the Finance Bill 2012 which is the culmination of my first budgetary process, this still being just about my first year in the Dáil. I have enjoyed the process and learned much as we went through it. We often talk about protecting the most vulnerable in our society and prioritising getting the unemployed back to work. This is right and proper...

Leaders' Questions (16 Feb 2012)

Martin Heydon: Ask a question.

Order of Business (1 Mar 2012)

Martin Heydon: I refer to the betting (amendment) Bill. It will establish the registry framework for the licensing of remote bookmakers and betting exchanges. The Tánaiste will be aware that the Finance Act 2011 contained measures to allow for the extension of 1% betting duty to remote bookmakers and for a 15% gross profit to betting exchanges. However, the taxation provisions are subject to a...

Turbary Rights: Motion (Resumed) (7 Mar 2012)

Martin Heydon: I will be parochial on this motion and discuss my own constituency, Mouds bog in particular. Mr. Justice Quirke in his report referred to the breakdown in communication and a breakdown of trust between the relevant parties. The people of Mouds bog have not been represented or properly communicated with by the State since the issue of designation first arose. That trust is crucial to us...

Order of Business (13 Mar 2012)

Martin Heydon: In light of the need for the wards of court system to be replaced with a modern statutory framework governing decision making on behalf of the adults who lack capacity, when does the Taoiseach expect the proposed mental capacity Bill to come before the House?

Banking Sector Regulation: Motion (Resumed) (14 Mar 2012)

Martin Heydon: I welcome this opportunity to speak on this motion. With unemployment, the issues raised in the motion are among the biggest facing the country and its citizens. The resolution of these issues would bring us a long way on the road to recovery, which is why they are a priority for the Government. Like all Deputies, I deal with constituents every day of the week. This evening, I will note...