Results 23,721-23,740 of 50,683 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: However, the Northern institutions are quite different. At a moment when the radical Brexiteers are trying to undermine the Good Friday Agreement, the failure to have a working assembly and Executive makes Ireland even more vulnerable. Given that Deputy Adams said Brexit is the defining challenge of this age, allowing the institutions to be re-established should surely be the priority. ...

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: By any objective measure, this is an exceptionally serious moment for Northern Ireland, North-South relations and relations with the United Kingdom. The core building block of 20 years of progress is endangered and there remains a threat of new economic and social divisions. The breakdown three weeks ago was not an isolated event. It was the logical conclusion of practices over a lengthy...

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: That is welcome. Where once the renewable heating initiative and Arlene Foster were so fundamental that the Executive and the Assembly had to be brought down, now they are barely worth a mention. I can certainly believe an agreement between the two parties at negotiator level was blocked subsequently by the DUP’s wider leadership. In this it is quite similar to the situation where...

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: Let me make it very simple: no one has the right to question Fianna Fáil's good faith in relation to Northern Ireland. I refer to speech after speech made in the House and elsewhere that show how for seven straight years we have been pointing to the inevitability, unfortunately, of reaching this crisis point if the two Governments did not change their behaviour. We would much rather...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: Ceann de na polasaithe is tábhachtaí do mhuintir Fhianna Fháil ná an Ghaolainn a fheabhsú agus a chur chun cinn. Dheineamar an-chuid nuair a bhíomar sa Rialtas. Achtaíodh Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla 2003. Bunaíodh Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga agus Foras na Gaeilge agus cuireadh cearta teanga san áireamh i nithe éagsúla....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: Caithfimid níos mó áiseanna a chur ar fáil maidir leis an teanga agus don Ghaeltacht, go háirithe ó thaobh mhúineadh na Gaeilge de. Cuirim i gcás na mic léinn sna coláistí oiliúna. Faoi láthair ní fhaigheann siad aon deontais chun dul go dtí an Ghaeltacht agus tá sé ró-chostasach ar fad do na...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: Rud amháin eile. Is é TG4 an seod Gaeilge is mó atá againn faoi láthair. Tá an stáisiún ag déanamh an-chuid oibre ar son na Gaeilge

Ceisteanna - Questions: Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: Agus Máire Geoghegan-Quinn - an bheirt acu. Caithfidh an Teachta Howlin é sin a admháil. Dheineadar an-chuid chun TG4 a chur os ár gcomhair. An bun rud ná easpa taithí. Sin an bunfhadhb. Ní fhaigheann daoine deiseanna nádúrtha chun an Ghaeilge a labhairt.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: These emails were not any of that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: I asked the Taoiseach to review the process. Six months is not healthy. Initially, section 29 of the Freedom of Information Act was cited as the reason for refusing a release of these records. That section refers to matters actually under consideration by Government. The citation was changed in January to section 28(1), which deals with confidential documents, the equivalent of Cabinet...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: During yesterday's venting, the Taoiseach's fake outrage focused on comments that I made on the handling of freedom of information requests. In particular, the Taoiseach claimed that I had failed to understand basic procedures or the difference between the Government and the Civil Service. That is quite an incredible statement given the fact the Government is spending millions of euro...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: This calls for a review, especially given that the Department lost the case. The Taoiseach should organise a review of the processes to make sure that such information is not withheld in such a manner again.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Freedom of Information Data (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: Not in a propaganda unit though; in an information unit rather than a propaganda unit.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: Does that mean the rural Independents take the Whip?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: There is a very clear provision in the confidence and supply agreement which covers the issue.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: I am sure they already have a copy of it and that it is being perused every day.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Operations (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: One of the clearest lessons from recent events is that the Taoiseach has, at best, a very limited commitment to transparency. He is willing to blame others and play the victim when anybody has the temerity to challenge him. The people have seen a Government that has become obsessed with managing image. What is particularly striking is that members of the Government have felt the need to...

Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: There are many commitments in the programme for Government around implementing A Vision for Change. One of these commitments is to build capacity in child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS. A Programme for a Partnership Government says that the Government will "Provide more residential places for people with enduring mental health issues". There still are, however, very serious...

Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the implementation of the commitment in the programme for Government, will the Taoiseach outline when the State and the Government will be able to increase the number of beds available for patients with eating disorders to receive much needed inpatient treatment?

Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2018)

Micheál Martin: Newspapers have been reporting on multiple arrests in recent days in the course of a child abuse investigation in the Limerick-Tipperary area of Munster. Reports indicate that up to 20 children have been identified as victims of alleged sexual abuse. Concern has also arisen on the urgency of the response of State agencies when allegations first came to light. This could, in itself, lead to...