Results 27,741-27,760 of 50,830 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion (6 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: As said before, we have chosen the role of constructive opposition.  We will hold Ministers to account for their individual and collective actions.  We will demand a decisive shift from the unfair and damaging policies of the past five years.  We will vote against the Government when we disagree with its proposals and when there is a credible alternative. There are those who...

Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government: Motion (6 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: Irrespective of the political differences on various sides of the House, I would like first of all to congratulate the Taoiseach on his re-election to that office. I would also like to be first to congratulate all the individuals whom the Taoiseach has proposed to serve as Ministers in the new Government. For any citizen of this Republic, being proposed for important public office is a...

Business of Dáil (6 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: I take it the Ministers want to read into their briefs over the coming week, but there is an urgent necessity for the Parliament to organise itself as well. I ask that early next week the Whips of all parties meet with the Chief Whip to work out, for example, how many Oireachtas committees there will be. We need to get the committee system up and running as a matter of urgency. There has...

Business of Dáil (6 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: Is that enough?

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: It represents a major challenge to Government to treat the Oireachtas seriously and to build support for policies. However, it is also a challenge to every Member of the Oireachtas. As we have seen since the election, there are those who want to maintain the model of dominant government and total opposition. They do not like the challenge of finding compromise and building consensus. They...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: Certainly, there will be a good deal of game-playing - like what we have seen in recent weeks - from a party that wanted to play politics on motions and so on without getting down to the work of actually getting something done.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: However, I think we have seen over the past five years that the people are not fooled by such manoeuvrings. The Government will most likely regularly not get its way on motions and specific proposals. If it accepts this and reduces the number of areas where it demands the right to be decisive, then there is no reason to be concerned. If it maintains its obsessive focus on media spinning...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: By our abstention on this vote and the vote on the nomination of Ministers, a Government will be able to be formed. Commitments have been given to the effect that the worst elements of the last Government's policies and approaches will be ended and important progress will be seen in some areas. Most of all, the formation of a minority Government means that we will have an opportunity to...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: Every Deputy elected to this House believes that more immediate action has to be taken on housing. We also have to address mortgage arrears and variable mortgage interest rates as families are still under enormous pressure. In education, the reduction of class sizes, the reintroduction of guidance counselling and the restoration of grant support for disadvantaged students to access...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: -----but the record of the House still shows that on this day last month he said, "I urge [Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael], therefore, to accept the new realities and that they are the only ones fit to form a Government." Unlike Sinn Féin and others, we have worked constructively and have focused on substance and I believe we have achieved important progress. They believe in finding...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: The House will shortly get the opportunity to vote on the Bill which will suspend water charges. Following a reasonable process, the majority in the Dáil will then decide what happens to water charges. In addition, the days of an out-of-control, bloated and arrogant commercial firm will be ended, Oireachtas and independent oversight will be asserted and the massive expenditures on...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: On behalf of the Fianna Fáil Party I will outline our approach to this vote and to the broader issue of how our country is to be governed during the Thirty-second Dáil. Today potentially represents - I use the word "potentially" noting the absence of the Independent Alliance, but that may change in the coming minutes - a major turning point for Irish democracy. It marks a decisive...

Business of Dáil (5 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: I seek clarity from the Taoiseach because we woke up this morning to the news that we might be meeting tomorrow morning to debate the election of the Taoiseach and that the various talks with the Independents were, depending on who one listens to, coming to a rapid conclusion.

Business of Dáil (5 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Mattie McGrath has just whispered to me that he would like some clarity on whether he will be needed for the weekend or whether he will get the weekend off.

Business of Dáil (5 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: In all seriousness and for the sake of Members, is there a possibility that the House could be meeting tomorrow, as we will vote today to adjourn until Tuesday? If there is not, that is fine and we have clarity on that. In essence, will it be Tuesday when we come back vis-à-visthe outcome of the negotiations and the election of a Taoiseach?

Business of Dáil (4 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: Maybe we could have a tweet, a tweet of clarity.

Business of Dáil (4 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: I am Deputy Martin.

Business of Dáil (4 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate that.

Business of Dáil (4 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: We beat Duhallow last night, which is Deputy Moynihan's part of the country.

Business of Dáil (4 May 2016)

Micheál Martin: Given the crisis in agriculture on all fronts, many speakers in our parliamentary party are anxious to contribute to the debate. I ask, therefore, that the time be extended to facilitate a longer discussion on agriculture because there are serious issues in terms of pricing - farm gate prices and so on - and there is strong demand for people to speak.