Results 27,781-27,800 of 50,830 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Business of Dáil (26 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: My final point is that motions, on their own, do not resolve this issue. We are not opposed on this side of the House to a debate on Irish Water in the House. No charge could stand that we are somehow choreographing or involved in choreography; we are not.

EU-UK Relations: Statements (21 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: The issue of Britain’s possible exit from the European Union has been raised regularly in this Chamber by Fianna Fáil from the moment Prime Minister Cameron first promised an in-out referendum. The record of the House shows that I and Deputy Brendan Smith were consistent in calling for Ireland to adopt an active approach to the issue. In the past year the Minister for Foreign...

EU-UK Relations: Statements (21 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: We will get it back on track.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (14 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: We were there.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (14 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: It is an important point. The only people who have engaged, despite all the lectures from around the House, in substantive policy negotiations in the past number of weeks are the Independents - Fine Gael with Independents and Fianna Fáil with Independents. It behoves others to stop lecturing those who are engaged and doing the work.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (14 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: In the past month, we have held good-faith negotiations. We tabled detailed policy papers and clarified them. We set out not just what can be achieved over a full Dáil term but also what can be implemented in the next six to 12 months. In these negotiations, we have taken the approach of not issuing briefings and not seeking to spin media coverage.  We have played them straight....

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (14 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: I have an important contribution to make and beg the indulgence of the Chair.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (14 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: It is not unreasonable to ask that people state whom they are willing to support. Many very candid positions have been stated in private which have yet to be repeated in public. We have repeatedly answered in the affirmative questions the Independents have put to us about our capacity and willingness to support a Fine Gael-led minority Government if the numbers dictated so. Fine Gael has...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (14 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: I would like to address recent developments and the issue of where the Fianna Fáil Party stands in regard to the ongoing issue of the formation of government. This concerns both events before this vote and where we go from here. From the very start we have been consistent and up-front in all of our private discussions and public statements. On the Monday after the election, we set...

Dáil Reform: Statements (6 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the progress that has been made under the chairmanship of the Ceann Comhairle towards developing a substantive package of Dáil reforms. This effort remains in its early stages and I hope it will be possible for agreement to be reached on the remaining points on the agenda. The starting point for Dáil reform has to be that this becomes a Parliament in which every Member...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: It obviously does.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: It is not our mandate.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: I have no difficulty with meeting anybody in the House.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: I will conclude. I met with Deputy Burton last week and we had a very cordial exchange-----

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: -----which was much different from the presentation given. I respectfully suggest, and I address my remarks to the Taoiseach and to colleagues-----

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: I am not. This is a very constructive point, and it is important for the conduct of discussions into the future. The Taoiseach must stop the briefings and the manipulation of opinions if there is to be any reasonable prospect of moving things forward. As a bottom line, parity of esteem and respect is important for everybody in the House. That means that if people are saying to Fianna...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: However, ruling this and that out is not conducive to constructive engagement. That point must be put on the record.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, for your indulgence on an important occasion such as this. We are working to implement the mandate we received. We seek to rebuild trust based on a new Government, new parties and reformed politics. It is not just a challenge for us, but a challenge for every Member of this House.

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: I pay tribute to all those involved in organising the 1916 centenary celebrations, in particular the celebrations over the Easter weekend. The presentation of the various aspects of the celebrations was splendid. I pay particular tribute to RTE on its coverage of the centenary concert. The presentation was stunning and reflected well on the nation and our maturity and capacity to tolerate...

Nomination of Taoiseach (Resumed) (6 Apr 2016)

Micheál Martin: Policy is beginning to triumph over the naked pursuit of power for its own sake. The six specific areas for action also include introducing a progressive approach to cutting costs for families and aid for communities under pressure, including a guarantee of key services and strengthening of community policing. While this includes substantial action for rural communities, it also addresses...