Results 28,221-28,240 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- 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.
- Business of Dáil (4 May 2016)
Micheál Martin: Two hours.
- Irish Water: Statements (27 Apr 2016)
Micheál Martin: That is not true. Do not tell untruths.
- Irish Water: Statements (27 Apr 2016)
Micheál Martin: We sought this debate because we believe it is important for Deputies to be able to outline their approach to the broad issue of water services, and if we want this debate to be useful, it would be constructive if Deputies concentrated on outlining their own policies. This is very far from being the single most important issue facing our country. However, it is important, and the handling...
- Irish Water: Statements (27 Apr 2016)
Micheál Martin: The outgoing Government’s policy was to allow Irish Water massive commercial freedom even though it would be funded primarily by direct State subvention and it would take many years to bring services to the level the company itself defines as acceptable. Irish Water is very far from being the accepted model of water service provision and development internationally. Northern Ireland...
- Business of Dáil (27 Apr 2016)
Micheál Martin: We would be very agreeable to that.