Results 32,561-32,580 of 50,830 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Leaders' Questions (8 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: Rehab Group has appointed the independent management consultant Dr. Eddie Molloy to advise on strategy, rebuild morale within the organisation and repair a damaged reputation, according to its own press release. It also talks about the damage done to other charities because of the serious issues raised regarding the operation of Rehab. Many issues have emerged recently, in particular the...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (8 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: 96. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has had recent discussions with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland regarding equalising corporation tax rates between Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8926/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (8 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: 97. To ask the Minister for Finance if he has had recent discussions with Prime Minister Cameron on equalising corporation tax rates between Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8927/14]

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Tax Code (8 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: 98. To ask the Minister for Finance if tax cuts have been discussed at his latest meeting with the social partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10349/14]

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (8 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: 255. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if pay rises were discussed at his last meeting with the social partners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10349/14]

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: Taken with the Secretary General's confirmation that he briefed the Minister on the issue, this directly contradicts what we have been told on the record of this House.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: While each morning we find a new informed leak from Government seeking to explain their actions, nothing credible has yet been said.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: The most recent anonymous briefing says that they were scared that tapes were about to be destroyed. In reality, they received a briefing from the Attorney General and Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality, both of whom knew - as the letter of 10 March stated - that the tapes were "Now stored securely in Garda Headquarters pending the finalisation of legal advice". The...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: It has been claimed during this debate that the Minister, Deputy Shatter, is somehow a uniquely reforming Minister. This is just not true. His predecessors in the Department generated an average of 15 to 20 Acts per year and these often had a profound, reforming impact. Many of the Acts brought forward by the Minister have been good and we supported them. However, some important measures...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: One must ask how the claims that the Minister is completely on top of his portfolio sits with his hiding from the media for the past month. It is over three weeks since he last gave an interview of any type. He has turned down interview requests from every broadcaster and every newspaper in the country.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: This is unprecedented in our modern history. There is no example of a Minister embroiled in a major controversy who has refused - for so long - to be interviewed.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: Those in the media cannot expect to have politicians available to them whenever they want but in a modern democracy, a holder of major public office has no right to hide from interviews, limiting appearances to a Dáil Chamber whose agenda and format is tightly controlled by his Government. Of what is the Minister so afraid? How can we be expected to have confidence in a Minister for...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: How can we be expected to have confidence in a Minister for Justice and Equality who will not be publicly interviewed about a major crisis in his area? How can we be expected to have confidence in a Minister for Justice and Equality when the Taoiseach left him in the dark for 24 hours about a major issue concerning his Department? How can we be expected to have confidence in a Minister for...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: The newspapers are full of off-the-record comments from backbenchers and Ministers alike agreeing that the Minister, Deputy Shatter, has behaved disgracefully. The actions of the Taoiseach and the Cabinet show that they do not have confidence in the Minister to address the rising crisis of confidence in his handling of the Department of Justice and Equality. Those opposite have already...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: There is, unfortunately, a long and dishonourable tradition of a tiny minority abusing politicians and Ministers, in particular those of the Jewish faith. Everybody in this House is united in condemning this. The people who do things like this should be found and prosecuted.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: During this debate, Government members and backbenchers have stuck to the basic line that there is no legitimate reason even to raise the issue of whether the Minister, Deputy Shatter, should continue in office. They have said that partisan politics is the only basis for criticising him and that asking him questions is a distraction from the real issues that should concern us. I agree that...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: -----but to use this as an excuse to try and close down the crisis engulfing the tenure of the Minister, Deputy Shatter, is cynical politics at its worst.

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: If we allow this attitude to prevail then it is the same as saying that no Minister can ever be held to account for their actions. The facts of this crisis show that anyone who was looking to the Labour Party to assert basic standards of accountability within the Government can now give up all hope. In this case, the Taoiseach and Minister for Justice pushed the Garda Commissioner into...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: The Minister managed to avoid answering questions on this issue. His stated position is that he is a dynamic Minister fully in charge of his Department and that he should not be held accountable for the ongoing escalation of controversies in his Department or his role in pushing the Garda Commissioner into resignation. He claims to be responsible for everything positive and accountable for...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice and Equality; and Defence: Motion (Resumed) [Private Members] (2 Apr 2014)

Micheál Martin: The Minister, Deputy Shatter, says that he is being vilified and being portrayed as public enemy number one. He has acknowledged the theory that everyone makes mistakes but has refused to admit that he has made any. In addition, he has fallen back on the worn-out, deeply cynical excuse that everything is the fault of his predecessors. Let it be very clear, Fianna Fáil fully supports...