Results 33,401-33,420 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Leaders' Questions (22 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: Is it acceptable?

Leaders' Questions (22 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: It has not been made public.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Data (22 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: 211. To ask the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 342 of 19 December 2013, if 20,000 medical cards were issued on a discretionary basis in 2013 to cardholders who did not hold a medical card on a discretionary basis in 2012. [3037/14]

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: Taking his cue from the Taoiseach’s regular partisan comments that the origins of all problems lie with his political opponents, President Barroso stated everything was Ireland’s fault and that no help should be provided.

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: That is the logical outcome of the Government’s strategy of putting all its efforts into claiming credit for outcomes rather than pushing to influence them.

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: Nowhere on the public record do we find the Taoiseach stating clearly that the justice of Ireland’s case requires further significant relief from bank-related debt. With the exception of one comment in Paris a year and a half ago, he has never set out the case that the scale of the debt taken on by Ireland relates directly to the failure of wider European policies. As independent...

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: In June 2012 the Minister for Finance, Deputy Michael Noonan, was asked how much of the potential €60 billion would come Ireland’s way for recapitalisation. He replied:It’s clear you’ve never been to the fair of Glynn or sold a calf. Sure, if I had told them the minimum, that’s what they would give me.If we received the minimum, it appears that we asked...

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: It is just a possibility and the Taoiseach refers to this should we wish to avail of it. What kind of language is that? I remember the Tánaiste saying the deal in June 2012 was a game changer. Does the Taoiseach remember that?

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Peter Mathews is a man who knows the subject.

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: I defer to the knowledge of Deputy Peter Mathews.

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: The language the Taoiseach is using was not the language used by the Tánaiste in June 2012 when Mr. Monti forced the Germans' hand at the summit meeting and the Government claimed credit for it.

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: The Government stated it was a Munich-type agreement, a game changer and a seismic shift on our way to billions. Now the Taoiseach says the summit opens up the possibility, should we wish to avail of it. I applaud the civil servant who included that phrase. It is wonderful conditioning and the language is being prepared. The Minister for Finance last week said that would not be hanging...

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: The capacity of the Chair-----

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: Today I witnessed Deputy Gerry Adams being told he could not say certain things when making a political point. The Chair needs to be careful that it does not try to suppress debate completely. This is a parliament. The level of intervention-----

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: There are countries such as Ireland where the need to consolidate the public finances is inevitable. However, there are others where there are alternative routes. It is a major failing of the European Union’s leaders that they have continued with a one-policy-fits-all approach. This obliges even countries with significant flexibility to reject stimulus spending. It ends the...

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: December’s meeting of the European Council produced no major breakthrough or even any significant news. It involved a series of general discussions and the formal noting of decisions signalled long in advance. In spite of this it was a very significant meeting. It will be remembered as the summit where Europe’s leaders effectively announced the end of any attempt to introduce...

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: At the summit leaders signed off on the final elements of what is called a banking union but it is no such thing. The toxic link between financial debt and sovereign debt has absolutely not been broken. The Taoiseach confirmed that in his speech. National interests have prevailed. The core principle of sharing risk so that risk is minimised has been ignored. There are pieces of progress,...

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: What does that last phrase mean, "should we wish to avail of it"?

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: I thought that was Government policy.

European Council: Statements (21 Jan 2014)

Micheál Martin: That phrase is telling. It is the most telling phrase of the Taoiseach's speech.