Results 33,721-33,740 of 50,830 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Order of Business (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: It is now 12.45 p.m. and we are only now agreeing the Order of Business, which is indicative of the type of situation we are in in this great era of radical Dáil reform.
- Order of Business (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: We have done very little work yet today. The last episode may have been good public relations but not substantive work in terms of the key issues. On proposed legislation, the programme for Government contains a number of commitments in relation to primary care, including legislative commitments. The programme for Government commits specifically to the introduction of legislation to...
- Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply, but I am somewhat disappointed that I do not detect a sense of urgency about this issue from the Government and political leaders. The Tánaiste read from the website of the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner. Addresses, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of 1.12 million clients have been breached. This is a massive criminal...
- Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: Prior to the Cabinet meeting this morning, the significant issue of the day was the extraordinary and gigantic criminal offence that has occurred and which concerns, we are told, up to 1.1 million people. It is probably the largest ever offence in terms of affecting so many people in the State. The hacking into the personal financial data of so many people is a very worrying development....
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: There was no need for this politically stage-managed event because we know that as a result of the decision taken by the European Union General Affairs Council last month, the actual date for ending the oversight arrangement of the bailout programme has been delayed until next February. What the Cabinet has agreed today is not to seek any new programme. It has not negotiated any exit or...
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: Throughout this programme the Government has never acknowledged the fact that it condemned it before the election and voted against 70% of its measures. Many economic analysts and other people have advised-----
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: It is clear that Government Deputies do not cherish parliamentary democracy in this House any more. This is an important issue for the country. The Government has put political strategy above what is right for the country.
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: Not a single piece of paper has been presented to anybody as to the merits or demerits of the decision not to seek a backstop arrangement, not from the Minister for Finance, the Taoiseach or the Tánaiste. No figures have been produced about how much we would save in interest payments if this conditional funding were available.
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: The only direct and proven impact of having conditional credit would be to reduce the risk of lending to Ireland and therefore the cost of that funding.
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: That is the key point that should inform the decision as to whether we want a backstop. It is clear the IMF and the ECB would have preferred that the country seek such a backstop arrangement. The ESM and the precautionary credit line system and approach is to support countries whose finances are becoming economically sound. It is not a sign of weakness, it is to seek maximum security for...
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: That is fair enough. The Government is entitled to do that. The key point is that serious issues remain across the eurozone. We know that. Mario Draghi did not reduce interest rates last week for nothing. He did it out of deep concern about deflation across the eurozone. Greece is raising its head again, as the Government well knows, and may seek further assistance. Italy and France...
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: Those issues are important to the overall context of the market in which we will be borrowing. There are also the stress tests to come, which may necessitate some form of recapitalisation. That is important because that could - and I hope it does not – undermine our capacity to borrow. I accept we have an expensive backstop in the €25 billion that the National Treasury...
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: The rates are favourable at the moment and in the immediate 12 months there may not be an issue. In the aftermath of 2014, many analysts say there could be difficulties, not just for us but for Europe. It would have made sense to take out an insurance policy which would have been to the benefit of the people and the country.
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: The trouble is over there, on the Government side.
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: At the outset, the Taoiseach said he was making his statement as a matter of courtesy to the Dáil. I suggest to him that the Dáil deserves more than a courtesy.
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: It deserves the fundamental presentation of a case justifying the Government decision-----
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: -----not to seek a backstop and not to seek a precautionary credit line. That is the very least the Dáil deserves today. I respectfully say-----
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: Is this democracy here? Are you going to allow-----
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: Last week we had a debate in advance of an EU Council meeting.
- EU-IMF Programme: Statements (14 Nov 2013)
Micheál Martin: I suggested to the Taoiseach at the time that it was a good opportunity to present the case, the pros and the cons of whether we should have a precautionary credit line, but he refused to do so. That has been characteristic of the Government's position on this key issue, which deserves far more than the Dáil is getting today. A total of €53 billion is needed over the next three...