Results 34,541-34,560 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: 11. To ask the Taoiseach if he has spoken to Chancellor Angela Merkel recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26616/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: 13. To ask the Taoiseach if he attended any bilaterals while attending the May EU Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26620/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: 14. To ask the Taoiseach if any papers were circulated by him or any other Prime Minister at the May EU Council meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26623/13]

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Within that minute, I also wish to congratulate Deputy Donohoe and welcome his family to the Chamber for what is a significant and privileged day for him and his family. I congratulate him and wish him the best of success in the discharge of his duties.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: I have one straightforward question for the Taoiseach. I am aware he met the Portuguese and Greek Prime Ministers, both of which countries, and Portugal in particular, are still having significant difficulties and challenges. As for Ireland and the ongoing issue pertaining to the retrospective recapitalisation of its banks, I asked whether papers were circulated by the Taoiseach in his...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: He is more chuffed than Deputy Peadar Tóibín.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: What is that?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: Does the Taoiseach believe they should be allowed to speak out?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: I asked about the role Economic Management Council has in terms of the wider Cabinet. The Taoiseach seems to have confirmed that the wider Cabinet is excluded from many key decisions. I was somewhat struck by his remark in saying that it provides a forum for those with a different view to discuss issues before they get to Cabinet. Who are the "those"?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: Who are the people?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: We are talking about four senior Ministers and it seems that even officials could have a stronger role in strategic decision making than members of the Cabinet itself. The Taoiseach used the phrase: "it does away with the necessity for full Cabinet meetings on every issue."

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: Is that constitutionally sound? We are not talking about everything; we are talking about economic management issues. The Taoiseach has more or less confirmed today that a separate Cabinet sub-committee has evolved and it takes all the essential strategic decisions, argues the toss on various angles, wraps them up and then goes to the rest of the Government with the outcome. I am not sure...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: I am only quoting the Taoiseach's use of language.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: We certainly will and I hope it is not as lengthy as the previous reply. It is a very important issue because other Ministers have been complaining about this. They feel excluded from the Cabinet's economic and financial decision making. Ministers have been leaking this, articulating this and querying this.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: I get worried when the Taoiseach says my question is a good one. I do not agree with the Taoiseach that mental health service has been a Cinderella area in the past ten years. In fact there was very significant concrete investment in health from 1998 or 1999 onwards with additional funding and staff. We know that numbers in the health services expanded significantly. The key point is the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach took huge latitude in his reply to me. He went all over the place.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: I have noticed that.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: I know you cannot. I recently met representatives of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation who told me they were banned from articulating concerns they have about patient care and patients under their care. That is unhealthy and the Taoiseach should be concerned about it. He should make it clear to the HSE that healthy articulation of the needs of the health service is a good thing...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: I have three questions in this group. I do not think the Taoiseach said how many times the Cabinet sub-committee on infrastructure met. The question was tabled by Deputy Timmy Dooley in addition to my three.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committee Meetings (16 Jul 2013)

Micheál Martin: Capital investment is a significant issue and for the past two years there has been under-investment in the capital programme. It fell short of its budget target last year. The Government is looking at fresh capital investment. There is a key need to change policy and accelerate the level of capital investment in the economy to create some sort of domestic stimulus. As regards the...