Results 37,821-37,840 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: There are times when I find the Taoiseach's replies to questions both incredible and baffling. I have known for a long time that there is no restriction on the capacity of a Donegal person to learn any language-----

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: -----but the Taoiseach said we must start learning languages at a lower level. That is the point of my question. There is a programme called the modern languages primary initiative.

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: Exactly.

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: A total of 550 schools participated in that which was good value for money in that €2 million was the annual cost. There were hundreds of teachers involved across the country. It was efficiently introduced into primary schools in terms of complementing the existing curriculum. German was one of those languages, and the Taoiseach has scrapped it for the sake of making a saving of €2...

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: -----and a core skills issue is very clear. The Taoiseach does not know what he is doing, and there are no alternative schemes. He said at the beginning of his reply that they are doing other schemes. They are not doing other schemes.

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: There is no other scheme in place at primary level in terms of modern languages that are sponsored and supported by the State. I put it to the Taoiseach that he does not have a strategy in terms of the language issue or the language problem, as the chief executive officer of PayPal identifies it. Will he accept that this is a further example of spin coming before substance and the policy...

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: No.

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: Yes, and it was a success. The evaluation was positive.

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: I am not talking about that.

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: They do not.

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach does not appreciate it. The Taoiseach scrapped it. Words are cheap.

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: Why get rid of it?

Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach should restore it.

Departmental Staff (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach if there were any retired officials in his Department re-employed even on a short term basis; if so, the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25060/12]

Departmental Staff (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: I accept the Taoiseach's reply. Does he accept there is a broad principle across the public service that, where possible, those who have retired should not be re-employed and that opportunities should be given to younger people and those seeking jobs for the first time to gain experience and opportunities?

Departmental Staff (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: I raised previously the issue in the context of the health service that those who have been re-employed on contracts have arrangements that allow them not to pay tax in this country. I refer to arrangements that allowed them to operate companies in the United Kingdom from which their services were then provided for the Minister for Health. This pertains to the advisers who had been...

Departmental Staff (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: They were called "advisers" originally.

Departmental Staff (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: That was practical.

Departmental Records (17 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach the reason that records in relation to the banking guarantee were inappropriately shredded in his Department; the date on which he was informed of same; if he had this matter investigated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30307/12]