Results 37,981-38,000 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: It states that there will be new legislation on Cabinet confidentiality. That is why I was surprised by the brevity of the response. My supplementary questions were to ask about the current proposals for proposed legislation on Cabinet confidentiality. I was going to ask him to outline what the Government intended to do in line with its programme for Government commitment and whether it...

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: What does the reference to Cabinet confidentiality in the programme for Government mean?

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: The programme for Government proposes legislation on Cabinet confidentiality - that is the point. Obviously Sir Humphrey does not want it.

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: Where has the political commitment gone?

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: I just want to find out about the proposal.

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach proposed it. Can he clarify what the programme for Government means in regard to legislation on Cabinet confidentiality?

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach proposed he was going to change it.

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: What does the programme for Government mean?

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: Does he know what is in his own programme for Government?

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: He has.

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: May I ask a brief supplementary?

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: I understand the Taoiseach has perhaps forgotten why the commitment was made 15 months ago in the programme for Government but may I enlighten him? His partners in government and his own members criticised continuously Cabinet confidentiality for many years; they felt it was too restrictive, it did not allow enough information out, etc. I suspect that is the reason that commitment was put...

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach was the author of the programme for Government. It is incredible that he would come into this House-----

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: -----and either feign ignorance of what is in the programme for Government or not have a clue as to why something as fundamental as Cabinet confidentiality was put into it. The Taoiseach does not have a notion as to why it was put in there-----

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: -----or what is intended by it.

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: It is incredible that the Taoiseach would come forward in that manner.

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: I ask the Taoiseach to consult the Tánaiste and find out why this is in the programme for Government and perhaps he might enlighten the Members of the House on that because he clearly does not know that now-----

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: -----but he might find that out and tell us what is intended by the provision in the programme for Government which commits to legislation on Cabinet confidentiality. We know all about articles in the Constitution. This is a commitment to introduce legislation on the subject of Cabinet confidentiality. The Taoiseach does not seem to have a notion why that commitment is in it.

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: Could the Taoiseach provide me with an answer?

Proposed Legislation (10 Jul 2012)

Micheál Martin: I am not. I cannot claim to be a know-all on this.