Results 38,961-38,980 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Order of Business (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: What is the position on the referendum on the Seanad?

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: At the outset, I wish to take this opportunity to extend my sympathies and those of my party to the family of the late, great Jim Stynes, who passed away on Tuesday after a long illness. He was a true sportsman who used his other skills to help others, particularly children and young people, who were disadvantaged. He was a proud Dublin man and an Irishman who became an Australian national...

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: I am sure the Tánaiste will agree this approach simply is not working. It is no way to treat the vast majority of law-abiding reasonable, responsible people who wish to obey the law. The Tánaiste should remember that before the election, the Labour Party sought exemptions for those in negative equity, those who had paid stamp duty and so on. Yet, when Fianna Fáil tabled amendments to...

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: Fianna Fáil tabled further amendments on welfare dependants and medical card holders, which also were voted down by Fine Gael and the Labour Party. The Tánaiste might clarify whether it is possible to pay via the post office. I understand that Seán O'Rourke was obliged to clarify this point on the "News at One" radio programme after interviewing the Tánaiste. I believe the Tánaiste...

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: I suggest to the Tánaiste that one reason there is a difficulty with this charge is that both the Labour Party and the Fine Gael Party made cast-iron guarantees and promises to people that such a charge would not be introduced. At the time, the present Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, stated that a flat charge "is the unfairest possible way of all to introduce a property tax"....

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: Basically, can the Tánaiste explain what is his present position? This morning, I heard the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, state she thought there should be far easier ways to pay this charge than has been the case heretofore.

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Tánaiste has now acknowledged the change in respect of the post office. He should spell out to the Dáil what he said to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Hogan. In coded language, the Tánaiste has criticised the operation of this charge thus far. Is it his view that an extension should be put in place and facilitated?

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Tánaiste is the Deputy Leader of the Government.

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: I am sure he has some say.

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: In light of what was said on the "News at One" on RTE radio, that would not appear to be the case. Seán O'Rourke was obliged to correct the Tánaiste.

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: Who talks to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton? She appears to have her finger on the pulse to a greater degree than her colleagues.

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: Labour stated that it would do its own thing in respect of this matter and Fine Gael had a different policy.

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: Of course it was not possible. Neither was it possible to introduce any of the exemptions that were promised.

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Government has done no preparatory work. It has merely introduced the household charge.

Leaders' Questions (21 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: What about an extension?

Leaders' Questions (14 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: In the past few weeks there have, to say the least, been mixed messages from the Government in regard to Ireland's obligations on the promissory note issue. As the Taoiseach knows, the promissory note mechanism was created and agreed as banks were not allowed to fail. Depositors needed to be protected and no other European Union facility existed at the time to facilitate the...

Leaders' Questions (14 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: Could the Taoiseach confirm to the House what exactly he has been looking for? Has the Government formally sought a deal that would involve, for example, extending the obligation over 30 years? Is it seeking a write-down of the money owed to the Irish Central Bank? I ask the Taoiseach to answer those basic questions. Can he confirm that the commentary by the Minister, Deputy Burton, in...

Leaders' Questions (14 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach did not answer the question I asked. Has the Government formally sought a deal that would involve extending the obligation over 30 years or is it seeking a write down of the money owed to the Irish Central Bank? It is technical, complex and sensitive, but boils down to that fundamental question. The Opposition cannot be accused of raising expectations. The only people who...

Leaders' Questions (14 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: They should shut up and allow the negotiations to run their course, if this is what the Taoiseach wants. He should not be messing around over this issue. Will the Taoiseach confirm that the paper will be published? Has he sought an extension of the obligation over 30 years or is he seeking a write-down of the money owed to the Irish Central Bank?

Leaders' Questions (14 Mar 2012)

Micheál Martin: The Government is telling everybody else, however. Every morning on the front page of The Irish Times, the Irish Independent and the Irish Examiner, Ministers are saying, "Here is the deal."