Results 39,761-39,780 of 50,916 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- European Council Meeting: Statements (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: I said it is a mystery why the Taoiseach agreed to his appointment. I am not talking about last Friday. He was appointed on the nod, with no discussion about the mandate of the ECB and its role in the crisis. That is my point. The Taoiseach had a say in that and he did not even question him about the policies or the ECB's approach.
- European Council Meeting: Statements (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: I spoke to the Taoiseach yesterday and the Taoiseach said that he made it clear. My point is that there was no idea of addressing the central role of the ECB or changing its mandate. There was not, and the Taoiseach should not pretend there was.
- European Council Meeting: Statements (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: Yes, and I have articulated them in my speech. Everything I am saying is quite correct and accurate.
- European Council Meeting: Statements (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: The point is that the summit did not address the mandate of the ECB, which is the crucial issue, or the capacity of the ECB to be the lender of last resort.
- European Council Meeting: Statements (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: It concentrated on the German agenda of fiscal rules alone. This is a bank that raised interest rates after a recession had started and risked creating a depression by raising them before it was over. It is so obsessed with the idea that targeting an inflation rate of close to, but below, 2% is the answer to every problem that it has even produced an iPhone application in which hitting this...
- European Council Meeting: Statements (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: -----particularly President Sarkozy.
- European Council Meeting: Statements (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: Last Friday, the Government was eager to push the idea that there is nothing to be worried about. The Minister of State, Deputy Lucinda Creighton, said on "Morning Ireland" that corporation tax was not on the agenda at all.
- European Council Meeting: Statements (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: In spite of this, and in spite of the Taoiseach saying just now that it is correct, page 3 of the summit communiqué states explicitly that leaders discussed the co-ordination of tax policies and how tax policy can support economic policy co-ordination and contribute to fiscal consolidation and growth.
- European Council Meeting: Statements (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: I repeat that page 3 of the summit communiqué states explicitly that leaders discussed the co-ordination of tax policies and how tax policy can support economic policy co-ordination and contribute to fiscal consolidation and growth. It was discussed. Given that yesterday the Minister of State referred insultingly to many journalists having been too lazy to read the summit communiqué, she...
- Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: No, but I hope we can resolve this quickly. Yesterday, the Taoiseach stated he was prepared to give this debate any time that was required. I welcome the additional time for questions but I would like to request two changes to the taking of No. 20. We would like the time for opening statements extended to at least 20 minutes because the issues are complex and comprehensive and 20 minutes...
- Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: Given the season of goodwill, a Cheann Comhairle, I want to-----
- Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: I just want to respond to-----
- Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: I just want to welcome the Taoiseach's response. Given the season of goodwill, when I went through the corridors this morning, there were many worried brows meeting me and saying to me "Whatever you do, don't go to next week." Whereas the Taoiseach and I might like to come back next week, we would be on our own.
- Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach is answering questions. That is what is important.
- Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: I agree with that position. The guillotining of Bills has been a pattern.
- Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: The only comedy is that I take seriously the commitments Deputy Rabbitte made. I take seriously the intense emotion of his outbursts in the last Dáil against the guillotining of Bills. I take seriously-----
- Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: -----his general articulation of the need for debate and so on.
- Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: I am just making the point that there has been an extraordinary pattern of guillotining Bill after Bill in this House, and a lot of optics going on in-between. The once-a-month Fridays, for example, are a bit of a joke in terms of the Government's contribution.
- Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: What we are getting here is optics in terms of the substance of Dáil reform. The Government should facilitate a proper debate on this in the schedule.
- Order of Business (14 Dec 2011)
Micheál Martin: You have got too comfortable, Pat.