Results 40,121-40,140 of 50,916 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: Some 73 amendments are proposed to the Water Services (Amendment) Bill. Although we are talking about Second Stage, this gives some illustration of the range of issues that need to be articulated on Second Stage. There is a lot of interest across the House in this Bill and a lot of concern across the country, particularly in terms of septic tank charges. All of those issues need to be...

Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: That is not satisfactory.

Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: Will the committee meet in this Chamber? Will that debate be in the Chamber?

Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: The European directive on agency workers is due to come into law next Monday. This is a directive that has profound consequences-----

Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: Thank you, a Cheann Comhairle. The European directive on agency workers is due to come into law next Monday via domestic legislation that must be passed by this House. It is legislation that has the most profound consequences for multinational investment in this country. The world is watching in terms of the way we intend to transpose this directive into law. I find it incredible, with...

Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach might ask the Minister to talk to the Opposition spokespersons on industry and appraise them of the position, which is critical.

Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: Did the Taoiseach just say that he blamed the troika for everything?

Order of Business (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: He did.

Pre-European Council Meeting on 8-9 December: Statements (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: One month ago the leaders of Europe emerged from another emergency summit and announced that they had taken steps that would finally contain the sovereign debt crisis. In only a matter of days this was shown to be a nonsense and the crisis has escalated dramatically since then. There is no longer any room for doubt: a failure by the leaders of Europe and the European Central Bank to change...

Pre-European Council Meeting on 8-9 December: Statements (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: While reading it I found myself wondering whether we were for or against limited change.

Pre-European Council Meeting on 8-9 December: Statements (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: Should we tell people what limited change is proposed? We are keeping the people in the dark and then, subsequently, when something is eventually agreed, people are surprised and questioning and so on. If the European leaders continue to go about it this way, it is doomed to fail. The Taoiseach has not engaged in any diplomatic initiative of any consequence.

Pre-European Council Meeting on 8-9 December: Statements (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: The most incredible thing about next week's summit is that there is still no indication of any specific proposals which will be on the agenda.

Pre-European Council Meeting on 8-9 December: Statements (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: I have read the Taoiseach's speech. The officials are impressed with President Van Rompuy because he is listening. I know and the Taoiseach knows that President Van Rompuy has a plan and a framework. He is talking to Chancellor Merkel and President Sarkozy. The Taoiseach knows this but why not inform the House? That is the point. Let us not pretend there is some sort of deliberate...

Pre-European Council Meeting on 8-9 December: Statements (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: The Minister, Deputy Noonan, as he went into the ECOFIN meeting yesterday, said our Government has no idea what will be proposed. If it does, it is going to great lengths to feign ignorance about specific proposals and it is once again refusing to tell the Dáil about them.

Pre-European Council Meeting on 8-9 December: Statements (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: Through a combination of half-rumours and speculation it is agreed everyone knows how serious things are, but that is as far as it goes. There are no papers in general circulation I know of and I have not been alerted to any. There is no inclusive discussion or negotiation. Most of all there, is no attempt to abide by the principle of solidarity which created and built the most successful...

Pre-European Council Meeting on 8-9 December: Statements (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: He should get down to the bread and butter specifics and concrete realities.

Pre-European Council Meeting on 8-9 December: Statements (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: I have. I have made proposals for the past six months and I will make more before I am finished.

Pre-European Council Meeting on 8-9 December: Statements (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: As things stand there is one core problem-----

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: The crisis in Europe continues and it appears Ireland is standing idly by while Rome burns. Three weeks ago, I wrote to the Taoiseach requesting a meeting to discuss a co-ordinated response from parties in this House to the eurozone crisis and to the question of treaty change. He refused point blank such a meeting.

Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2011)

Micheál Martin: The time for ducking and diving is over in regard to the eurozone crisis. There is no sense of any inclusive discussion or negotiation and there is no sense of Ireland putting forward any ideas, proposals or suggestions. Has the Taoiseach spoken to, or met, any eurozone leader since his meeting with Chancellor Merkel regarding forthcoming proposals? Has he spoken to President van Rompuy?...