Results 41,941-41,960 of 50,916 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- State Visits (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach has agreed with the new EU and IMF programme. He has made that decision.
- State Visits (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: That is not true. There should be no comment on it.
- State Visits (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: I am asking basic questions and the Taoiseach cannot answer them.
- Order of Business (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: It is not agreed. Today, the Government is putting in place the terms of reference for the new committees. This is deeply disappointing and is a retrograde step which will reduce accountability in this House and the capacity of the Dáil to have oversight over many Government Departments. It was a consistent theme of the Taoiseach's colleagues in the last Dáil that even single issue...
- Order of Business (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: The select committee on the environment, community and local government, transport, tourism and sport and arts, heritage and the Gaeltacht comprises another 21 members and covers a wide range of activities and responsibilities. Where can we get genuine, real and meaningful accountability in the unwieldy committees the Taoiseach proposes to establish? We all support reduced costs-----
- Order of Business (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: -----and have no difficulty with that but there is a more effective way of doing it than the way the Taoiseach is proceeding.
- Order of Business (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: He will reduce the effectiveness of Dáil committees, not enhance them with the measures that are before the House. I also oppose the guillotining of the Social Welfare and Pensions Bill.
- Order of Business (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: It is not agreed to.
- Order of Business (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: I make the point that there are many aspects to be considered in this legislation. I do not believe there is any necessity to guillotine this Bill and shorten the duration of its consideration and time allocated for its debate in the House to the degree proposed by the Government. We have had many commitments about Dáil reform and many fine statements about accountability and strengthening...
- Order of Business (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: Deputy Higgins is right and the Government knows he is right.
- Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: Question 1: To ask the Taoiseach the reason he did not raise the issue of the interest rate on the British loan with British Prime Minister David Cameron during his recent meeting. [13625/11]
- Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach if he raised the issue of British support for Ireland's efforts to acquire a lower interest rate on the EU/IMF programme of support with British Prime Minister David Cameron during his recent meeting; and if not, the reason therefor. [13626/11]
- Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: I will make a number of comments before moving on to specific questions. In this session, only six questions are on the Order Paper because of the aggressive approach taken by the Taoiseach's office and the Department in disallowing and transferring questions. Will the Taoiseach examine the issue? For example, last week we asked the Taoiseach about his opinion on EU enlargement, which is a...
- Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: We are discussing the policy on responses.
- Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: I know. That is why I am raising it.
- Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: Last week, six questions were grouped together.
- Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: There is a deliberate policy of disallowing and transferring questions, which is reducing accountability in the House. The two questions I have tabled relate to an important issue, one that was caught in the wider set of questions tabled last week but was not answered. I want a straight and clear answer as to why the issue identified by the Government from the outset as being its first...
- Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach said in his formal reply that there was no explicit discussion with the British Prime Minister on the interest rate on the British loan and nor was there intended to be. I find that revelation incredible.
- Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: It would seem to me that the logical and tactically correct strategy would be to seek a reduction on the bilateral loan with Britain as this would force the hand of other EU Heads of State to do likewise on the broader EU-IMF deal. The Taoiseach has from the outset identified this matter as the Government's number one priority. On 11 March, the EU Heads of State stated that funding costs...
- Official Engagements (8 Jun 2011)
Micheál Martin: Right through.