Results 43,301-43,320 of 50,916 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Colombia has witnessed the longest period of upheaval of any country in Latin America - over 50 years in all. The Colombian people have endured relentless suffering, reflected in the more than two million persons who have been internally displaced over the past number of years, a number second only to that of Sudan. The degree of lawlessness that arises from the absence of peace presents a...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Together with its EU partners, Ireland attaches considerable importance to achieving stability in the Western Balkans. A significant factor in building this is the EU perspective of the countries in the region. The June 2003 European Council in Thessalonika agreed that the future of the countries of the Western Balkans was in the EU. The European Union's Stabilisation and Association...

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are some on the Opposition benches.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: It is a great pity that it was necessary to table a motion of confidence. This debate is unwarranted and unjustified. Many of the contributions of Opposition Members bear out what I am saying. We should engage in a detailed, reflective consideration of the two reports published last week. From what I have heard, however, it appears that most people have not read them.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: I only have five minutes in which to contribute and I did not interrupt previous speakers.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: If people read the reports, they would gain instruction in how we formulate and develop policy. I will deal further with that matter in a moment. Deputies referred to our record. During the past decade, there has been unprecedented growth and development and the country has been transformed.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Many of the benefits from it are still with us. During the period to which I refer, we managed to halve the national debt. That was a significant achievement which has stood us in good stead in the context of the current crisis.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: We established a levy of 1% of GNP to create the National Pension Reserve Fund. That was a wise and conservative move, particularly as the fund has been of enormous assistance in the context of recapitalisation of the banks.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Up to 2007, we used cash surpluses to transform road, health and education infrastructure.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Will I be given the opportunity to speak? Are Members interested in engaging in a sensible debate?

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: The level of infantile comment with which one must put up is ridiculous. People outside the Houses expect a bit more of Members.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Deputies referred to property and to relationships in politics, and so on. We have been treated to many slogans in that regard.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: We are in the national Parliament. Will Deputy Shortall respect my right to make my contribution?

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: If people read the report by Regling and Watson, they would be aware that it states that our taxation system favoured the property and construction sectors. Regling and Watson identified two issues.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: They instanced the fact that there was mortgage interest relief and no property tax. In recent years, would any Member of the House have advocated the introduction of a property tax and the elimination of mortgage interest relief? It is to obtain the answers in respect of questions such as this that it is necessary to read the reports.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: The profound impact of the adoption of the euro has not been mentioned during this debate.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Regling and Watson's report refers to a quantum change in terms of the volume of wholesale money that came into our banks.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: There is also the matter of competition in the banking sector.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: I did not say that.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: With the greatest of respect and as the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform pointed out, the Labour Party favoured increased public expenditure and less taxation.