Results 44,581-44,600 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of recent reports from a range of reliable sources, including the US State Department, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, about prison conditions in North Korea. To date, my Department has not received representations from human rights groups regarding these recent reports. I am gravely concerned about the evidence which exists that serious human rights violations,...

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government is aware of reports from the relevant UK authorities of a number of leaks of radioactive material into the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, from the Faslane naval base in recent years. The Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland (RPII) has advised that ongoing environmental monitoring by them and other agencies shows no evidence of an increase in radioactivity concentrations in...

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the opportunity to speak in this debate and thank the Fine Gael party for the manner in which it tabled the motion and approached the debate. If there is one thing that party has made absolutely clear it is that it sees this primarily as an opportunity for political grandstanding and not about the future governing of our country. Last night the deputy leaders of Fine Gael and the...

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: -----it is the choice of the Opposition that we should put aside more constructive business to repeat those speeches in Dáil Éireann. There is no effort to provide anything other than a rhetorical alternative, with cynical politics and ever more aggressive attacks and shallow empathy. There has been much talk from the Opposition about mandates and the will of the people. There is not...

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: Concerning local elections, we had them in 2004 and in 1995. I was interested today-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: -----in Deputy Gilmore's remarks concerning the major change on this occasion. I ask the Deputies to cast their minds back to 1985. Does anybody remember the headline on what happened the Labour Party on Dublin City Council? Does Deputy Costello remember how many seats the Labour Party ended up with then?

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: How many seats did the Labour Party end up with in 1985?

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: Will you inform the House how many seats the Labour Party won? To what was it reduced?

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: If you like-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: Of course. I thought the Deputy was volunteering an answer.

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: The bottom line is that the Labour Party was wiped out in 1985. Did that precipitate a general election? It did not. Was there any suggestion that Fine Gael and the Labour Party should go immediately to the polls?

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: The party was wiped out also across the country. I checked the headline which read, "Fianna Fáil sweep back to power in local authorities. Labour wiped out in Dublin". It was a seismic shift then, in terms of what was going on.

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: I acknowledge there was a major recession. My point is that it was the same in 1991 and in 2004. Local elections have never been used as a catalyst for a general election, not since the foundation of the State. A great "try-on" has been going on during the recent days.

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: We have heard representatives of the Opposition continue their personal attacks on the Taoiseach which has been a constant presence since last year. It is true he has refused to engage in the model of constant campaigning, followed by others. He has not run quarterly poster campaigns or "Evenings with Enda", or published daily statements praising himself. What he has done is what we need...

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: Domestically and internationally, the Taoiseach has been carrying an unprecedented workload and has long since earned the respect of those who deal with him.

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: If all one has to do is produce policy soundbites the work is easy. However, Government is not about soundbites but about substance.

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: Communications matter-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: -----with the people about the policies that will affect them but the hard work of finding and implementing the right policies is what matters most. As the Taoiseach said when he spoke in this debate, nobody in this Government denies we can and do make mistakes.

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: Considering the scale, pace of change and complexity of the issues which must be addressed, this is inevitable. What is important is that the overall thrust of policies be what is required. Right now, nothing matters more than restoring the foundations for growth. The fiscal measures required for this are not only tough but they are having a direct personal impact on most people.

Confidence in Government: Motion (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: This is the case in respect of both taxation and services. The Opposition has taken the position that it is in favour of dramatically reducing the deficit but it disagrees with the Government's actions to achieve this objective. This is a perfectly legitimate position. However, what is not legitimate is the constant refusal to offer an alternative set of actions. Yes, there have been many...