Results 44,601-44,620 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ryan Report on the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Motion (Resumed) (11 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: It is almost exactly ten years since I spoke in the House to outline the reasons behind the Government's decision to establish the commission to inquire into child abuse. I said then, "We want the commission to carry out its work without fear or favour and to go wherever it feels it must go to get at the truth". We committed to giving the commission the time, resources and powers it...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: I condemn the horrific murder of Kevin McDaid in Coleraine on 24 May, in attacks which led to injuries to Mr. McDaid's wife, Evelyn, and severe injury to Damien Fleming. I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the McDaid family on their terrible loss and to wish Damien Fleming a full recovery. The PSNI investigation is progressing and has led to a number of arrests, with cases being...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs taxi policy is based on the principle that taxi use by officers should only take place where it is clearly required for the conduct of official business. The policy operated by my Department provides that taxis may be used for official business when public transport is not available or feasible and when officers are required, because of work or official...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: My Department is responsible for operating the Irish diplomatic network of 75 Missions overseas. The transfer of funds to operate these Missions, whose aggregate running costs amount to approximately €70 million per annum, incurs unavoidable banking charges. In addition, there are banking charges incurred by the Passport Office when accepting credit card payments from citizens for passport...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs maintains a stock of bottled water for use at meetings and other official events which take place at headquarters. The amount spent by the Department on bottled water for such events over the past three years is as follows: 2006 - €3,780; 2007 - €5,597; 2008 - €4,154; 2009 (to date) - €1,624.

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

Micheál Martin: I am aware of some disturbing reports in early April this year, alleging the detention of numbers of Iraqi men, on the grounds of their sexual orientation, with suggestions that they are to be executed. The situation in Iraq is, of course, complex and I understand that international NGOs have been unable to get confirmation that these men are in custody, what charges they may be held on, or...

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...