Results 44,981-45,000 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will appreciate, in the time available, it has been difficult to research all aspects of funding received by my Department over such a long period. However, following a detailed examination of the Department's records, I understand that the only direct EU funding received by my Department was the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace I), which was...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: There were fundamental contradictions in Deputy Ó Caoláin's original contribution in which he stated a better deal than expected was achieved. However, he quickly moved away from that. On his point in regard to the Commission, under Lisbon there will be fewer members of the Commission; that is a legal fact. There is no getting around this; an interim agreement cannot be provided.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I apologise. Under the Nice treaty the number of Commissioners must be reduced. That is a legal imperative.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy does not.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: No, through the Chair——

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I will address the point made by the Deputy.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt Deputy Ó Caoláin who asked about the Commission. I am making the point that we succeeded last week in obtaining agreement that under Lisbon there will be one Commissioner per member state. Everybody in this House knows that during the last referendum campaign Sinn Féin erected on every lamppost in Ireland posters stating "Vote No, Keep Your Commissioner".

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: If the Deputy allows me to finish, I will tell him. The member states in question are the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: They believed that there was an institutional balance to be arrived at and had no difficulty articulating the view that they believe a reduced Commission would lead to more efficiency and so forth. They have articulated this view publicly and within the Council. Others had reservations earlier in the negotiating phase. I respect the positions they presented to us. This was a difficult and...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Ó Caoláin jumped the gun prior to Council and during the debate. Sinn Féin's spokespeople continually stated we were getting meaningless declarations. They are more surprised than anybody by what has been achieved. President Sarkozy was open and honest and told the 27 members at the Council meeting that this will mean a legal guarantee, a protocol, will be attached to the...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I will do so. I wish to confirm that a substantial provision of up to €300 million was agreed for carbon capture and storage. There was a robust debate on that issue, in respect of which we obtained a satisfactory outcome. I will reply formally to the Deputy in regard to the committee's work.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: That is new.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Read on.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Rubbish.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are precedents of organising multiple referendums on various issues, such as electoral representation, divorce and abortion. There is no constraint on reverting to the people to allow them to decide on any particular question. Regarding pigmeat, the issue was handled in the context of the EU through the European Food Safety Authority. This showed the importance of belonging to an...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Taoiseach stated, detailed work will have to be carried out in respect of dealing with the issues on which we received undertakings from our European colleagues and obtaining legal guarantees. These three issues are the protection of our traditional policy of military neutrality, ensuring that nothing under the Lisbon treaty will affect our competence in the area of direct taxation...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The matter relating to the hotel industry does not revolve around introducing even further legislation, rather it relates to the implementation and enforcement of existing law. The critical issue is that Ireland has in place a minimum wage. Sweden did not have a minimum wage and, as a result, the Laval judgment is extremely specific to that country. The absence of legal frameworks in...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: We are consulting with the social partners in respect of the employment law compliance Bill. I was involved in the process to establish the National Employment Rights Authority and also the appointment of almost 60 additional inspectors.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Taoiseach stated, the decision on holding a referendum is conditional on our obtaining satisfactory resolutions in respect of the issues we have identified. In any event, it will all be implemented in 2009.

Written Answers — Foreign Military Personnel: Foreign Military Personnel (16 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: No permission was sought or granted at any stage during 2008 for any member of a foreign military service to be present in the locations mentioned by the Deputy. Moreover, I understand that the Department of Defence has no knowledge of any such presence. The second part of the Deputy's question regarding foreign police forces is a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.