Results 45,541-45,560 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Northern Ireland Issues. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

European Council Meetings. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Since France took over the EU Presidency in July, I have accompanied the Taoiseach to two meetings with President Sarkozy and Foreign Minister Kouchner at which we had comprehensive and constructive discussions. Consequently, we have gained a good understanding of each other's position on key EU issues, which will serve us well as we prepare for the October and December European Councils at...

European Council Meetings. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: In the immediate aftermath of the June Council, there was an interesting discussion on social Europe. The President of the Commission, José Manuel Durão Barroso, was clear on the necessity for the European Union to demonstrate its relevance to its citizens in terms of expanded social programmes and so forth. I am not sure that the Deputy's depiction of the Union and its institutions is...

European Council Meetings. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Any country only holds the Presidency for six months. Given that only three months of the French Presidency have passed, we cannot blame France for all of the European Union's identifiable shortcomings. I am satisfied that the Commission is clear on the necessity to do more regarding the social agenda.

European Council Meetings. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I agree with Deputy Creighton's point that we are a euro zone country. The role of the ECB has been important in weathering the storm over the past 12 months in providing liquidity to our banking system.

European Council Meetings. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: It is a story that needs to be told. Every banking system has had major challenges, to understate it slightly, in the past few weeks. Ireland would have had those challenges far earlier if it was not for the ECB. Now is the time to be at the heart of Europe, not on the margins. I would be worried about going down an isolationist road, which would not be good for the country and could...

European Council Meetings. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I have made it clear that I respect the decision of the Irish people.

European Council Meetings. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I do not.

European Council Meetings. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: This refers to Deputy Creighton's point that other countries in Europe have a desire to move forward. We must reconcile the view in Ireland that we should be part of the EU with the dilemma faced by the EU from the decision not to proceed with the Lisbon treaty. We must make up our mind what to do and that will happen in due course. I prefer genuine engagement between parties in this House...

European Council Meetings. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Yes. Regarding the fear of conscription, independent research showed that 40% of the Irish people believed that the Lisbon treaty meant conscription to a European army, although I am not saying they all voted based on this basis. I met one couple with two children at the polling station and they asked me if the children would be conscripted. I am not making that up, it happened.

European Council Meetings. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am not saying it was included in literature on the treaty but the research showed that 40% of the Irish people believed that Lisbon meant conscription to a European army.

European Council Meetings. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: We must go behind it and ask why people believe that. What leads people to have that sense? Iran is not satisfying all of the transparency requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency and Dr. ElBaradei. We have put this to the Iranians and there is ongoing engagement.

European Council Meetings. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The EU would love to have the Lisbon issue resolved and go ahead with it, but it cannot because of our decision. I was at the parliamentary constitutional committee last Monday and this message came across strongly. Socialists and Christian Democrats wanted Ireland to get it sorted but that is their perspective and we have our perspective as a democratic country.

European Council Meetings. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The banking issue is moving very fast.

Order of Business (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: He is here but cannot be seen.

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (8 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Unfortunately I will be unable to attend the event in Dublin on 17 October to which the Deputy refers. I will, however, mark the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty with an address to the Biennial Conference of the Irish Forum for Global Health, which is being held at University College Cork on 17-18 October. The theme of this year's Conference is Global Health...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (8 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Together with its partners in the EU, Ireland is strongly committed to a negotiated and comprehensive settlement in the Middle East, with a two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at its core. EU Foreign Ministers regularly discuss the Middle East Peace Process, and the EU, together with the US, Russia and the United Nations, participates in the Quartet, which seeks to advance...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (7 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government is deeply conscious of the extraordinary contribution made by Irish immigrant communities to Ireland over many years. Our commitment to assisting agencies working with these communities is reflected in the unprecedented level of funding secured for emigrant services in recent years. This substantial increase has enabled my Department to provide greater financial support to...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (7 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government have progressively and substantially increased the level of funding available for emigrant services in recent years. These increases have enabled the Emigrant Support Programme, administered by the Irish Abroad Unit of my Department, to provide greater financial support to frontline welfare organisations which assist the most vulnerable members of...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (7 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: In summer 2002, the Government of Israel decided to erect a physical barrier between Israel and Palestinian communities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, with the stated purpose of preventing Palestinian suicide bombers from entering Israel. In an advisory opinion of 9 July 2004, the International Court of Justice found that the construction of the wall by Israel, the occupying power in...