Results 49,221-49,240 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: That is the point I made in my original speech. There is no point in Deputies saying nice things and giving the impression that something can be done when that is not the case.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: It is about being honest with those concerned, those at the heart of the dispute, rather than pretending we can do things which are not possible.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: That is the reason we are not prepared to go down the route taken in the Labour Party legislation. Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats are not pursuing a neo-liberal agenda, as Deputy Healy has suggested.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: This Government has created the largest number of jobs of any Administration in the history of the State. It has significantly improved living standards which now far outstrip those of five or ten years ago.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: These are the facts.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: We have an obligation, a right and a commitment to maintain living standards. Deputy Boyle should note that the Director of Corporate Enforcement makes a determination on complaints made about the fitness to practise of any director under the law. As regards the review of company law, the issues raised can be considered in the context of legislation due next year. I note the Green Party has...

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: It is wonderful and enlightening to see the party extolling the virtues of co-operation across the European agenda.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Deputies are letting Irish Ferries off the hook.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Deputies are letting Irish Ferries off the hook.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: He is not a member of the parliamentary party.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy Gallagher, will also deal with issues relating to the maritime sector.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the €51 million investment in the maritime college, it is a state-of-the-art facility in Ringaskiddy. The Government made the investment to enable the facility to train future seafarers and become a centre of excellence where we could contract in other interests from outside the State to be trained. It was a worthwhile investment of which we are particularly proud. It will...

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Notwithstanding that, it is to over-politicise the issue for party political gain and advantage to try to somehow——

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: ——suggest that the Taoiseach is responsible for this, which was suggested in some contributions. That is fanciful, farcical and has no reality in the context of what has transpired.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: If any Member of the House has made a significant contribution through the years to the improvement of workers' rights in the context of social partnership, which is a unique model from which Ireland has benefited significantly, it is the Taoiseach. As an agreement, social partnership has been fundamentally responsible for the advancement of workers' rights, social conditions and social...

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I and the Government passionately believe that these issues are best resolved in terms of the protection of labour and employment standards, and that social partnership offers us the best opportunity to achieve this in the coming weeks and months.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: It is the best way to do it. To suggest we kiss it goodbye would be to undermine the rights of workers. We have opportunities to protect the rights of workers in the context of social partnership.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I have indicated to the social partners that we are open to enhancing the modalities of inspection to ensure labour law compliance in Ireland.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: We are open to the enhancement of resources. We have paid the redundancy payments to the workers on the MV Normandy.

Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31: Irish Ferries Dispute. (29 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I do not have the exact figures but I can get them for the Deputy.