Results 49,241-49,260 of 51,072 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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.

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

Micheál Martin: We did that under a certain set of circumstances and certain terms of propositions advanced by the company and the unions, which agreed at the time in those particular——

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

Micheál Martin: They were the circumstances advanced in terms of the discontinuation of the service, as then advanced by Irish Ferries——

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

Micheál Martin: ——and also in terms of the protection of the situation on the Irish Sea, for which certain commitments and guarantees were given to the Government——

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

Micheál Martin: ——and subsequently broken. With regard to the legal position, we are satisfied that the set of circumstances applied to the MV Normandy was separate to that which now applies. As I indicated, we have not yet received a redundancy notice from Irish Ferries in regard to the current situation. I have taken legal advice from the Attorney General. I have indicated publicly that the preliminary...

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

Micheál Martin: Will the Deputy repeat that?

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

Micheál Martin: EU law is very clear on the issue of re-flagging and the right of establishment. There is a process to follow when an application is received.

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

Micheál Martin: With respect, the Deputy asked a question to which I am giving a specific answer. The Attorney General has advised the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources on processing the application. I have outlined the realities of the situation once the connection is established. The company is outlining issues regarding the connection.

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

Micheál Martin: EU law is very clear on that.

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

Micheál Martin: It is not comparable to the Deputy's points about social welfare and the decision we took on EU migrants coming into the country. The law is very clear on the right to re-establishment.

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

Micheál Martin: We decided, above and beyond any other country apart from the United Kingdom, to allow migrant labourers come in on social welfare.

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

Micheál Martin: The Deputy raised it. On that issue the Commission has challenged us. That decision cannot be compared to reflagging and so forth. The Taoiseach informally raised with other EU leaders the issues pertaining to the Irish Ferries experience. I have not received a formal report from the Taoiseach about the EU-Mediterranean Summit. This issue was not formally on the agenda but he has had informal...