Results 49,561-49,580 of 51,299 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I am not talking about that but about the one the Deputy opened. Did he open it?

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: It was the Manorhamilton one.

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: He opened one on his own.

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "notes: —the importance to a successful fast growing economy of the effective and independent enforcement of competition law so as to prevent the emergence of anti-competitive practices, restrictions on the freedom to trade and barriers to entry in all sectors of the economy; —that the...

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: ——I might have switched the emphasis somewhat.

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I will do that too but I have to be conscious of the time constraints. I welcome the tabling of the motion by Deputy Hogan as it presents an opportunity to discuss issues pertaining to competition policy and the Competition Authority. I found the Deputy's remarks on the lack of consensus on an agreed motion somewhat rich given that prior to the tabling of his motion he never sought such...

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: On a broader level, people commented in a partisan manner, through the Chair, on certain aspects of what it is like to be a young person living in Ireland today. I suggest this is the first generation since 1845 that can look forward to genuine employment opportunities, with almost full employment in the country. The reality is that young people have much better access to jobs than any...

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: ——by any yardstick than for any previous generation since the foundation of the State. The Deputy should consider that. When we talk about small businesses and so on it must be borne in mind that the most fundamental decision the Government took was to reduce corporation tax to 12.5% in budget after budget, which affects all businesses.

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy's party objected to it.

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: In budget after budget, Deputy Howlin's party leader criticised the then Minister, Charlie McCreevy, for reducing corporation tax.

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I will not yield for any revisionism from Deputy Howlin. I have no intention of yielding.

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: That is rubbish.

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: With respect, the then Minister, Charlie McCreevy, took decisive decisions in budget after budget——

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: ——to bring down that rate from where it was at around 30% in 1997 to 12.5% today.

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: He was criticised for doing that in some budgets.

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: I will produce the scripts showing where he was criticised.

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: The reality is that that is the corporate tax rate of today and it scores a first in any competitiveness analysis of Ireland in the overall story.

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: That must be factored in in terms of all the other issues Deputy Perry referred to in his contribution but it is always ignored in terms of contributions from the other side of the House and the atmosphere that has been created by the Government in respect of employment creation, both indigenous and foreign direct.

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: Over 440,000 jobs have been created since 1997——

Reform of the Competition Act 2002: Motion. (15 Nov 2005)

Micheál Martin: ——because we had the right philosophy and the right approach across the taxation scene, whether capital gains, with which Deputy Howlin's party had difficulties, corporation tax or personal income tax, which again scored a first recently in the national competitiveness report's analysis of Ireland's competitiveness against our peers across the globe.