Results 541-560 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Labour Party did not want to go into government because it was watching you. You are both watching each other. You are both nervous of each other, so therefore you did not come forward.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: Sinn Féin did not have the numbers to form a government-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----and Independent Ireland had some issues that we did not find agreement with but at least its members came in and engaged with us in a substantive way. The Regional Independent Group said they wanted to support and facilitate the formation of a government.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: That is not new, by the way. That is not new.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: This has been a feature of our fragmented system.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: Our electoral system has in recent times and will in the future create a fragmented result. The danger in what the Opposition is saying is-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: Say after the next general election in five years' time, a potential government is short three of four TDs. Why would three or four Independent TDs volunteer to facilitate the formation of a government?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: Why would they?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: Why would they do that if it meant-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----that the rest of the Opposition said, "We are going to deny you your rights as TDs if you dare facilitate and support the Government". Looking at it from my perspective-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----and from a constitutional perspective, it is quite an extraordinary thing you are trying to do here which will actually-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----undermine any potential for the formation of a government into the future.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: You are now basically saying that no Independent in the future-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: You are not a leader yet, Deputy.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: I did not get a chance to finish what I was saying.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: Westminster.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy feigns sympathy for the Government backbenchers-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----but there is an issue around proportionality in terms of how the Dáil is structured. In recent times, from 2016 onwards when we changed the thresholds to allow smaller groups to be formed, there has been a wholly disproportionate platform for some representatives, such as when one Independent joins three or four other Independents. They have had far more speaking time than...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: I am not very selective

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Mar 2025)

Micheál Martin: Deputy, with the greatest of respect, your party was very grateful for the fact we were sympathetic enough-----