Results 11,921-11,940 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (10 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: My Department does not employ any persons or firms in regard to public relations. The newly established Citizens’ Assemblies, which are staffed by my Department, have engaged Q4 Public Relations to provide media liaison and communication services. Its remit includes raising public awareness of the Assemblies' work and supporting communication and media outreach. Q4 also provide a press...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I disagree with the assessment made by Deputy Ó Broin regarding housing policy, and I have not seen from him or his party a substantive policy response to Housing for All. It just does not exist. Housing for All is a very comprehensive and substantive document, with a suite of measures that will take time. There is no doubt Covid-19 has been a key factor over the past two years, which...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take questions Nos. 16 to 22, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on housing has met three times to date in 2022. The most recent meeting took place on Monday, 4 April, and the next is planned for Thursday, 12 May. This committee oversees the implementation of Housing for All and the delivery of programme for Government commitments regarding housing and related...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for their comments. Deputy Ó Broin raise the issue of the Nationality and Borders Act, and the recent leaks or articulation around Brexit and the protocol. We decided not to take the bait entirely, given that people in Northern Ireland are in the midst of an election. I was anxious that we would allow the election conclude without us wading in, so to speak,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: When Crimea was invaded-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I remember raising the issue of the invasion and the partition of Crimea in this House. There were very few takers here, particularly among Sinn Féin or among People Before Profit.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I mean generally. People indulged and were soft on Russia for too long-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----across the House. I accept that it was maybe not Deputy Boyd Barrett.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I accept that about Deputy Boyd Barrett.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: It was interesting that people at the time, including Sinn Féin, believed that-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----the Russian Federation was attacking fascists in Kyiv. That is on record in statements made at the time. The attacks in Salisbury and in London are signs that many countries tolerated the Russian approach across the world for far too long. It will pose significant challenges over the next number of years to the rules-based order and the capacity to engage in free trade and to have...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: We have to be very strong on that and we cannot become complacent in this country or in any European Union country. There are constant attacks through social media and a range of fora to undermine democracy. I just do not share the Deputies' anti-Americanism to the same degree that they articulate it. We have to agree to disagree.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: It invariably finds manifestation in attacking the US more than anywhere else.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is always whataboutery with the Deputies.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: If there is any attempt at all to attack the Russian Federation or others, the Deputies' immediate response is whataboutery.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Barry raised an important point which did not form part of the discussion with the President. That is fundamentally a matter that the American Legislature will have to get to grips with. The Deputy is correct that it will pose significant challenges for many working class people in the USA.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 15, inclusive, together. I was pleased to have the opportunity to visit London ahead of St. Patrick's Day. It was a positive opportunity to engage with Irish community representatives and business leaders. I met with Prime Minister Johnson during my visit. We discussed the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine and the profound global security,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: We consistently raised the issue of the undocumented with the President and with many political leaders in the US. I was somewhat taken aback by Deputy Ó Broin's use of the word "shallow". This has been a consistent approach by the Irish Government with different levels of the American Administration to get a change in what is fundamentally a policy issue for Capitol Hill, for Congress...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I did not------