Results 1,221-1,240 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: A meeting of party leaders will be convened. It would make more sense to wait until we see the announcement on the imposition of tariffs from the US side and the initial response from the EU. We have no issue with a Dáil debate. Next Tuesday would be a more optimal time because we will not have the full information as to what could potentially happen this afternoon or tomorrow. If...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----Ireland's detractors seek to undermine us in making those assertions.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: We have always objected to and fought against that idea and notion. We have increased investment in infrastructure exponentially. We have invested in research and development and will continue to do so. The results have been there to see over the last five years. A lot of foreign direct investment has come into Ireland over recent years for a broad range of reasons.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for making reference to Dr. McMonagle, whose bravery and courage we should salute. I did not get an opportunity to see the footage yesterday evening but I will in due course. Every child in this country has the right to a school place. That is a fundamental constitutional right and it is the function of Government to vindicate it. That is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. This is without question the most serious issue to face the Irish economy in a long time. It is clear that the scale of these tariffs will be significant in European terms. Ireland does not believe in tariffs. The European Union does not believe in tariffs and does not want tariffs. The European Union has not started this; Ireland has not started...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (2 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet Committee on Water Quality has been established in accordance with the commitment in the Programme for Government with a mandate to coordinate water quality improvements across all sectors. The membership comprises the Taoiseach; Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence; Minister for Finance; Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform;...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Meetings (2 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: Minutes of the meetings of the Department of the Taoiseach's Management Advisory Committee (MAC) are published on a quarterly basis and are available to view on www.gov.ie. Given the nature of the work of the Department of the Taoiseach, members of the MAC engage with me, the Tánaiste, the Ministers of State assigned to the Department of the Taoiseach, and other members of Government...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----has been seen here every day.

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: Day after day, it has become harder to be heard if Sinn Féin wants to have a go. The strategy has been implemented by means of the rigid discipline and control of elected representatives which is unique to Sinn Féin. We saw this last week when Deputy Carthy left his usual place to sit near the back and co-ordinate disruptions with Deputy Doherty, who led proceedings at the front.

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: Having collapsed the business of this democratically elected Parliament, Sinn Féin then did what it always does; it played the victim and blamed others for the scenes it had planned and orchestrated. Having broken every rule governing behaviour in the Dáil and making it impossible to hear anything, the party is not only disputing the Ceann Comhairle's ruling, it also disputing the...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: It should also acknowledge that the simple fact is that the majority of those in this Parliament supported the motion before the House, while the Opposition ignored every basic rule and democratic principle in trying to block it. It is important that everyone understands that this new aggression has been extended to other areas. Until the start of this Dáil, the tradition had been...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: If we continue to see this extreme escalation in the rhetoric deployed in debating every issue, the change to our political culture will be permanent and deeply destructive. It is extremely sad that two parties which claimed to the electorate that they are centre left have been full participants in Sinn Féin's cynical strategy of escalating rhetoric and disruption. They cannot even...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: Over the past few months, I have talked with many other European leaders about the growth of extreme politics, and the impact it is having on their parliaments. The disruptions we have seen here-----

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----and the attack on the Ceann Comhairle are very much part of a pattern where extreme parties have sought to undermine public faith in the idea that anything can be achieved. The one consistent message from every country is to stand firmly against this behaviour. If it is accepted as normal, it will be destructive of parliamentary democracy. This Dáil is still in its relatively...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: We do not have the time to waste on this effort to remove the Ceann Comhairle because she would not bow down before an Opposition which demands that the minority have the right to veto our business. This attempt at what I would say is a strategy of aggression and disruption will fail. Those of us on this side are willing to make this Dáil work. There has to be a will on all sides to...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Government is up for doing that and will work day and night to make it happen. We will then be able to get on with doing the people's business.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Security (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: They do not have to protest at all. We had protests a year or two ago that were quite violent.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Security (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: I am not saying the Mothers Against Genocide protesters were doing that; they were not. However, everybody in this House railed against the Garda for not having operational procedures to ensure access to, and egress from, Leinster House.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Security (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt the Deputies. Protestors do not have to block the gates of Leinster House.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Security (1 Apr 2025)

Micheál Martin: What happened then was the Garda gave a direction under the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act. That is what the Garda formally did. There was no physical engagement; gardaí just gave a direction. I am informed that the individuals were given a period of time to adhere to the direction. That direction was not complied with and 11 people were then arrested for offences contrary to...