Results 13,701-13,720 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: World Economic Forum (22 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: In January 2019, the then Taoiseach attended the World Economic Forum’s annual event in Davos, Switzerland. While I have received invitations from the World Economic Forum (WEF) to attend their annual forum in 2021, which was ultimately cancelled, and their planned forum in May this year, I have not personally been in contact with them. Officials in my Department have been in contact...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (22 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The forthcoming vacancy in the position of Secretary General to the Government and Secretary General of the Department of the Taoiseach will be filled following a request for expressions of interest from all suitable officers in the Civil Service. The post does not come within the remit of TLAC. The appointment will be made by the Government, on my advice. There is no departure from the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: More generally, the financial services sector in this country grew from the late 1980s and the 1990s. Approximately 50,000 people are working in that sector now.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is never said in this debate. The implication in all the assessment is that somehow the Government wants to excuse bad behaviour because of the 50,000 staff. That is not the case. We have no truck with anybody who wants to abuse, in any shape or form, either the IFSC or any tax framework. We have no truck with that whatsoever.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Regarding section 110, anyone who takes funding out of those funds is taxed in that respect. My point is that when the crisis breaks out in Ukraine, the assertion and the immediate focus of attention is that suddenly the financial services are covering for or hiding people who engage in bad behaviour.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is not the case. We have no interest and we do not want it to be a haven for anybody who is enabling the Putin regime.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I know, but we did-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Yes, of course. I have no issue with that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am very struck by Deputy Boyd Barrett's comments.  He said that the EU wants to use the war in Ukraine as an excuse to militarise and increase defence spending.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: No disrespect, but what planet is the Deputy on?  War has happened.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Russia has invaded Ukraine in a savage way. It is bombing civilians. It has torn up the multilateral rules-based order with no regard for UN universal values of territorial integrity, sovereignty and democracy.  Russia is afraid of democracy and wants to kill democracy in Ukraine. Deputy Boyd Barrett is saying that Europe is using this as an excuse to militarise.  Europe did not...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: There is a vulnerability now in the security architecture of Europe.  Germany believed in trade and in good relationships with Russia over a long period of time, certainly since the early 1990s, and had been very consistent in that.  Unfortunately, I do not believe that has been responded to by the Russian Federation over time. The latest manifestation of that is the wholesale war...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Democracy is important, but it is now in recession and is receding vis-à-vis authoritarianism.  Europe wants to defend its Single Market, its economy and the quality of life of its people.  There are no warmongers that I have ever noticed in Europe or in the European Union that I have seen-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: ----- in the past number of years.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I was there as Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Europe’s predominant role is an interventionist one which is trying-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Of course it is shocking because it does not fit the Deputy’s world view.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The immediate focus of the Deputy’s approach is always to attack the European Union and not the aggressors, the despots or the authoritarians.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is his response all of the time.  He attacks the war by Russia but suggests it is all the European Union’s fault. That seems to be the Deputy’s fallback position.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is the essence of the Deputy’s presentation.  Europe goes to great lengths to intervene to prevent conflict and, where there is conflict, to provide humanitarian assistance. The EU is probably the biggest provider of such assistance in the world to less developed states and to areas of conflict.  Enormous sums of money are allocated. Similarly, the recovery and...