Results 17,701-17,720 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: My overarching objective in the context of this entire situation, and in particular the publication of letters between the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Woulfe has been to uphold separation of powers between the Oireachtas and the Judiciary. I take that very seriously.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: That has been my motivation from the beginning in the handling of this issue and was the motivation behind my statement to the House last week on this issue and it remains my overarching objective. I have not seen in the past in this House Ministers answering questions about specific judicial appointments.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: That said, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is prepared to come in and answer questions on process as part of her normal questions.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Is it beyond the Deputy’s capacity to take questions?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Just because Deputy Kelly shouts louder than others sometimes does not mean that he is right. That type of browbeating does not work with me Deputy Kelly.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I make the point and I have made it repeatedly, Mr. Justice Woulfe was appointed appropriately in accordance with the Constitution and with the law and of that there is no doubt. If one reads the Cabinet Handbook it states that very clearly.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: My first point is that we should stand back from creating unnecessary rows and tensions between public health advice, Government decisions and the views of the Oireachtas. I accept that people have different perspectives on Covid-19 and the steps we must take to keep the virus down, open up society and relax restrictions. We should never question the good faith of people on all sides,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have answered questions on this issue on a number of occasions, as has the Tánaiste. The Minister for Justice will answer parliamentary questions in respect of it. I note what the Deputy has said in the context of the word "criteria". Criteria are not about process, they involve judgment calls in respect of candidates.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: It then moves into breaching the separation of powers between the Oireachtas and the Judiciary.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Kelly, who is interrupting, knows the process full well.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: One name is always brought to the Cabinet and the Cabinet decides on that one name which is brought by the Minister for Justice. I do not understate the importance of the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, which made a recommendation that Mr. Justice Woulfe be appointed to the Supreme Court as a suitable candidate.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: It made that recommendation on 9 March. That board is chaired by the Chief Justice and includes among its members the presidents of four courts.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is a significant body of opinion to recommend a candidate as being suitable for the Supreme Court. I accept that the overall situation needs to be reformed, which is why the Government will shortly bring forward the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill. We will make amendments to the legislation that was piloted through the House by the former Minister for Transport, Tourism and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I certainly will. There is a very important aspect to this also. Where sovereign governments enter into agreements, they should be adhered to and followed through. The Irish Government at the time entered into its commitments and it established the Smithwick inquiry, irrespective of where it would land and without fear or favour. The same should apply to the UK Government. In the conduct...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I agree with the Deputy that there must be a full public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane - a husband, a father, a brother and a son. Such a public inquiry, as the Deputy said, was provided for in the agreement reached between the Irish and British Governments at Weston Park in 2001. The Oireachtas is of one mind on this. We...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Future of Media Commission (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Future of Media Commission has met on two occasions, 29 October and 12 November. I provided a pre-recorded video message to mark the Commission’s inaugural meeting on 29 October. The video message is available to view on the Commission’s website, www.futureofmediacommission.ie.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Shared Island Unit (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Programme for Government sets out the Government’s commitments on a Shared Island and to working with all communities and traditions on the island to build consensus around a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. On 22 October, I set out the Government’s vision and priorities on Shared Island in an online event at Dublin Castle. Over 800 people...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The National Economic and Social Development Office, an agency under the remit of the Department of the Taoiseach, has not entered into any third-party contracts in 2019 or 2020 for the operation of community and voluntary organisations.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Shared Island Unit (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136 to 140, inclusive, together. The Programme for Government sets out the Government’s commitments on a Shared Island and to working with all communities and traditions on the island to build consensus around a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. On 22 October, I set out the Government’s vision and priorities on...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: My Department liaises closely with the Office of Government Procurement (OGP) on all matters related to public procurement and monitors all areas of expenditure on an ongoing basis to ensure that value for money is being achieved. Under Department of Finance Circular 40/02, my Department makes annual returns to the Comptroller and Auditor General in respect of contracts above a...