Results 19,881-19,900 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: This is not a Government matter in the sense that it is a matter for the Oireachtas. The Ceann Comhairle has put it very clearly. He said there was a special meeting at the end of July. No one suggested or proposed to the Ceann Comhairle, bar one Deputy, Deputy Mattie McGrath, that we ignore or go against advice. It seems the situation has to do with voting. The Government is very open...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: It has been closed for a long time. It is a great line but it does not help us deal with the situation. It is a great old line but that is about it. It is a nice line to shout out but it does not advance the argument.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The issue seems to be whether we can organise votes here that everybody will observe. I am not an expert on this and I was not a part of the public health expert advice or the secretariat to the Oireachtas with regard to voting. It seems that voting is the major challenge to the authorities in the House with regard to organising it safely within public health guidelines. We are all agreed...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: We will work with other parties to facilitate an agreeable outcome.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Quite clearly, what happened in the summer was that many backbenchers of other parties wanted to have their say as well and wanted their opportunity.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: No. They are backbenchers elected by the people, just as Deputy Boyd Barrett is elected-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: What the Deputy is asserting is that he has rights that are superior to those of other Deputies in this House.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: He always is. Essentially that is his argument.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: We believe there should be proportionality and plenty of time for every Deputy. I am a great believer in parliamentary democracy and I believe people of all parties and none should have an opportunity to speak and articulate their views.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: No, actually-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: In the previous Dáil, that did not happen.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Many Deputies were excluded in the previous Dáil in practical terms. They just did not get the opportunities.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: They did not get the opportunities; that is what happened.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Groups with far fewer Deputies in the House got much more time-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: What we need is a bit of balance; that is all. As far as I am concerned-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt the Deputy. This is a plenary session, and people felt they were excluded. They made representations to the various parties. All parties, in negotiating future orders for this Dáil, arrived at conclusions, agreements and so on. I was not at the meeting of the Business Committee; I do not attend its meetings. My understanding is that an agreement was reached at a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is not as simple as bringing in emergency legislation.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: We had to in terms of the Covid payment, the pandemic unemployment payments and the wage subsidy scheme for hundreds of thousands of people.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: They were very straightforward measures to give a legislative basis to make sure that workers did not go without during the pandemic, particularly before the summer recess. In this situation, it is about changing company law and bringing in recommendations - a combination of both - that emanate from the Duffy-Cahill report. The Duffy-Cahill report in itself would not necessarily, in some...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: New loopholes emerge.