Results 4,841-4,860 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: I do not believe it is shameful for the Taoiseach to go to the White House. The Palestinian ambassador believes we should go the White House, and we should.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt the Deputy.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: I went to Washington three weeks ago and met officials in the White House. I also met Senators and Congressmen. Why? I did it to give them our perspective, but also to get their sense of what is happening. The Deputy will not like to hear this, but notwithstanding everything and the politics of America and Israel and the strength of Israel in American politics, many American politicians...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: -----for why the attacks on 7 October happened.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: I am assured that no weapons-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: -----are going to Gaza via Shannon.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: The Department of Transport did respond swiftly. The Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, has been very active on this.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: Some 75 additional driver tester posts were sanctioned in March of last year.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: That is only 12 months ago. That is in addition to the 30 permanent testers who were previously sanctioned in July 2022. The total sanctioned driver tester posts now is 205. Obviously, it takes time to recruit people and so on, but that 205 figure is now double the 100 sanctioned driver tester posts-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: -----in June 2022. The Deputy should at least acknowledge that
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: The person in Clonmel who is on annual leave is entitled-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: -----to take annual leave and I hope the Deputy accepts that.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: There is a significant reduction in the national average waiting time, from a high of 30.4 weeks in August last to 16.9 weeks at the end of February. That is a big improvement. It is still too high-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: -----but we are working on that. It is because of the extra capacity in the system. Some 41 additional testers have joined since September of last year.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: Too many cooks can spoil the broth in the sense that the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, is aware of it and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, is aware of it. I will-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: -----discuss the issue with them, but I have no doubt the Minister of State will examine this and will come up with a workable solution for people. The RSA is the Road Safety Authority, so it-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: Sorry, I am answering you.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: I am talking to you and making the point. Sometimes people listening in may not realise what the hell the RSA is. It is the Road Safety Authority. Everything the authority does is through the lens of safety. However, politically we have to-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: I am not finished, Deputy. Through that lens, then, the political world and the Executive must look at proposals to ensure there is balance and practicality and that there is a proper system there so something is not just bounced on people overnight, as you have said.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: Very quickly. Additional capital will be required. The Minister is in discussion with the Minister for public expenditure on a constructive basis to secure additional capital to greenlight quite a number of projects. This similarly happened last year and quite a range of projects was approved on that basis. That is where it is at the moment.