Results 5,981-6,000 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: I have not tried swimming the Dodder yet. It is a bit shallow at times.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: On New Year's Day I am swimming in the sea for the RNLI. I will talk to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, who has a particular interest in the Dodder, and Uisce Éireann. It is a fantastic amenity. There is tremendous biodiversity there and there have been tremendous improvements over recent times. It is a facility and amenity that is availed of by many people. The Deputy's point is...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his championing, along with Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan, of new drugs, or orphan drugs as they are called, in particular for rare diseases. It has been a huge issue for many people across the country and globally. The REV Estimates have additional funding allocated to the Department of Health in respect of new drugs and therapies. There is a nexus between new...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: I am also extremely frustrated with what has transpired. We started a mediation process and it should never have broken down. We were looking at, first, dealing with the health dimension so that there would be absolute provision of healthcare benefits for victims of the thalidomide scandal, whole-of-life care in respect of housing adaptation and so forth, and a third aspect that was to be...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: I will talk to the Minister Eamon Ryan, but no Member of this House is more passionate about advancing public transport and accessibility of public transport. Our budgets fir public transport infrastructure have increased exponentially to meet the needs of the climate issue and provide greater capacity and access for people.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: The Government took a range of measures, as the Deputy said, including the €12 increase in weekly social welfare and pension rates, which will apply to all cases, increased rates in the qualified child payment, increased thresholds for the working family payment, which does not apply in this case - I do not know the full circumstances - the extension of child benefit to 18-year-olds in...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: ----which will apply to those groups. Many of these-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: Some aspects the Deputy identified will not, but many others will-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: -----in respect of the various reductions we have facilitated right across-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: -----the cost of public services more generally.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: Which three?
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: Yes, but-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: The length of time these investigations are taking is distressing for the family. A further court case is imminent, as the Deputy will be aware, in the Lebanese judicial system. We have a lawyer in court monitoring it, who cannot intervene on behalf of our State. The Garda Síochána investigation is advanced for the purpose of preparing a report for the coroner. It is almost...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: However, the most significant one I am waiting for the is one from An Garda Síochána.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: My understanding is that the Department is aware of the issues and will work to see if they can be resolved. I will raise the issue with the Minister for agriculture.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: The bottom line in the discussion afterwards was about how we avoid losing the derogation or going below 220 kg. There was much realism at that meeting. Many people realised the reality of the situation. It was critical that, nationally, we take every effort, working with the farming community, to make sure we do not go below the 220 kg limit and that we retain that at the time of the next...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: The Deputy raised a multiplicity of issues. The farm organisations are being invited to meet the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance to discuss the VAT issue next week. The Department works with the farming organisations and farmers on these issues.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: The Department is also working to resolve the issue in respect of the knackery situation, the fallen animals and the issues that have arisen. I am confident it can get a working resolution of that issue for farmers more generally. Our whole approach is to get payments to farmers to facilitate this. That is why we have allocated the resources. We are not out to get anybody or undermine...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I think the statistics he outlined about the level of activity are quite significant. I am conscious that there are many staff in various Departments who are very enthusiastic in responding to the 52,000 parliamentary questions - I say that in jest. We have to remember the people who toil in the offices across the public service to do their best to get...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)
Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising those issues. Since 2015, medical cards are awarded without the need for a financial assessment to children under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of cancer. More broadly, the Government took a position whereby if there was a terminal prognosis of 24 months, the Government would facilitate the granting of a medical card. In other words, eligibility does not...