Results 6,161-6,180 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----with the result that progress has been made on the report of the commission, the optimal approach to dealing with this issue, which is the construction of a proper-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----bridge there. A lot of progress has been made, and I spoke recently again to Councillor Micheál Anglim about this.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have spoken to the Minister, and our objective is to get this done.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the Deputy's raising this. In fact, he has just outlined an initiative I took as Minister for health in 2000, the establishment of PHECC-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am talking about then. That was a new development and departure then in terms of professionalisation of first responders. What the Deputy is now asking actually illustrates the progression that has been made over the years. I will talk to the Minister about the research he has outlined. It is very positive, and anything he has suggested that can be done, I think, would be very positive....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Indeed. As Taoiseach, I was very anxious that those measures would be included in that Bill. I think we can all see, even today and in recent events, the degree to which social media can be distorted with very false information, as we have seen only this week in respect of certain issues arising out of the rioting last Thursday in terms of identification of people and so on. I have just...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issues she has raised. Very significant additional resources have been allocated under the health services to-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Yes they have. A whole range of measures have been taken in terms of access to health services. I do not have the details but I can forward them to the Deputy in respect of the measures that have already been taken. As regards the Estimates every year, the evidence is there of the contingency funds we have had for the past two years in respect of these issues, particularly as regards...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will ask the Minister about that and revert to the Deputy on it. I appreciate that the Deputy has raised the issue of where the legislation is right now and how soon we can expect the heads of the Bill.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the points the Deputy has made. I have come across a case or two as well in which some very surprising manifestations of what he has been articulating for quite some time have been very evident, so his points are well made and valid. The challenge is how, in the context of the separation of powers, one legislates and provides for matters of this kind.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy raises a very fair point. I am very conscious of the situation in Youghal, where two out of the three hotels are now used for Ukrainians or those seeking international protection under the Geneva Convention. The Government is very aware of the need for balance. It is also aware of the need for tourism, particularly in towns such as Youghal for which tourism is a key industry...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: First of all, I condemn the petrol bomb attack on that family home in Onslow in Cork, and also the shootings. These are reprehensible actions. I pay tribute to An Garda Síochána in Cork and to the force for the work it does and continues to do to protect citizens in Cork. Cork is a very attractive city, particularly during the Christmas period. The city centre in particular...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----and that needs to be said as well. Without question, the issue of garda recruitment is one that is accelerating with the numbers coming in every 11 weeks now.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Sorry, these gardaí are coming into training and that is the key issue. Increasing numbers are being recruited through Templemore and the issue then is the allocation-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----of those gardaí. The numbers are approaching 200 recruits going to Templemore every 11 weeks, so the numbers are increasing very significantly through the pipeline. Yes, we need to get more gardaí to Cork and other jurisdictions.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is a progressive piece of legislation. I will talk to the relevant Ministers to see if we can be responsive to her initiative and to see how we can progress this. As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister has announced funding for the first time ever for IVF and we are positively disposed to other initiatives on this front.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: First of all, there has been record numbers of social housing provided in the last two years because of Government capital allocation and funding. As I said earlier, approximately 30,000 social homes have been delivered since we came to office and a further 22,000 are at design, tender or delivery stage. Therefore, there has been very substantial provision on the social housing front....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Approximately 713 households were prevented from entering emergency accommodation by way of a tenancy being created. I apologise that I did not have enough time to go through it all.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: There has, without question, been an exponential increase in funding towards childcare and a reduction in cost for parents in particular. There was a 25% reduction last year and by the end of this year, there will be a further 25% reduction. I am not familiar with the details of the individual case the Deputy raises regarding a Discoveries crèche. I will talk to the Minister for...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am not sure I can add anything further to what the Minister said to the Deputy last month, but I will engage again. We need a scheme but I have no doubt that there are significant implications and complications involved in the design of any such scheme. I am of the view that such a scheme should come through.