Results 6,641-6,660 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Bodies (24 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs does not have any agencies or bodies under its aegis. I wish to assure the Deputy that officials of my Department continue to stand ready to assist with any and all queries that may be fielded to them by members of the Oireachtas and that the relevant contact details for submitting all such queries are available on the Departmental website www.dfa.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (24 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Since my appointment as Minister for Defence, I have been in contact by correspondence with a number of my EU colleagues. I have also engaged with my EU counterparts in-person in the format of formal and informal meetings of EU Defence Ministers, which also provide the opportunity for short bilateral discussions. I attended the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Defence configuration,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (24 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have provided the following details in relation to the vacancies in the Defence Forces School of Music, as at 19 October 2023: Rank Lt Col Comdt Captain Lt CS CQ Sgt Cpl Pte Strength 1 1 3 0 3 1 32 26 43 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Bodies (24 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: The only State body currently under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 and consisting of a chairman and two ordinary members. The Secretary to the Board is provided from the staff of my Department. Any queries from members of the Oireachtas in relation to that body, as...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has raised this issue previously in different ways and he has done it now in a way that has flummoxed me in terms of a response. I presume he is not asking me to interfere with the judicial arm of the State.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: It always has to be, in any execution of public policy. I accept the Deputy's points on that and I know the Ministers for Justice and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth are aware of his concerns. We will see what we can do and I will get back to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: One month's rain fell in a number of hours. That will have extraordinary impacts; there is no doubt about that. We do need flood relief schemes in place and they are at various stages. As the Deputy knows, the Bandon one has been especially effective. The Civil Defence, for example, is a volunteer organisation that was out yesterday and we should salute its response. It had pumping,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I would endorse everything the Deputy said, and it is an issue. When issues of this kind get to a judicial review, the community and society loses. We should be able to try to work out these issues. Blackpool has had a lot of flooding and the Deputy is correct in that it is undermining investment and the proper development of that community. It is a community with a great history and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Níl an t-eolas cruinn agam ó thaobh cén am a bheidh an Bille réidh. Tá siad ag obair ar an mBille agus déanfaidh mé fiosrú air sin. Tá a fhios agam cad atá á rá ag an Teachta. Ina thuairim bhí an dealramh ar an scéal go mbeadh na toghcháin ar siúl leis na toghcháin áitiúla agus go mbeadh an...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will discuss with the Minister for Social Protection the continuation of the statutory instrument.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will answer one question while noting the Deputy's concern about the potential flooding of the Blackwater Valley, which we will take steps to assess. On Palestine, the Government is working with all the regional partners in the neighbourhood on restoring the humanitarian corridor and calling for an immediate ceasefire to enable humanitarian goods to get in. On the broader issue, we...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I accept that rail transport and district heating will make significant respective contributions to the climate change agenda. A bit more work is needed. The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications recently brought a document to the Government on a policy framework for district heating. However, there is the size of the country and other factors to take into account....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I would have thought that answer was readily available. If the Deputy is saying the project is accepted, it probably is going ahead. A total of 95 projects are under way at the moment between design and construction. The various flood relief schemes are at different stages, with some in planning, some in design and some under construction. A total of 53 have been completed and there is...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: As I said, we will examine the existing schemes to ensure they are fit for purpose in respect of the flooding event in Midleton, Glanmire, parts of Cork city and west Waterford. The Government will move on that. The Deputy outlined the broader issues, including the damage to road surfaces and so forth. Again, I pay tribute to all the local volunteers who did so much work to help people at...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: They are exported by their Government.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am not sure that is a system that I would like to be co-operating with.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: They have exported their doctors for oil to Venezuela. They do so in some areas in Africa for humanitarian benefits. However, it is a very repressive regime in terms of the suppression of civil society.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: These are issues the Deputy would raise with me if it applied to a different jurisdiction. We need a more open and honest debate about these things. There seems to be certain countries we cannot talk about at all. It is dressed up in idyllic terms. I have been to Cuba and they have a strong primary care system. However, the level of State control over individuals and over people is not...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I do not understand.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should have listened to my reply to Deputy Bacik, who raised this issue in a substantive way on Leaders' Questions. I said it was a Government decision to bring in this budget between all of the Estimates for every Government Department. I upheld the right of the CEO of the HSE to engage with Deputies across the House. It is not the first time the CEO has done this.