Results 701-720 of 51,735 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Taoiseach (9 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: The danger-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Taoiseach (9 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: Yes
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach: Engagement with the Taoiseach (9 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: That is a fair point. The short answer is that we are. There is an overall skills forum which tries to identify skill needs into the future. We have also been increasing throughput in the medicine area over the past number years. The Department of higher education has worked with the Department of Health on this. In fact, we have secured places in Northern Ireland for medical students....
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I actually won it but at great cost subsequently, I can say. In response to Deputy Coppinger, as I indicated earlier there actually is a European directive.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: The Irish Aviation Authority has responsibilities here.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: The Minister, Deputy O'Brien, will publish a policy framework in the summer in respect of drones. I do think there are issues. There is a balance in respect of the growth of technology and Enterprise Ireland supports up-and-coming technology companies. Drones will be used everywhere in different contexts.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I do not agree with it for fast food. I was going to come to that. The Deputy is implying a criticism of Enterprise Ireland for supporting a technology company.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I do not criticise Enterprise Ireland for supporting a technology company or a drone company. There are applications of drones that would be particularly legitimate. Why someone has to get a drone for a cup of coffee is beyond me. You need to walk around to the local shop and get your coffee, or make the cup of coffee, or green tea or whatever your poison is. I have to agree with the...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I apologise. To Deputy Ó Cearúil, I absolutely agree on the need for social infrastructure to be considered alongside expansion, schools, creches and other social infrastructure. I agree with Deputy Heneghan on the detention ponds and all that. There are mechanisms that are low cost that can be used and should be deployed. On Dublin Bay more generally, we want to clean up our...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I was intrigued by the Deputy's commentary that he has very good local contacts with Uisce Éireann and that occasionally he has very good engagement with the corporate level but suddenly it seems to have fallen into a lull at the moment.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: You want us to step in and resuscitate----
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: ----oil the wheels of your engagement process with Uisce Éireann. I will take an opportunity to refer them to your comments.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I will remember that.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I thank all the Deputies for the contributions. Deputy Bacik raised the greater Dublin drainage project. As she said herself, it was quashed by the High Court, for some technical reason or whatever. The Government is not responsible for that. I do not know what the issues were that led to-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I know but the Deputy asked a very interesting question: what will be done at the highest level? Is she saying we should interfere with An Bord Pleanála? I am not being facetious.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: We want it out of An Bord Pleanála as quickly as we can but, given the experience of the High Court the last time, I presume those concerned do not want to end up there again. We have the commission, An Coimisiún Pleanála, which will over time be given mandatory timelines to deliver on planning positions. It is a very serious issue. One wonders why we have had serial...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I will have to look into the background of that and come back to the Deputy with an answer from the Minister. On Deputy McDonald's question about special needs assistants, the numbers are growing exponentially.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I do not know what is happening with individual schools' allocations but the numbers are growing exponentially. We are close to 23,000 SNAs now. It has been a story of increases and increases. I acknowledge the numbers of children who have been identified with a disability has increased as well. It was quite high in the most recent census, much higher than the previous census. Demand is...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I do not have the specifics of those schools and the Deputy has identified them-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: ----but maybe the Minister can respond to the specifics of that. On Deputy McGuinness' question, as he knows there had been a previous industrial relations issue about secretaries' salaries. That was settled with Fórsa trade union. The term used at the time was full and final settlement. I acknowledge pensions is a separate issue. First of all, school secretaries are an extremely...