Results 12,261-12,280 of 50,353 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: We do not believe in the abolition of the carbon tax, as Sinn Féin will be advocating this evening. We are not climate deniers on this side of the House, as the Deputy’s party is.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: I wish to make it clear to the Deputy there is no ban on turf cutting and there will be no ban this year on turf cutting. The Deputy and everybody knows that.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: The circus is being created by you guys over there-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: -----who are determined to create this as the biggest issue of the day, whereas in my view there are far more substantive issues, not the least of which is the war in Ukraine.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, will have the specifics of the details regarding the timeline for the publication of those guidelines. I do not have the specific timeline for the publication of those guidelines.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: Again, I will have to examine the background to the issue the Deputy is raising. Are these contractual arrangements between self-employed people and these facilities? This is something we would have to examine in detail.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: There are a variety of labour relations frameworks and mechanisms by which issues pertaining to pay and conditions can be dealt with and resolved, but I will need more background on that.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: Yes, work is continuing on those measures. Any time the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications indicates energy-saving initiatives, there seems to be a chorus of negativity around them. We need ongoing energy efficiency and this needs to be consistently worked on throughout society.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: In case you fall out with them.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: The Deputy has raised a very important point. I will revert to the Minister for Justice on it. My understanding is there is an examination of the wards of court system on the way. The Deputy has raised a legitimate point and I will come back to him on that.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: It is a prospecting licence and therefore it is not extraction at this stage. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, has to operate within the legal framework. I would like to examine the situation more deeply before making any kind of commitment in terms of banning anything in that regard and to hear the background to this and people's concerns.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: As the Deputy knows, the ongoing consistent position over the years has been income based with different categories - over-70 and below-70 - and there has been particular provision for those with a terminal illness. One concern in terms of taking a one-disease approach is the question of what about other chronic diseases. A number of Deputies have articulated on behalf of cancer patients....
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: The Republic of Ireland had the highest life expectancy in the European Union 27 in 2020. We will see what impact the pandemic had. Sometimes we should reflect on that when we consistently attack the health service and so on and everything to do with health in this country. It was the highest in the EU. It is astonishing progress and an astonishing achievement.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: In terms of the elective hospital, I am particularly committed to that. A hospital was announced seven or eight years ago. I have put the pressure on. The Joint Committee on Health and the Government are determined to get this elective hospital done as quickly as we possibly can. A site has been announced by the way.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: The funding has increased significantly in terms of house adaptation grants.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: The funding has increased. The key constraint in the future will not be funding but the inflation we are currently experiencing, the constraints on materials and building materials and their high cost because of the war in Ukraine and the inflation that happened as we emerged from Covid-19.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: The Minister for Finance will consider all of these matters. When we make concessions in this regard we want them to be time-bound. We cannot keep doing the same thing forever. I assure the Deputy that across the full spectrum of sport in Cork, from ladies football and camogie to Gaelic football and hurling, Cork people are no strangers to Croke Park.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: The only way we could implement the motion this evening would be to get rid of the legislation that underpins the carbon tax, which provides the funding to deal with fuel poverty. We have brought the fuel allowance to well over €1,000. The motion does away with the retrofitting funds to enable people on low incomes or people generally to retrofit their houses so there would be lower...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: The motion tonight.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)
Micheál Martin: I have read the motion.