Results 14,061-14,080 of 50,453 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Investigations (25 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: Following the disclosure in a newspaper report last year of certain information relating to the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation on Mother and Baby Homes in advance of consideration of the report by the Government, I requested that an investigation be carried out. A senior official in my Department is carrying out the investigation in the context of a broader examination of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (25 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: While my Department has no specific provision in its budget allocation for 2021 or 2022 for domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality, which I chair, will be fully utilised to bring a dedicated focus to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, to ensure oversight of the issue from my Department

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----as do all of those on the left. The Deputy keeps calling for a wealth tax and then he attacks-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is, especially in the context of the very high value of houses that he wants-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Boyd Barrett wants all the millionaires and billionaires to get away scot-free. He does not think that they should be taxed at all in respect of their massive properties.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy does not believe so because he votes against it all the time. There is an ESRI study which shows that if the French wealth tax system applied in Ireland, it would only yield €22 million. That was an ESRI analysis back in 2016. There is a big difference between €22 million and €4 billion. There are issues of residency and so on, as the Deputy knows, as well...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Paul Murphy referred to schools. Again, I pay tribute to all the teachers, principals, parents and students in our schools for their efforts throughout the pandemic. It has been difficult and challenging time for them. Significant resources have been provided to schools, from PPE right the way through to funding for expenditure, to allow them to deal with the Covid-19 challenge. My...

Violence Against Women: Statements (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: It was around this time last week that Ashling Murphy went out for a run in Tullamore. At the start of her career and at the start of the new year, Ashling was in the prime of her life and was looking forward to the time ahead. But, as we all know, this talented and beautiful young woman never made it home. On behalf of everyone in the Government and everyone in this House, I wish to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together. The Government co-ordination committee last met on Monday and it is scheduled to meet again next Monday, 24 January. The committee reviews the activity of Cabinet committees and the agenda for the week's Government meeting, discusses political priorities and reviews implementation of a specified element of the programme for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for raising the various issues. In the first instance, the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, has been dealing and having engagements with the Women of Honour representative group. As Deputy Clarke said, I understand there will be further engagement shortly. Regarding the issues the Deputy raised, it would seem that on the face of the evidence and what has been put...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank all the Deputies for raising those issues. Deputy Richmond raised the issue of the North-South Ministerial Council. I agree with him. He also spoke about the need for co-ordination of the vaccination programme and around the whole Covid issue. I wish to make clear that such co-ordination is continuing between our Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tony Holohan, and his counterpart in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will follow that up and come back to the Deputy. On Deputy Paul Murphy's point, the Garda initiates its own investigations. Politicians do not tell it to do so, nor should they. The Government certainly should not be involved in how the law works. We do not engage in the operational activities of the Garda. Increasingly, we hear clarion calls that the Garda should do this and arrest...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I know people can report, but then it is a matter for the Garda to decide.Eighteen months on, people are telling the Garda what it should do.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I just think that is an issue. On the issue raised by Deputy Paul Murphy, as I said, the people involved have said what they did was wrong, and it was wrong. It should not have happened and was clearly in breach of guidelines. There is no question about that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I know but the people have put their hands up-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----and apologised for what was an impromptu gathering, it seems to me. They were there in anticipation of a second vote in the Security Council. Ireland won on the first count. The previous Government had been campaigning for a seat on the Security Council and apparently on the first count Ireland was elected. The anticipation was there would be a lot of work required for the second...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----in terms of giving greater choice to the students. That happened last August. A change has been made in the timing of the oral examinations and practicals to preserve another week for the schools. There is a meeting tomorrow between the stakeholders and there will be further engagement with the Minister and partners in education. The Deputy suggested there should not be competition...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Cian Ó Callaghan spoke on the lack of places. I dealt with that earlier and agree with him. We need to provide more places and a better system to do it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 13, inclusive, together. I briefly spoke by phone on Thursday, 2 December with the First Minister, Paul Givan, to discuss the evolving Covid situation North and South and the additional measures we had announced in light of the emergence of the Omicron variant. We agreed on the importance of ongoing North-South co-operation and communication in this...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (19 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will address the last point. In situations like this, perhaps it might be better if the Deputy spoke to the Minister directly.