Results 15,341-15,360 of 50,453 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: On Deputy Ward's questions, in the context of the budget the fuel allowance supports and the variety of supports that are there to help low-income families with heating will be looked at, given the rising costs and so on. Deputy Crowe raised the issue of the transfer of the heritage sites. It would be unthinkable if an organisation was not going to operate them. No one in government...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 12 together. The Cabinet committee on social affairs and equality oversees implementation of programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy, including sport, arts and culture; equality, including children and youth affairs; and public services, including matters relating to justice, policing reform and community safety. This...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: The legislation has been published. As this is something that had been going on for years, on becoming Taoiseach I insisted that with the help of the Office of the Attorney General we would get it drafted and dealt with. It has happened and it has been published. I appreciate the Deputy's point. It is open to every Oireachtas Member to get this Bill through now in a timely manner. That...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: Perhaps I might come back to the Deputy on that. I have a note on Gaeltacht learning periods and the grant that was funded by the Department of Education up to the 2012-13 academic year. The rate of the reintroduced student grant for 2021 has been set at an average of €650. I think that is different from the issue of the Deputy is raising, which relates more to the allowance for...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the case of Kate Mynard from Dunmanway and the issue of access to a particular treatment and a particular drug. I will investigate this to ascertain the availability of that, the position of the treating consultants, whether the company has applied under the existing processes and so on. I will talk to the Deputy in more detail about it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: Whenever such an issue arises, I work with the Department of Education, the Minister for Education and the National Council for Special Education, NCSE, to deal with the issue. I do not know whether any specific primary schools have applied for an ASD unit. I ask the Deputy to give me further details on it. That would be the normal route. The NCSE would assess the demand in given areas...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is referring to the updated guidelines.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I know that and the Minister has committed to producing those updated guidelines. I will revert to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, in respect of those.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has raised a very serious issue. The first case, when I read up on it and so forth, went to the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC. The existing mechanisms and investigative authorities have not been in a position to bring this to what one would anticipate the conclusion should be. Governments do not engage in the operational side of prosecution and so forth,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: We have to be careful. Some people keep second-guessing public health advice. The bottom line is that the schools have fully reopened safely after the summer break. From the start of the pandemic schools have consistently operated on the basis of public health advice, and it has been a consistent principle that the Minister for Education and the Department of Education operate in...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is my observation on it. The Deputy is entitled to raise questions. I fully understand that, but there is a balance here. I would argue that accepting the public health advice has worked so far in dealing with that.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: All the Deputy's colleagues in the constituency have raised this issue consistently. I know the Deputy is a tremendous supporter of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and all his policies.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: Nílim ag magadh. I will follow up by saying that the Deputy will be glad to know that he is an enthusiast for bypasses.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: This is a very important issue and the Minister for Health is committed to progressing that legislation. I will certainly raise the urgency of the issue again.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I accept the bona fides of Deputy Flaherty on this issue of the impact of just transition on commercial rates in Longford and Offaly county councils. The Lanesborough plant in Longford accounted for 15% of the rates base while in Offaly the Edenderry and Shannonbridge plants together accounted for almost 25% of the local rates base. In recognition of this, the Minister for Housing, Local...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I note the Deputy's comments in respect of Mr. Pádraig Ó Céidigh and we wish him well in that role. He came to it through the Public Appointments Service process and has a deep commitment to the region and to aviation. 1 o’clock The Government has provided substantial supports to airports and airlines, particularly through the EWSS programme and through capital...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: They are great phrases the Deputy uses and they are regulars, such as "asleep at the wheel", "on your watch"-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: Every time the Deputy contributes, that seems to be the standard terminology. The bottom line, in the context of Bantry hospital and the recruitment and replacement of personnel, is that management worked very quickly and got those issues resolved. We are not talking about a standard emergency department here, and the Deputy knows that. It should not be referred to as an emergency...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is not an emergency department.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is not all right. Let us not make it overly dramatic. That is an important point.