Results 16,501-16,520 of 50,453 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government fully understands, and I fully accept, the enormously negative impact that Covid-19 has had on the hospitality sector - pubs, restaurants, hotels, travel, the tourism industry more generally - and music, entertainment and the arts. Those sectors have suffered more than most as a result of Covid-19. In the context of the national economic recovery plan, we are clear that we...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: There will be full scrutiny and there will be a full Dáil debate on any legislative proposals the Government has in respect of the Health Act. That Act was necessary in the context of Covid-19.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I accept and I appreciate the Deputy raising what is a very important issue that I dealt with earlier in the House. Absolutely in terms of restrictions on rent increases, we want to continue with this. The Minister is examining how he can do whatever he can to keep increases to the lowest level possible and to protect from eviction tenants who have been affected by Covid in terms of their...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: To be fair, I do not think anybody is picking on anybody. In my view we need sustainable farming into the future but it has to be sustainable and changes will have to happen in respect of issues regarding fertiliser, animal feed and how slurry is spread. Many interventions are happening and we can accelerate them. We need more environmental afforestation. Today, we will meet the Minister...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I was not aware of it and it is a fair point. We have intervened in a range of areas to facilitate situations impacted by Covid across the board from the courts where people have been impacted by Covid and we have taken measures with regard to redundancy. I take the Deputy's point and I will inquire into it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his very valid point that the intervention that weekend by the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, Deputy McHugh and all of the Deputies in Donegal, with the Chief Medical Officer, who made himself available on a bank holiday weekend and we appreciate him doing that, and the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, was important in creating awareness and led to action on the testing...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I am a great believer in medical assessment units. They were a great innovation. They have been in operation for almost ten years and they work. In respect of Nenagh hospital, I certainly will engage with the Health Service Executive in respect of making sure the resources are provided that can underpin the sustained and continued...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Teacher allocations to schools throughout the country follow a broad pupil-teacher ratio model. This year, the Government reduced the pupil-teacher ratio in a significant move at budget time, which has been important, and provided a range of resources to schools, particularly during Covid-19. With regard to special needs assistant allocations, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I agree 100% and I agree with and support the Chief Medical Officer's view that, given the situation with the suppression of the virus and the vaccination programme, there is no good public health reason for these restrictions remaining in place. I urge that, where appropriate, all maternity services relax their restrictions. The updated national guidance issued by the Health Protection...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is not mixed messaging.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: There has been a bit of difference of opinion from the get-go. The Deputy knows that. The Deputy asked what is going on but he knows exactly what is going on.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: People have different perspectives on the efficacy of antigen testing. I support the roll-out of antigen testing, as does the Government. The Government and the Minister established an expert group made up of a range of different disciplines and chaired by Professor Mark Ferguson, the chief scientific adviser and the CEO of Science Foundation Ireland. It has made a number of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Therefore, it has already been operational in certain sectors such as meat plants. At European level, for example, the European Commission has promoted the use of antigen testing and has made supports available.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I never said to the Deputy that it was inappropriate for politicians to make-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt the Deputy. I never said that about Bessborough because politicians write to planning authorities every day of the week to make observations.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Their observations are not ones that have to be taken on board but politicians are entitled to make observations. That is a fact so I would not have said that. This is a parliament and we are entitled to articulate perspectives. This Government has brought in a landmark climate change Bill

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt the Deputy. I will deal with her questions. This Government has brought in a landmark climate Bill with significant challenges. We want to bring people with us on this journey to meet the significant challenges that will face many sectors, including agriculture, in meeting our climate change goals. We need to bring people on board and that means balance in the public...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: It would be useful for you to engage with them.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I come from a different perspective than the Deputy when it comes to An Garda Síochána. I have seen a consistent approach from the Deputy that always seeks to undermine An Garda Síochána and to cast it in a bad light in terms of being, as he said, biased or against young people. That is an outrageous thing to say. An Garda Síochána is not biased against young...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (12 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am answering the question straight on because I know what the Deputy is at. What the Deputy is at is not sincere but is about painting a bleak and dark picture of the Garda being anti young people, racist or whatever. That is wrong. I disagree with it and I am convinced that the motivation behind An Garda Síochána with young people is a positive one. I have seen evidence of that