Results 17,361-17,380 of 50,683 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government will respond to and recognise the extraordinary efforts that front-line healthcare workers have made. The Government will do that. The precise timeframe obviously has to be considered. We are not out of this pandemic yet. There are just over 1,000 people still in hospital. The numbers are still 25% higher than the April peak. There are 175 people in intensive care. The...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, for all those who remember the 1992 UDA attack on the Sean Graham bookmakers on the Lower Ormeau Road, it was a particularly shocking and upsetting episode. I understand completely how raw it still feels for many people. I understand completely the anger provoked by images of PSNI officers breaking up a small outdoor commemoration at the site and the arrest of a survivor of the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this very serious matter. I appreciate fully the concerns expressed following the reports in local media. I will ask the Department of Health and the HSE for full clarity on this, although I believe they have been in touch with the Deputy. I will ask them to contact the Deputy directly about some of the specifics in these matters. The HSE has stated that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is very serious. The Deputy has said the HSE confirmed-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: We have to get this reconciled, in terms of getting the truth. The HSE has said it was unaware at that time of any positive case going into the hotel and it did not arrange for healthcare staff with a positive diagnosis to be accommodated in that hotel.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: We need this matter resolved and reconciled. The Minister for Health is here and I undertake to have this investigated. The Deputy will be contacted about that investigation and be notified of the outcome. As I stated, this needs to be reconciled, in terms of what the actual situation is and what happened. Up to minutes ago, the HSE was saying it was unaware that two positive cases were...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I pay tribute to the "RTÉ Investigates" programme last evening, which revealed the extraordinary work of front-line healthcare workers in protecting our people and achieving incredible outcomes for a significant number of patients whom we saw on the programme. Unfortunately, a number of those patients passed on, which was very traumatic for the staff and all those who work in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. We wish Lynsey Bennett the very best as she travels to Mexico. I spoke with Lynsey on the telephone over two weeks ago with regard to her devastating situation. It is devastating for all of the women involved and their families. In terms of the issues relating to the establishment of the tribunal, prior to this Government being established,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is an important issue. The Deputy raised the issue about liability and negligence and I want to make the point that it is an important distinction and it is an important issue. There is no Government edict stating that pembro should not be available.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will pursue the point that the Deputy has raised. There should not be an issue. Neither should there be an issue with the medical cards, and I will pursue that also. What has been committed to should be honoured and I will undertake that it will be honoured in respect of those two issues. What the Deputy says about the Morrissey case changing is contested. That is not accepted...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: No. I was speaking in terms of queries coming through about transfer of cases and so on.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I believe the tribunal offers a better forum than the High Court. It gives a great opportunity for mediation and in my view would be more expeditious and effective. It is a forum that should be given a chance in light of all of the work that has been put into it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, these are clinical pathways. That is what the Deputy is referring to.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am not a clinician. I am not going to attempt to presume expertise in an area in which I do not have expertise.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: The point I am trying to make is that there is no issue with resources from this Government's perspective. Four billion euro has been allocated to the health service this year - €2 billion for Covid and €2 billion for non-Covid matters. I ask the Deputy to hear me out. There can be no question, therefore, of any financial resources being pulled from any particular sector.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: More than 7,000 additional staff have been recruited to the health service-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am getting to the specific point if the Deputy would not interrupt. In comparison with January 2020, there were 7,000 additional healthcare staff in place last month. The point I am making to the Deputy is that where staff can be recruited, they are being recruited. That is across all categories. I talked to the CEO of the HSE this morning, not specifically in respect of this issue but...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: There can be no argument that resources are not available to recruit-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----the specific personnel that are required in this area, no more than any other area. All healthcare personnel that are out there are being recruited by the HSE. It has recruited 7,000 additional staff in one 12-month period alone. In terms of-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am sorry. There is an existing clinical team within the HSE and so on. The Deputy referenced the Morrissey judgment in terms of the tribunal and so on.