Results 17,441-17,460 of 50,683 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I disagree with the Deputy's assessments of the Government's responses to the pandemic. We are in an unprecedented era of the most draconian measures regarding people's movements and personal liberties that we have ever experienced. We are in this situation because of a global pandemic. That is in respect of the level 5 restrictions which we now have in operation regarding people's...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (3 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I had phone calls with First Minister, Arlene Foster MLA, and the deputy First Minister, Michelle O’Neill MLA on 25 January. We discussed the latest situation on Covid-19 and the measures being taken in response, including in relation to travel. We discussed the similarity of approach across many of the actions we are each taking in response to Covid. We also discussed the issue of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (3 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: The work of the current Citizens’ Assembly on gender equality was interrupted in 2020 and delayed by the impact of Covid-19. The Assembly has adapted its methods to comply with Public Health guidelines and resumed its work with online meetings in October 2020 with the aim of reporting by June 2021. The experience of the current Assembly of operating on an online basis will inform the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (3 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government has established the following Cabinet Committees - - COVID-19 - Economic Recovery and Investment - Housing - Health - Environment and Climate Change - Social Affairs and Equality - Education - Europe - Brexit and Northern Ireland, and - Government Co-ordination The Committee on Government Co-ordination meets in advance of Government meetings and last met on Monday of this...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Functions (3 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: The role of my Department is to assist my work as Taoiseach and the effective operation of Government. My Department is currently structured around six main divisions: - International, EU and Northern Ireland Division; - Economic Division; - Social Policy and Public Service Reform Division; - Government Secretariat; - Protocol and Civic Policy; and - Corporate Affairs Division. The remainder...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Economic and Social Council (3 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) advises the Taoiseach on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Ireland. The Council published 6 reports during 2020: - Climate-Change Policy: Getting the Process Right (NESC Report No.147) - Transport-Orientated Development: Assessing the Opportunity for Ireland (NESC Report No.148) ...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will engage with the OPW in this regard to get alleviation as quickly as possible to the couples and landowners involved, and to the people living in such dreadful and very stressful situations because of the flooding in that particular area.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: The sharing of data will not cut off that gap. The Northern Ireland Executive wants us to share data on passengers coming in through Dublin Airport and who transit on to Northern Ireland. We are working to provide this. There was constructive engagement. Sometimes I am somewhat surprised by the public statements because they do not reflect the private conversations that have been had. I...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I find it very difficult to comprehend what has just been said given all that has happened in the country. I know that in earlier stages of the debate Deputies Danny Healy-Rae, Michael Healy-Rae, Mary Lou McDonald and others called for the pubs to be opened, saying they should have been opened a long time ago. Have you learned anything from what has transpired? Human behaviour in all...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for raising the issue. I understand the concerns of the Deputies about this. It is in the programme for Government that the review of the national development plan would not frustrate existing projects that are under way. I will certainly bring the views of the Deputies to the Minister and will engage with him on the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I can definitely see the Deputy, given his former role, is on top of the detail of this area. I will pursue the issue on electric vehicle charging points in the current situation. I will make inquiries in this regard. The Minister is anxious to proceed with the new climate action plan as quickly as possible. There will be a series of Cabinet committee meetings in respect of this issue...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his query. The broad range of regulations, which will emanate from yesterday's Government decisions, will be drawn up, hopefully, by the end of the week.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will make further inquiries on this. There are clearly legal obligations but that in itself is an enormous challenge going back to the early decades of the State from the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s. The 1940s in particular saw an appallingly high infant mortality rate in mother and baby homes. The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is developing a broad base...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is well aware that the Government has honoured its statutory redundancy commitments to workers in Debenhams. The Government is the only party which has honoured its commitments in respect of the workers concerned. The Deputy is correct about the deficiencies in whatever collective agreement had been previously entered into at the time. We have gone through this with the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I agree with Deputy Berry in terms of the significance of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, particularly if it emerges that one jab would be sufficient in terms of its efficacy. From my understanding, it will be early April when it comes to authorisation by the European Medicines Agency. It could happen that it comes earlier but that is the timeline that I have right now. It may...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: They have been closed by the virus, not the Government. That is an important point to make.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government is providing unprecedented resources to many businesses across the board. Utility companies should not be charging-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: Will the Deputy let me speak? Utility companies should not be charging for gas or electricity that people are not using. I will ask the Minister to engage with the utility companies on this. People should be charged for what they are using. We have provided rates relief which is extensive and significant in terms of the amounts of money involved. We have also provided supports through...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (27 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister is reviewing the threshold. It is a low threshold. That said, we have many people on the social housing list which is why this year the Government has allocated a record €3 billion to housing and announced a record programme of social house building for the next 12 months. Undoubtedly, that has been impacted by Covid and level 5 restrictions. However, we hope to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: According to the Chief Whip, that is a complete misrepresentation of what has transpired at the Business Committee. There was a consensus at the Business Committee to try to get business done, obviously, in a shortened timeframe because of Covid-19 and the current levels that we are at. Deputy Boyd Barrett should not be grandstanding in such a disingenuous way.