Results 17,521-17,540 of 50,683 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I mean this in the best of good faith. I do not detect anything of substance in Deputy McDonald's contribution this morning on this matter. She has been going on about a plan B for a long time, with no concrete fleshing out of what that is. Schools reopened in September through partnership involving the parents, the unions, the Department and the Minister, and with a lot of resources...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----to children with additional needs. I think he meant that in good faith, but the point I am making is that it is clear that the Minister, Deputy Foley, equally felt that that was the trajectory of travel. What issued on the Friday evening was an agreed guidance, which was agreed by all the partners, to go out to the school management and principals because they needed to get an advance...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I accept the constructive nature of the Deputy's contribution, but I do not accept the premise on which he has based his question. I believe the Minister, Deputy Foley, has successfully led the reopening of schools in September to the Christmas period, and did so in partnership with management bodies, the teacher unions, the unions of special needs assistants, the representative body of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: First of all, I want to sympathise with the families and all those who have been bereaved as a result of Covid-19, particularly those 93 families that we heard of yesterday. It illustrates the extraordinarily devastating impact that the virus has had on our entire society and community. May I also take the opportunity briefly on behalf of the Government and on behalf of the Oireachtas to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Priorities (20 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: Following its formation, the Government established ten Cabinet committees reflecting the full range of policy areas it will work on during its lifetime, and which are set out in the programme for Government. Cabinet committees meet regularly to help formulate and implement Government policy particularly where cross-government collaboration is critical. Alongside the State's response to...

Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Statements (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will organise that now.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I will discuss this further with the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Government will give broader consideration to it but I am conscious that the SUSI scheme is grounded in legislation and has parameters within which it must operate. I will revert to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy raises a serious and important issue because from 1 January, the United Kingdom has become a third country and therefore, it is subject to illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing legislation under the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission requirements. Castletownbere and Killybegs are the Irish ports designated for third country landings of fish for those purposes. That...

Report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes: Statements (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is the duty of a republic to be willing to hold itself to account, to be willing to confront hard truths and to accept parts of our history which are deeply uncomfortable. This detailed and highly painful report is a moment for us as a society to recognise a profound failure of empathy, understanding and basic humanity over a lengthy period. Its production has been possible because of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I believe in the World Health Organization. It is an essential body that deserves the support of all the member states of the United Nations. It is regrettable that it has been refused entry into Wuhan. A team of investigators was due to go in there to try to identify the source and so on of Covid-19, not in a blaming sort of scenario but rather to try to understand fully where the virus...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: Obviously, I cannot pre-empt the allocation or distribution of this particular round of funding. That matter is being considered by the Minister in consultation with other Departments. Obviously, as the Deputy said and has been articulated by others, the case is a significant issue that needs resolution. I will certainly raise the Deputy's concerns with the Minister.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: One of the first meetings I had this year was with representative bodies of the fishing industry and the fishing co-operatives. We always knew Brexit was going to have a negative impact on our fishing industry, principally because of the high percentages, particularly of the pelagic stock, being fished in British waters and we were particularly concerned about our mackerel and prawn stocks...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his remarks. I accept the impact of the activities by those who deal in illicit drugs and criminal activity on his community, which CAB has struck at. It is a scourge on our society and on communities up and down the country. We need to have a systemic approach to the allocation of funding to communities that suffer from such activities. By that I mean through the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: No. I am saying that the legislation that he is introducing in respect of Tuam can be applied to other sites as well.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, I want to sympathise with the family of George Nkencho on his very sad passing. This is a grave situation that merits investigation. The Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission, GSOC, will carry out an independent examination of this matter and it is important that we not prejudice the outcome of a fair and independent investigation. The Garda works extremely hard to develop...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the Deputy's concerns in respect of children with special needs and additional needs. The Minister is engaging with all of the partners in respect of this issue with a view to facilitating a return in a safe manner. Those discussions and that engagement are ongoing. I acknowledge the enormous challenges for the families involved, most importantly the children. I will ask the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government does not decide to close any institution in that manner.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: Yes, the HSE takes operational decisions. My understanding was that the HSE had a plan to invest significantly in St. Brigid's with additional and different services being applied there and that, initially, this met with some positive responses, but people-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: No, that is my understanding. People have reflected on that and have different perspectives on it. I do not have any difficulty engaging with people in relation to it, but we cannot ignore HIQA reports either in respect of particular institutions or facilities. I will engage again with the HSE in respect of the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Jan 2021)

Micheál Martin: That legislation had to be introduced in order to protect, save and preserve the records. The Minister's bona fides were absolutely correct on that occasion, and that should be acknowledged. If the Deputy reads the sixth interim report of the commission, it makes it very clear that the legislation was both urgent and necessary. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy on the...