Results 17,621-17,640 of 50,683 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Government has not left the workers cruelly exposed, and no legislation will stop liquidations in the future. There are issues with regard to whether we can give greater protections to collective agreements. I have read Mr. Kevin Foley's report on this and the Deputy should as well. It is just playing politics to say it is the Government's fault. That is the easy thing to do....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Government is the only party that stood up to the plate. We provided the statutory redundancy. Some €13 million has been paid in statutory redundancy payments, and as a result of Mr.Kevin Foley's report, the Government will provide an additional €3 million to support guidance, training, education and business start-ups for the former Debenhams workers. That is what we can...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the seriousness of this matter. Deputies Cahill and Lowry have consistently raised it with me, as has the mayor, Councillor Smith. I have been in contact with the Health Service Executive on the matter and I will speak again to the Minister for Health. I have spoken to him previously about this and I intend to engage further now. Given yesterday's meeting and its potential...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: First of all, there will undoubtedly be ongoing consideration of the scheme. There needs to be an evaluation of the scheme, how it worked and its effectiveness. I have no doubt that it has been very effective in terms of supporting many businesses. As I stated, more than 66,500 firms received a payment under the TWSS, supporting more than 664,000 jobs. If the Deputy can submit the details...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: First, on Brexit, we have been working very hard to avoid a no-deal Brexit. The Deputy is correct in stating that the western regions and the Border counties in particular would suffer very severely from a no-deal Brexit, and farming would be very negatively impacted in terms of dairy, beef, sheep and all agricultural products. The impact would be very severe. As for fish, it would...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: We will be in discussions with the Executive and will discuss the Covid situation on Friday. There are political sensitivities here, and one must always be mindful that whatever initiatives the Northern Ireland Executive takes, they are the Executive's initiatives. It has to own them and be comfortable in bringing them forward, even if that means further restrictions. It is to be regretted...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I reassure him that there is no tactic or strategy here to try to claw back revenue or anything like that. That is not motivating any actions on the part of the Revenue Commissioners at all. As the Deputy will be aware, between March and August 66,500 firms received payments under the TWSS. This amounts to approximately one third of all employers...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is just empty rhetoric and nonsense. Housing construction is not being led by developers. I have said repeatedly that 18,000 houses will be built this year if we can get there. Covid-19 has had a negative impact. More than half of those houses will be built by public initiative. Next year, 12,750 houses will be socially delivered. Some 9,500 of those houses will be built by local...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy that the situation in Northern Ireland, and indeed throughout Europe, is very worrying and concerning. Yesterday the Netherlands closed down before Christmas. Germany has done the same. The positivity rate in Northern Ireland is about 9%. It is not clear that testing there is at the same level as here. The numbers have been worrying for quite some time. There are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: If I may, a Cheann Comhairle, I would like to take the opportunity briefly to wish Deputy McDonald and all Deputies in the House a very happy festive season and a safe one. This might be my last opportunity to speak. I wish a happy Christmas to the Ceann Comhairle and his team, the superintendent, the head ushers and the entire team here who have kept our national Parliament operational...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Communications (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I spoke by phone with Prime Minister Johnson on 27 November. I raised the Finucane case with the Prime Minister and I restated the Government’s position on the establishment of a public inquiry. Previously, I met with Geraldine and John Finucane on Monday, 23 November to discuss their case and reaffirm the Government’s support. Following this meeting I wrote to the British...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Economic and Social Council (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together. I have read the reports and as is the usual practice, they were considered and approved by Government prior to publication. Both of these reports were published by NESC in November, 2020. The National Economic and Social Council is an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of my Department. The Terms of Reference and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Younger people have been among the groups most affected by Covid-19. They have missed out on many of the formative experiences, and rites of passage that so many of us have experienced - from the final year in school, to the Leaving Cert, to starting college, starting work and all that goes with that and much more. Their social lives and their social networks, which are so important to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council Meetings (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I attended a meeting of the European Council on 10/11 December, which was followed by a meeting of the Euro Summit on 11 December. At the European Council, we discussed Covid-19, in particular the authorisation and roll out of vaccines. We reached agreement on the conditions in which Rule of Law measures in the MFF and recovery package can be invoked, enabling the Council and the European...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Reform Programme (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The National Reform Programme is an important element of the European Semester, the annual cycle of economic and fiscal policy coordination which takes place amongst EU Member States. As part of the Semester, Ireland, along with all other Member States, prepares and submits a National Reform Programme to the European Commission each April. This provides an overview of reforms and policy...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 to 27, inclusive, together. Tá roinnt gealltanas tugtha i Scéim Teanga 2019-2022 mo Roinne chun a chinntiú go gcuirtear seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge ar fáil sa Roinn lena n-áirítear sonraí i dtaobh dhá phost atá sannta ag an Roinn mar phoist ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge de dhíth. Tá ceangail ag an...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Budgets (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The 2021 communication budget for my Department is currently being planned. My Department will participate in all appropriate initiatives and public information campaigns as required, in light of events such as, for example, developments on Covid-19 and Brexit.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Murphy raised the issue of the decision to exit level 5. The people of Ireland were under level 5 for six weeks and, I think, adhered to it very well, to such an extent that Ireland has the lowest incidence of Covid-19 cases in Europe. That never gets acknowledged, but that happens to be a fact. On balance, I do not think we could have kept people under that level of restrictions...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the impact of the second wave, our mortality rates compare favourably and are one of the best, if not the best, in Europe, and that is because of decisions taken by Government and by the people. There is a balance here and personal responsibility is extremely important as we move into the Christmas period. This is very difficult all round for people. It is difficult for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Livelihoods. Livelihoods matter as well as people's mental well-being.