Results 17,921-17,940 of 50,683 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Last Friday, the Government agreed the approach for easing restrictions, including a phased move to Level 3 nationally, with a number of exceptions in place for the Christmas period. The exceptions for the Christmas period are designed to support people to have a meaningful Christmas, albeit different to other years. The main objective is to stay safe and keep the Covid numbers down so that...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Matters relating to international policy and foreign affairs are discussed by the Cabinet as and when appropriate, mostly on foot of Memoranda to Government brought by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I also engage bilaterally with the Minister on such matters, as appropriate. International matters also arise in the context of the context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Global Footprint Initiative (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Under the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to seeking to continue to implement Global Ireland 2025, and its ambition to double our global footprint in the period to 2025, having regard to available resources. Despite the pandemic, which has placed severe constraints on travel and other international engagement, considerable progress on implementation by Departments and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Judicial Appointments (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The only correspondence my Department has in relation to this matter is the necessary administrative correspondence associated with the Government's meeting and decision. In accordance with the constitutional arrangements regarding Cabinet confidentiality and the Government's relationship with the President, I do not propose to release this correspondence.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Economic and Social Council (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The National Economic and Social Council is an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of my Department. The Terms of Reference and composition of the NESC are set out in legislation - the National Economic and Social Development Act, 2006, and in the National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order, 2010. The role of the Council is to analyse and report...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Further to my answer provided on 11 November 2020, the Government’s travel advice and approach to implementation of the EU ‘traffic light’ system is published on the Government website . (see ) This approach includes office holders and officials who undertake essential travel to represent Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: A schedule of all consultancy firms, legal firms, project management firms and IT firms my Department has engaged to carry out work on its behalf in 2018, 2019, and to date in 2020 has been extracted from my Department’s financial management system and is set out in the tables below. My Department has not engaged any accountancy firms in the period in question. No disputes over costs...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Obviously, its fundamental role would be to protect populations but it would also be the fastest way to reigniting the global economy. Companies can also play their role. My understanding is that some companies will play their role in sharing the data, etc., in relation to this. The overarching priority has to be to get the vaccines out there. We have signed up for three - Pfizer...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have not yet received the document compiled by Sinn Féin, which Deputy McDonald spoke about, regarding the benefits economically of a united Ireland. I certainly will have a look at it, as will the officials in the shared island unit. I would say to the Deputy that it is time to stop playing politics with the North. The shared island initiative is a genuine attempt to create a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: US Presidential Election (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: To respond to Deputy Kelly, I want to put on record my view that successive ambassadors to the US have punched well above their weight. Our diplomatic performance in the US has continuously been at a very high level, and the current ambassador, Daniel Mulhall, has demonstrated great capacity on a number of fronts. Our diplomats have great experience and have developed significant contacts...

Ceisteanna - Questions: US Presidential Election (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----is a major step forward. While the large orders that have come in from the US have played a role, capacity is important too. I recall, when I was Minister for Health during the severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS, epidemic that the European capacity to deal with the vaccine issue was negligible. We have made a great deal of progress on making vaccines available to large numbers of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: US Presidential Election (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Many emergency measures have been taken.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The programme for Government sets out the Government's commitments on a shared island and to working with all communities and traditions on the island to build consensus around a shared future underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. On 22 October, I set out the Government's vision and priorities on a shared island in an online event at Dublin Castle. More than 800 people participated...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Legislative Programme (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of the recruitment of nurses and doctors. I introduced the nursing degree programme when I served as Minister for Health. At the time, it represented a very radical transformation of nursing education, and I put enormous resources into it in order to create the new facilities we have in universities and institutes of technology across the country. Those...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Legislative Programme (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----where all of its members voted unanimously for the pension age to be increased to 66 years, I believe. Who is all over the place?

Ceisteanna - Questions: US Presidential Election (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Question Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together. I spoke with President-elect Joe Biden by telephone in the afternoon of 10 November to offer my congratulations on his and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris's recent success in the United States election. We spoke about his strong ties to Ireland, Mayo and Louth in particular, and his most recent visit here in 2016. He is proud...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Legislative Programme (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for their various questions. Deputy Barry raised the issue of the process, the dialogue and discussions on company law reform and the need to amend the laws, particularly in regard to liquidations, the rights of workers and the honouring of collective agreements, and also the measures to implement the Duffy Cahill report, which is not directly applicable to the Debenhams...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Legislative Programme (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have answered them on a number of occasions, in particular, in the first instance when the Tánaiste said for transparency reasons to me and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan - we were not Ministers at the time - that Mr. Justice Séamus Woulfe had come through the JAAB process.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Legislative Programme (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Prior to the actual formal Cabinet meeting, I would have been advised by the Minister that she was bringing forward those proposals to Cabinet in the normal way. That question has been answered before and I have answered it again. My Department has been very transparent on this and has answered the Deputy's questions on all of these issues.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Legislative Programme (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. When previously questioned on this matter on 8 September, I informed the House that there were currently no Bills in preparation in my Department and the position is unchanged. The Government legislation programme was published by the Government Chief Whip on 15 September. The programme sets out the Government's priorities...