Results 18,081-18,100 of 50,683 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: First of all, in terms of mechanisms and so on, we have made many public statements. People have tracked the status of the virus over the last number of weeks in terms of numbers coming down. When we reopened after the first lockdown - go right through the summer into September and October - restrictions were lifted and certain things happened, notwithstanding all the dialogue in the world....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should be glad.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am not.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I accept the Deputy's overall point about preparation and the need to prepare. Decisions will be made and announced by the Government in time for various sectors and actors to prepare in response to a Government announcement this week. I made it very clear five weeks ago that there would be a six-week application of level 5. I made it very clear in the first press conference that our...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: At a cost, yes. I accept that. It is a big cost but the Irish people are adhering and it is working. We would like the figures to be lower. I would prefer them to be lower again. They are still coming down. Last evening, the 14-day incidence per 100,000 was 108.7. Finland is ahead of us, with about 50 per 100,000. Other European countries are in a much more difficult space. The...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy. I do not disagree with him on the utilisation of data to inform decision-making. That is important. Various sets of data can inform decisions. The Deputy is correct in saying there have been outbreaks in certain healthcare settings, which has been problematic for those settings in dealing with the normal throughput, services and so forth. To inform our decisions, our...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: My overarching objective in the context of this entire situation, and in particular the publication of letters between the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Woulfe has been to uphold separation of powers between the Oireachtas and the Judiciary. I take that very seriously.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: That has been my motivation from the beginning in the handling of this issue and was the motivation behind my statement to the House last week on this issue and it remains my overarching objective. I have not seen in the past in this House Ministers answering questions about specific judicial appointments.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: That said, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is prepared to come in and answer questions on process as part of her normal questions.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Is it beyond the Deputy’s capacity to take questions?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Just because Deputy Kelly shouts louder than others sometimes does not mean that he is right. That type of browbeating does not work with me Deputy Kelly.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I make the point and I have made it repeatedly, Mr. Justice Woulfe was appointed appropriately in accordance with the Constitution and with the law and of that there is no doubt. If one reads the Cabinet Handbook it states that very clearly.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: My first point is that we should stand back from creating unnecessary rows and tensions between public health advice, Government decisions and the views of the Oireachtas. I accept that people have different perspectives on Covid-19 and the steps we must take to keep the virus down, open up society and relax restrictions. We should never question the good faith of people on all sides,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have answered questions on this issue on a number of occasions, as has the Tánaiste. The Minister for Justice will answer parliamentary questions in respect of it. I note what the Deputy has said in the context of the word "criteria". Criteria are not about process, they involve judgment calls in respect of candidates.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: It then moves into breaching the separation of powers between the Oireachtas and the Judiciary.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Kelly, who is interrupting, knows the process full well.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: One name is always brought to the Cabinet and the Cabinet decides on that one name which is brought by the Minister for Justice. I do not understate the importance of the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, which made a recommendation that Mr. Justice Woulfe be appointed to the Supreme Court as a suitable candidate.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: It made that recommendation on 9 March. That board is chaired by the Chief Justice and includes among its members the presidents of four courts.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is a significant body of opinion to recommend a candidate as being suitable for the Supreme Court. I accept that the overall situation needs to be reformed, which is why the Government will shortly bring forward the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill. We will make amendments to the legislation that was piloted through the House by the former Minister for Transport, Tourism and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I certainly will. There is a very important aspect to this also. Where sovereign governments enter into agreements, they should be adhered to and followed through. The Irish Government at the time entered into its commitments and it established the Smithwick inquiry, irrespective of where it would land and without fear or favour. The same should apply to the UK Government. In the conduct...