Results 18,381-18,400 of 50,762 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I know but maybe the wise thing is to meet first and see collectively how we believe we should proceed rather than doing it in a piecemeal way. The facts are that the Attorney General advises the Government and that the Oireachtas has its own legal advice. It would require its own legal advice if it wanted to engage on the issue. I will reflect on what the Deputy has asked, however. I...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy knows, in the budget we allocated unprecedented resources for housebuilding, in particular public housing. Our target is 10,000 units per annum for the next five years. These will be direct builds. There will always be an element of acquisition but we want to keep that to a minimum. I take the Deputy's point; I have no issue with the points that it is far more...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am conscious of what the Ceann Comhairle said at the commencement of these proceedings. I might have been anticipating a question on this issue during Leaders' Questions but it did not materialise for understandable reasons, to be fair. It would be my intention to seek a meeting with party leaders at which we could jointly assess the situation without prejudice. I am mindful of comments...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The State provides statutory redundancy and in certain redundancy contexts provides a safety net where employers are either not in a position to pay their redundancies or workers are left with nothing. The State continues to play a strong proactive role in this area. Our systems are as strong as other member states across Europe. We are open to strengthening those. I will engage with the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I again thank the Deputy for her comments. I will ask the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minster of State with responsibility for international and road transport and logistics, Deputy Hildegarde Naughton, to engage with her on the specifics and details as she sees them. I have received consistent reassurances from the Minister and the Minister of State that this issue...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I discussed the matter earlier with Deputy Gino Kenny. The situation has never been simple in terms of resolving the dispute since the liquidation occurred, as I have acknowledged and been honest about from the beginning. People may have been given expectations during this dispute that could never be realised. Simplistic solutions were offered which never had any prospect of being...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this pertinent question. She also raised it the last time she contributed during Leaders’ Questions. I went back to my Cabinet colleagues and discussed it with them, particularly the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Robert Troy, who had a discussion with the Deputy in this House another occasion. We cannot...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is never too late. The Minister for Transport and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, have been clear on the messaging to businesses to act now and to trial direct services to continental ports. The IMDO analysis is informing Government policy on this. Issues have been raised. I am anxious to make sure no stone is left unturned and all potential eventualities are catered for. For...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: What the Deputy is saying, essentially, is that whatever is due to the various Government Departments, to Revenue or in terms of social protection should be waived, if I understand him correctly. That creates a very significant potential incentivisation for others in the future to welch on their obligations to workers, knowing the State will pick up the tab. Essentially, that means creating...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I do.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of the Debenhams workers. It is very difficult and unsatisfactory from the workers' perspective that it has dragged on for so long and they have not received their redundancy entitlements as per the collective agreement they entered into with their employer. The Government will, of course, honour the statutory redundancy but that is not the issue at...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I undertake to do that. I am conscious that the Minster for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, is introducing the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020 tomorrow. I believe he has had consultation with party spokespeople across the House and has secured a good degree of consensus and constructive engagement on that Bill, which is crucial...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for her remarks, and also for the point about unity of purpose across all parties in this House on the crucial issue of Brexit, which I welcome very much indeed. I also take the opportunity to join with the Deputy in expressing our sympathies to the family of the Secretary General of the PLO on his recent passing. I share that sympathy with all...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Commission on the Future of Policing (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: In September 2018, the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI) published its Report outlining a clear vision and roadmap for strengthening An Garda Síochána and the broader national framework for policing, security and community safety. In December 2018, the Government approved A Policing Service for our Futureas the Plan to implement the CoFPI Report. The Plan was...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The first meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Education is scheduled to take place this month. However there have been a number of meetings held between my Department and Department officials in the Department of Education since August.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Tribunals of Inquiry (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Moriarty Tribunal was established in 1997 and published its final report in March 2011. Following publication of that Report, the Tribunal’s team was substantially reduced and a small legal and administrative staff remains in place. The determination by the Court of Appeal in relation to one of the last remaining sets of legal proceedings taken against the Tribunal took place...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Freedom of Information (10 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table: Year Number of FOI Requests Received 2015 290 2016 275 2017 344 2018 490 2019 489 2020 266 (to end October)

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am not talking about NASRA in that context. I am just speaking generally. That is why ICTU's position has validity. The reason I respect ICTU's position on this is because ultimately it has resulted in significant advances in society as well, through a whole range of its own activities and how it has pursued pay and pension issues but also wider social justice issues. That has to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: First, I am a strong believer in social dialogue and I am working with our social partners on the challenges facing society in areas such as housing, climate, education and health services. That is something that I want to strengthen during my time as Taoiseach. These issues concerning how we could strengthen social partnership in the future were explored in the recent meeting we had with...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: In the past decade or so, the State has opened up in an unprecedented way on many issues. I initiated the inquiry into the industrial schools as Minister for Education. Many people did not expect that would happen. I was the first to do it despite many survivors having gone to successive Governments before that without any satisfaction. Likewise, we introduced and started inquiries into...