Results 18,421-18,440 of 50,772 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Substantial additional funding was provided in the budget to deal with approval of new medicines, but there are procedures through which those medicines must be approved. That is enshrined in legislation that was passed by these Houses. Those procedures must be followed. We will keep a very close eye on this and ensure these matters are...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Level 5 does not ban trade in any particular commodity but it places restrictions on where the trade can occur. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter for an important sector, and it is a significant industry over the Christmas period. The objective is to get to the end of November and leave level 5, and that would give us greater flexibility for the remainder of December with respect to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will engage with the HSE and see what the updated position is on the facility.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy and have a particular interest in the topic. Animal welfare is a priority of the Government. The legislation needs strengthening and the Government has committed to doing this to ensure best practice, particularly in ensuring the very best welfare for animals. We will keep an eye on that.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the word "shortly"-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am of the view that the general data protection regulation, GDPR, applies to requests for access to personal data. This is also the view of the Attorney General. I was involved in the establishment of the Ryan commission, which was then the Laffoy commission. As Minister for Education and Science at the time, I opened all of the files to historians at the time and gave them access.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I know. I am going to come to that. I have no interest in any records being put into a vault to which no one has access and left there for a long time. As a Government, we have decided to establish a national centre in which the archives of the industrial schools, Magdalen laundries and mother and baby homes will be held. It will not only be an archive. We will try to be creative. This...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: First of all, the election is not over. The last time I listened to coverage of it was early this morning and it seemed the race was going to very tight and there were many votes yet to be counted. The United States is one of the oldest democracies in the world. It has always managed its elections in a peaceful and democratic way and I have no doubt that this will be also be the case on...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I join with the Deputy in articulating our disgust at the unacceptable use of illegal fireworks in communities across the country. I agree with him about the frustration of many living in different communities at their indiscriminate and intimidating use. The Minister for Justice and her Department run a safety campaign aimed at ensuring public awareness of the dangers of illegal fireworks...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have no difficulty working with any Oireachtas Member from Tipperary, or indeed any local authority member, in respect of any specific issues. The Deputy seems to be raising an issue with which the local authority is dealing. The local authority should consult, engage and deal with the issue. I will, however, take advice from Oireachtas Members. We can talk about it again and determine...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. We are all determined to deliver all public services for citizens in a safe way. The driver testing service was closed during the last lockdown, which led to a considerable backlog. I will discuss the issue with the Minister to see if we can find a way to deal with the issues the Deputy has raised. Perhaps the Deputy could communicate details of...

Leaders' Questions (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government recently considered the report of the group chaired by Dr. Catherine Day. It is a very comprehensive report which goes through the entire spectrum of issues in regard to international protection. The programme for Government contains a commitment to end the current system of direction provision within the lifetime of the Government...

Leaders' Questions (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am meeting Dr. Catherine Day tomorrow to discuss the work of the advisory group, with a view to examining in detail how we can develop and implement the very comprehensive agenda set out in the group's report. In the context of the Covid-19 crisis, one of the reasons we brought in serial testing was to make sure we could help the residents in direct provision. We wanted to be of...

Leaders' Questions (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: We will continue to progress that as well.

Leaders' Questions (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is not going to be put to one side because of-----

Leaders' Questions (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: There are elements of it that can be progressed and we will drive on with them. There will be improvements but there are also significant challenges. The accommodation aspect is something we will have to work on in order to ensure we can deal with those challenges and move on with the White Paper process. There are immediate issues that we can deal with, as I outlined. The Deputy can take...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: First of all, the Deputy will be happy to hear that I agree with her that clothes are essential, particularly for children. The Deputy was in favour of the level 5 restrictions, as advised by NPHET, which include the closure of non-essential retail. Retail outlets have provided a number of options, such as click and collect, where people can make a telephone call, order clothes and call in...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising an issue that is very important to many people in our society. I will certainly engage with the Minister in this regard but the heads of the Bill are expected shortly. I will keep a sharp eye on that for the Deputy.

Leaders' Questions (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have said numerous times in the House that the staff in Debenhams have been treated very unfairly and appallingly in this very protracted dispute by the company. In fairness to the Deputy he has raised this issue consistently in the House and he is anxious that talks would develop. KPMG was approached to enter talks on behalf of Debenhams to try and resolve the outstanding claims. Those...

Leaders' Questions (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: If only it was as simple as the Deputy articulates it, but it is not and he knows that. That is the unfortunate reality. The implementation of the Duffy-Cahill recommendations would not have resolved this. The Government is committed to and is undertaking the reform of company law, particularly in improving the rights of workers where collective agreements have been formulated and signed...