Results 19,121-19,140 of 50,830 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: British-Irish Co-operation (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. I met the United Kingdom Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, at Hillsborough Castle on 13 August. This was our first meeting since I became Taoiseach. We had a good discussion on Covid-19 and our respective experiences of managing the virus and dealing with its economic and societal impacts. We agreed that close contact on this...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy McDonald said this is an extraordinary situation. It is not an extraordinary situation. There will be a full day's business tomorrow which was agreed by the Business Committee involving a Private Members' Bill, the Labour Party Bill on sick leave and parental leave, which is a very important Bill and on which Government will engage constructively. There is Leaders' Questions. I am...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I make the point also that all of the Members opposite supported the restrictions last Friday night. I know Sinn Féin was opposing it on Thursday night and opposing publicly the issues pertaining to hospitality.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the fact that on Friday that had changed and that it supported wholeheartedly the public health measures that were introduced to which the restrictions give effect but let us not overstate this either. I have no difficulty with scrutinising anything. I understand politics, too, when it is being played and there is no better person to play it than Deputy McDonald. She excels at...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have noticed that every Tuesday here, notwithstanding what is agreed at the Business Committee, a vote is called. If there is not one vote, there are two votes.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is going on all of the time.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Every excuse will be used to politically platform-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----cause a vote, get up and posture and so on. I did say that I was open to a debate on the plan.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have no issue at all about that but, having said that, it was not enough for Deputies 15 minutes ago and a vote was called again. Notwithstanding that I said there should be a meeting of the Business Committee to facilitate working out the schedule, people proceeded to have the vote and not accept that as a demonstration of good faith. I have no issue at all with debating the plan. I...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----with the CMO and the HSE chief executive officer on testing and everything else. That happened and it was far less heated-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----than it tends to be in the public arena.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that this committee was being rescheduled for next week. The Minister, the CMO and others involved with the HSE are actively preparing and finalising the winter initiative plan this week and are agreeable to attending the Covid-19 committee next week.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: When did the invitation go out?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: When last week?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: While I may be wrong and we need to clarify this, my understanding is that it was Friday evening.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is not. Deputy Cullinane is messing.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am willing to co-operate with the Opposition. It is, however, very difficult at times to ascertain if Deputy Cullinane is being genuinely constructive or deliberately using every available opportunity to undermine. I am willing to engage but the invitation went out on Friday evening to the people on NPHET, to those in the HSE and to the CMO and others. I am willing to clarify if that is...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: We offered Members a debate but they called a vote.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Yes, that is fine.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: On Friday, everybody was supporting the regulations and the measures we were taking. That was the public stance of Sinn Féin and all the other parties.