Results 19,701-19,720 of 50,830 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I do not agree with the Deputy’s initial remarks on the overall Covid-19 strategy. As I said earlier, societies all over the world, as they reopen, are experiencing huge issues with the virus and very significant clusters have emerged in many locations in Europe and elsewhere. We are very anxious to avoid that. We are working with the CMO and with the National Public Health...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: What does the Deputy mean by checks?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: NPHET and the medical experts are very wary about doing randomised or other testing. Everyone has spoken about the importance of NPHET advice and it believes that there are many complications around this which could create issues for the contact tracing and isolation system within the country. It is very easy to say that we should do this or that. We have examined these issues and continue...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I do not think New Zealand is entirely comparable to Ireland. Let us be straight about that. It is not comparable in geography and many other issues. We should go behind the headlines sometimes. For example, people talk regularly about mandatory quarantine. It is not a great idea actually, and in some jurisdictions it actually led to a spread of the virus. This is not simple, and there...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: We have been discouraging travel since the beginning of the pandemic. The numbers are there to show it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: We did not ease the restrictions.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: No, the restricted movement is very severe. It essentially says someone can go to a shop. It is pretty clear, but it is very restricted

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Quarantine is a word that is bandied about the place with great ease and simplicity, but the Deputy knows and everybody here knows there are difficulties with enforcement around it. In response to the travel issue, the Government will strengthen our presence and strategies around the airports, the airlines, putting the passenger location form online and other measures.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has done very well with the virus.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The challenge is living with Covid for the foreseeable future, and we will be. The Deputy is correct in saying we cannot shut down for the next 12 months, but equally we must, in a balanced way, ensure we can get our schools reopened, get the non-Covid strand of medicine resumed, and make sure that we keep our domestic economy going.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: We already have made efforts.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The strategy of the Government in the context of the roadmap that was outlined some weeks ago was to reopen society while at the same time suppressing the virus and keeping community transmission as low as possible. Societies and countries all over the world are experiencing difficulties in reopening, some a lot more severe than ours so far. The Government has taken a very cautious approach.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has asked a question and is going to get the answer. I have made it clear, and I agree with what the Deputy has said, that the reopening of our schools at the end of August is the priority. The resumption of services for non-Covid illnesses and strands of health is a priority and it is challenging and very difficult. As the Deputy has said, aiding the recovery of our domestic...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: As already stated in the context of the legislation the Deputy has identified, I will commit to working with him on going through the legislation on the Government side. Obviously, one needs to see detail of legislation before one commits to anything in that regard.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the principle, as I already stated. I am mindful that I would like to follow through on whatever I say in the House,.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Equally, I am also stating that we will want to see the Bill the Deputy is bringing forward and so on. The whole idea of the tribunal was to create a less adversarial environment as an alternative to the courts. People will wish to access the courts as well and that is their entitlement and their right. We cannot take that either away from them. One lesson that must be learned from...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the Deputy's comments fully. I know the sincerity with which he makes them because he has been involved in this issue for quite some time and has been engaged with a number of the women who have been to the forefront of the campaign for greater disclosure and transparency around the programme itself and, above all, to enhance the programme in order that it can serve women in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The national cervical screening programme is responsible for ensuring quality and providing regular oversight of the screening programme itself and the test.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: First of all, a compensation tribunal is far less adversarial than any court system. We know that from experience in a variety of medical scandals going back to the various scandals relating to blood products and so on. In my view the tribunal is far more effective than a courts process. Ms Justice Mary Irvine is no longer in a position to take up the position as chair having been...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The apology by and commitment from the then-Taoiseach and now Tánaiste on this matter were made in good faith. As the Deputy knows, the previous Government agreed that the High Court judge, Mr. Justice Charles Meenan, would be requested to review, in the cases of women affected by CervicalCheck issues, mechanisms that would avoid, where possible, women and their families having to go to...