Results 19,861-19,880 of 50,830 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is a commitment in the programme for Government. Some work still has to be done to ensure that when the statutory commitment is made, the capacity to deliver it efficiently and properly is available. The legislation will probably be introduced in the autumn. We will finalise the autumn legislative schedule in due course.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will have the commitment to those over 70 and the associated legislation examined. There is also legislation under way concerning access to GP care for children under 12. I will check if something can be done before the end of July and I will come back to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will have the question of an inquiry and an apology examined and discuss it with the Minister for Health. I will come back to the Deputy and the House on this issue.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: With the co-operation of the House, we hope to have the Health (General Practitioner Service and Alteration of Criteria for Eligibility) Bill 2020 passed before the end of the month. As I said to Deputy Browne, that encompasses both access to GP care for children aged 12 and under and increases in the gross income limits for medical card eligibility for persons aged 70 or older, in line with...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The answer is "No". The Deputy presented this just prior to this session. We need to be very careful about annulling anything without the proper detailed consideration and examination in the context of Covid-19. Further transmission of the virus in affected areas is still possible. We need to consider any change to legislation concerning Covid-19 in the round. We certainly should not do...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is a desire of Government to accelerate the roll-out of the national broadband plan and to encourage and facilitate remote working, for example, which I believe could be a big game changer over time in terms of both the quality of life for people but also enabling greater economic activity in rural Ireland. I have seen it at first hand with the Ludgate development in Skibbereen, for...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: To be fair all round, the pandemic unemployment payment was at the time, and all parties leaders were engaged in consultations with the then Government on it, an extraordinary intervention in terms of supporting people's livelihood and incomes.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I know that. There are limits to what the State can do in terms of expanding that payment or wider supports. The next phase will involve a targeting of resources to make sure we can get people back to work and create alternative employment opportunities for people who have been laid off. Obviously, we will be borrowing for quite some time, but there is an obligation on us all to make sure...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that work is under way regarding the regulations on public transport. The point the Deputy has made is a very fair one. In my view, masks have to be worn on public transport and should be worn more frequently in enclosed areas, particularly in shops. All of us have to get into the habit of wearing a mask in enclosed environments and on public transport in the interests...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is a fair point. In most nursing homes that I am aware of families are allowed to visit their loved ones, albeit in restricted time limits and circumstances. In regard to the specific case the Deputy referenced, my understanding is that HIQA has compiled a report regarding that individual case. The overall point the Deputy is making, however, is that people need an advocate or a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for the points he has raised. That legislation will not be brought forward in this session, but we will see how soon we can bring it in. I will check that with the Minister for Justice and Equality. The more general point the Deputy has made is apt given the role gardaí played in the implementation of the various legislative measures around Covid-19. It has to be...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I will certainly do what I can to find out what is going on with those 12 children, particularly the 17 year old young woman referred to by her. I remember the campaign and the major commitment made by the families involved. There is an ongoing issue with orphan drugs, or drugs that are developed for what are classed as small populations in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Every day matters to the people concerned and I will certainly do that. I appreciate the Deputy raising the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the conversion of the Deputy and the Sinn Féin Party to affordable housing, especially as, during the lifetime of the previous Dáil, Sinn Féin voted against a Fianna Fáil motion on affordable housing. The programme for Government-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have the floor for just a minute. I know the Ceann Comhairle is very anxious that I do not overstay my time in responding to this question. The key point is that the programme for Government is very comprehensive on the matter of affordable housing.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is a core part of our policy to enable people to get to a position where they can afford houses. The State will be far more involved as a result of the programme for Government in providing the wherewithal, either through the local authorities or the Land Development Agency, to provide affordable housing. It is something to which we are very committed. There are a number of schemes outlined.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputies can take it that the new Minister will pursue this with great energy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The European Banking Authority has clarified the matter of application of interest in cases of payment breaks that people have received from banks. It is worth pointing out that approximately 140,000 payment breaks have been issued in respect of approximately 78,000 mortgages. These are popular initiatives and many people have availed of them and found them very helpful. The Minister for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising what is a serious issue, namely, mental health services in general, but specifically mental health services in Clonmel and the rest of Tipperary. There are two dimensions to mental health services. One is obviously physical facilities. I refer to acute capacity — in other words, acute beds — in particular facilities. The south east in general,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: First, I do have the will to deal with this issue. Second, as I said, the Minister of State will work with the Deputy on this. Every region needs acute capacity but the Deputy should not underestimate the importance of strong community-based mental health services. In my view, a continuum is needed. The better and the stronger the community health presence, the less the need for acute...