Results 22,881-22,900 of 27,945 for speaker:Michael McGrath

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Howlin for raising this issue and I acknowledge the manner in which he has done so. We all share his sentiments about the appalling atrocities in Ukraine that we are witnessing on our television screens, scenes that we believed belonged to a bygone era. Ireland is going to do everything it can to support the Ukrainian refugees who come to our country. We will welcome them...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: It is important to recognise that Ukrainian refugees arriving at the port are being looked after. That is thanks in no small part to the fantastic efforts of local community groups. State actors are also directly involved and are providing the essential supports to the refugees. I assure the Deputy that this specific issue is being treated with the urgency it deserves. There was a meeting...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank the Deputy. It may well be the case that there are companies that are profiteering on the back of the current international climate around energy prices. Those issues are not entirely within the control of any government or of the European Union acting as a collective. The European Union leaders, when they meet at European Council tomorrow and Friday, will be examining this issue...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: I believe investing in renewables is the way forward. We have set the target that by 2030, 80% of our electricity generation in Ireland will come from renewables. At the moment, it is 40% plus; it varies day by day depending on the extent to which the wind blows. That is the future for Ireland. The Deputy mentioned that we get all of our gas from the Corrib. We do not.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: No, not most. We get about 30%. It is important that we are accurate. We get the balance from the UK and Norway. We are not self-sufficient in relation to gas supply in this country. Similarly, in respect of oil.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy narrowed this issue down to fuel, which is a major issue, but he ignored the impact that the war is also having on food prices, fertiliser, input costs for farmers and so on. It might suit his ideological agenda to narrow it down to one specific issue. The impact of this is global and it is across a range of sectors that are impacting on the Irish economy. As a Government, we...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice for raising the issue. I also acknowledge the interest of Deputies Ring, Dillon and Calleary, and I am sure others-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: -----including Deputy Conway-Walsh.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: I am referring to the people who have raised it with me, if the Deputy wants me to give a straight answer. I acknowledge the enormous impact the appointment of the receivers has had on the employees. Deputy Fitzmaurice has recognised the work of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the work of the Department of Social Protection, in ensuring that the employees are being...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy is aware, both bodies are commercial State bodies under the remit of the Department of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, will be alerted to the fact that Deputy Fitzmaurice has raised this on the floor of the House today. I am sure the Minister will respond directly to the Deputy in that regard also. Deputy Fitzmaurice has made clear the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Government stands foursquare behind the common travel area and the open Border in all respects. We do not in any way support or endorse the decision that was taken in the House of Commons. We have serious concerns about the proposal for an electronic travel authorisation system. We do not believe it is either practical or fair to seek to distinguish between EU citizens from other...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: As the Deputy has recognised, the position of the Government has been that we will act in consort with our European partners. Ideally, that should be done in a co-ordinated manner. This issue may well be discussed at the European Council meeting over the next couple of days. We have previously expressed our concern at the extent of the diplomatic presence in the Russian Embassy in Dublin....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: We are concerned about the significant increase in the incidence of Covid in the last couple of weeks. It is a reminder to all of us that Covid is still very much around. Personally, I have not known more people with Covid at any point in the last two years than at this point in time. We all need to reflect on the current situation and ensure we do all we can individually to reduce the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: I assure the Deputy that there is no intention to hand over the control of the new national maternity hospital to any religious body or any third party. There are lots of opportunities in the House, including oral questions to the Minister for Health, which I understand are taking place next week. The House has already decided on the business for this week but there are many avenues open to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: I thank Deputy Berry for raising this issue, which is primarily a matter for the Department of Defence. I acknowledge what the Commission on the Defence Forces has said on it. The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform does not, in principle, have any objection to the affiliation of PDFORRA and RACO to ICTU. I will discuss the issue with the Minister for Defence. I understand the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: We accept that no part of Irish society is immune to the effects of what is happening internationally. That includes our farm families and the contractors on whom farmers rely to do so much of the work on farms. There is a form of rebate for giving some of the carbon tax back to farmers but I would make the broader point that the carbon tax we collect is ring-fenced. It does not go into...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: -----fuel poverty measures, retrofitting, new agri-environmental schemes in the Common Agricultural Policy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: The strength of feeling on this issue is heard loud and clear. The Construction Contracts Act 2013 does not cut across the normal rules for company liquidation or receivership. Where this arises, the route for recovery is through the normal insolvency process. In respect of any public works, there is an open and competitive procurement requirement, both domestically and under EU law. It...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: I accept that operators in the tourism space are under pressure. They are hoping to see a significant return of international visitors over the course of this year. We expect to see that happen. The legal position is that the lower rate of VAT will be increased in September, but the Government will keep the situation under review and will confirm its position in due course.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Mar 2022)

Michael McGrath: The Deputy raised a number of issues about land use, which is central to farming, rural Ireland, biodiversity, protection of the environment and the future of energy. The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Senator Hackett, is leading a substantive body of work on behalf of the Government on the land-use strategy. I will ask her to revert to the Deputy...