Results 30,921-30,940 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is why we are setting up a shared island unit - to go through the nuts and bolts. What would an all-island health service look like? How would the political structures work? If we believe in the three sets of relationships there could still be an assembly. That is a longer debate. The Deputy has provoked me into saying that.

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Commissions of investigation are important. The Deputy says we need more control. That is within our hands. The minute one exercises control one is interfering. The minute a Taoiseach of the day says to a tribunal that he or she will cut its resources or undermine it, the charge will come from the other side of the House that the Taoiseach is interfering and undermining an independent...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I accept that.

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is correct that there has been a major increase, of €20 million, in respect of the public communications campaign around Covid-19. That has to be accepted because in a pandemic, particularly a global pandemic of an unprecedented kind, comprehensive communications are vital at every step along the way. That was done and I think it worked. It needs to continue as long as we...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: In terms of inquiries, I would make the point that the demand for such inquiries usually comes from the Oireachtas on behalf of the public. Once a chairman is appointed, an inquiry is independent of the Taoiseach's office in terms of the conduct of its work, but it is open to the Oireachtas or the Government, at any time, to put forward proposals to terminate that inquiry or give it a final...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The matters the Deputy has raised come under the Department of Health Vote rather than the Vote of the Department of the Taoiseach. However, I am well aware of Bantry General Hospital and, as Minister for Health, I was very supportive of it. It performs a critical role for a wide rural hinterland. In regard to the appointment of an anaesthetist, the issue is not funding, as the Deputy...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has asked a good question. It is, of course, within the remit of the Comptroller and Auditor General to review these Estimates. We have no difficulty with that and we would welcome it. The Comptroller and Auditor General reviews all Government expenditure, both by Departments and by Government agencies. In the case of the Department of the Taoiseach, there are different Votes,...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will check that for the Deputy.

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I echo the Deputy's comments regarding Dr. Tony Holohan. I am on the record as having recognised his outstanding contribution, which has assisted the country in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, his calm delivery of messages to the public and his understanding of the gravity of the issue. He conveyed that very effectively. We offer him and his family our best wishes at this difficult time.

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will examine the issues raised by Deputy Harkin and revert to the relevant Departments on them.

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I endorse the Deputy's comments regarding the value, importance and centrality of the CSO as an independent data-collection body. Its agenda for the coming year includes a census on agriculture and a population census. I will examine the Deputy's proposal that, if I understand it correctly, the Government should consider increasing the level of funding available to the CSO in respect of...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: One of the fundamental pillars of Government intervention to date has been the wage subsidy scheme to which all parties agreed. It will be continued. The Government has made clear that there will not be a sudden cliff edge for those coming off the subsidy. Work on the wage subsidy scheme and the pandemic unemployment payment is under way n the context of the job stimulus package to be...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: How much time do I have?

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Do I have ten minutes after that?

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will go back over all the notes.

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: We will have to work with organisations such as Threshold to be in a position to have the capacity to support people who could be in difficulty in the months ahead with either rent or mortgage arrears, or with evictions. There is currently a moratorium on evictions and a freeze on rents. As restrictions have been lifted, issues with those will arise. As I said earlier, the ESRI report will...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The data requested by the Deputy is not yet available.All deaths that occur in the State must be registered within 3 months from the date of death; for example, a death that occurred in May 2020 may not be registered until the end of August 2020. Therefore, the information requested is not yetavailable for comparison purposes to the same periods in the last five years. Furthermore, all deaths...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Consultancy Contracts (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: My Department, in line with the rest of the Civil Service, actively supports diversity and inclusion in the workplace. In addition to arranging to training on diversity and inclusion related topics, my Department also supports staff attendance at relevant conferences and staff participation in mentoring programmes that promote diversity and inclusion. Diversity and inclusion considerations...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Legal Costs (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: My Department incurred no expenditure in respect of external legal fees in the years 2016 to date in 2020 The Moriarty Tribunal of Inquiry and the Commissions of Investigation, which are independent of my Department, have sanction to engage legal counsel, as required, to assist them in their work. All legal services fees are paid at rates approved by the Government.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I spoke with Prime Minister Boris Johnson by phone on Tuesday, 30 June. The Prime Minister congratulated me on my appointment and we both looked forward to working together. We had a constructive discussion that covered the current Covid-19 situation and our respective plans to deal with its impact on the economy, employment and society. We also discussed Brexit, and the negotiations...