Results 31,061-31,080 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----in terms of the other areas the Deputy has highlighted.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: On the Deputy's opening statement on Apple getting sorted and so on, Apple did not get sorted. Apple is also about workers. Apple has been in Ireland since 1980 and the court decision is that there was no state aid to Apple. This is the essential point that the court decided. Apple now employs 6,000 people throughout the country. This is important. There has been an ongoing view from...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: First, I did participate in a Zoom meeting with Debenhams workers, and the Deputy should know that. Of course, I will meet a delegation of the workers. There is no difficulty whatsoever. I have communicated with workers in my constituency in that regard. The difficulty I have is that in situations such as this I am very reluctant to create false expectations and false hopes for people who...

Nomination of Member of Government: Motion (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the nomination by the Taoiseach of Deputy Dara Calleary for appointment by the President to be a member of the Government. Pursuant to section 4(1) of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 1946, I propose to assign him to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. In his short time as Government Chief Whip, the Minister of...

Nomination of Member of Government: Motion (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Chambers assumes the position Deputy Calleary held.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: There was no Covid-19 during the general election and the assertions made then bore no relationship to what subsequently happened. The eviction ban and freeze on rent increases was grounded in the emergency public health legislation arising out of Covid-19. There are issues around that but the Government is examining them. We are conscious that it has helped public health by preventing...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his question. As an overall policy position, I am establishing a new social dialogue unit within my Department and I would like to explore the issues to which the Deputy has referred such as collective bargaining and so on with the various stakeholders in that regard. I will check with the Tánaiste about receipt of the Low Pay Commission report. The position...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The programme for Government has raised the prospect of moving to try to accelerate the national broadband plan. That is, however, something that must be followed through in some detail regarding engagement with the company concerning what is possible. I accept fully the point made by the Deputy regarding the poor quality of broadband in rural Ireland being a real inhibitor of economic...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: First, the Deputy made a statement earlier that was completely wrong and untrue. I did not collude with anybody regarding any legal action or any legal initiative. I respectfully suggest that the Deputy should not be making such loose allegations and assertions that are wholly without foundation.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: It comes easy to the Deputy's lips to throw innuendoes and accusations around the place.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is, however, out of order. Deputy Cowen took his own initiative regarding legal action to protect his name and reputation, as he saw it, and in respect of ascertaining his own personal data. I saw the PULSE detail yesterday morning for the first time and I also had a lengthy discussion with Deputy Cowen the evening before. I have already dealt with this issue in that respect. ...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is the position.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for raising what is an important issue for the farming community. I do not think that legislation will be dealt with this month, so it will fall to the autumn session. I have, however, asked the Ministers to prioritise this matter and it is in the programme for Government. The Deputies are correct, however, that people have been waiting for some time. There have been...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will make two points on this issue. I do not believe so but I do not know the man at all. The attacks on the Minister for children were completely outrageous and unacceptable. It was the kind of online hate campaign that we should really be very strongly against. We have good centre ground in this country that really resents the online vile hatred that is directed against people in an...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: No. My experience regarding the development of the relationships and sexuality education, RSE, programme is that the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA, will have an input, as well as expertise from psychologists etc.. It is a much more rounded formulation and development for children, obviously age appropriate and with different programs at different levels. Much work...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is based on core human values of respect, consent, self-esteem and self-respect. People have misguided views regarding what sex education is about and what sexuality and relationship education is about and we need to keep this in perspective. Frankly, I would have thought the last place for that to be deliberated upon is on social media.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I recall the Deputy raising this issue last week and I did move to try to bring this matter to a conclusion. That is why on Friday the Minister for Health signed the regulations regarding the wearing of masks on public transport. I did that notwithstanding the tensions. These things can be delayed indefinitely because of people wanting to know who is going to do everything, specifically...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: There has been comprehensive engagement by the Minister and the Department - the Minister in particular - with the stakeholders involved in education with a view to facilitating the reopening of schools at the end of August. It is something to which I am personally very committed. As I have said repeatedly in the House, the reopening of schools is important for the development of the child...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: It may interest the Deputy to know that I spoke to the Welsh First Minister last week. In Wales schools have been open for the past three weeks - they have a later session - and this has worked far better for them than they had anticipated. My understanding is that schools in Scotland will be reopening on 11 August. We are learning lessons from other countries.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will have to check that. I will get a written report back to the Deputy on it.