Results 31,681-31,700 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Is the Deputy referring to the regulations or the testing and tracing strategy?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: On Friday, everybody was supporting the regulations and the measures we were taking. That was the public stance of Sinn Féin and all the other parties.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: As political parties and people were briefed on Friday evening, everybody was supportive of the very same regulations. They are akin to what is in level 3 of the plan, as everybody knows.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: My suspicion is often that Sinn Féin wants to undermine regulations, not support them. That was the nature of Deputy Mac Lochlainn's presentation. He had a go at the testing and tracing system, which we debated again last week in the House. That is a robust system compared with other systems in Europe. To describe it as woeful, as the Opposition has on the Sinn Féin side, is...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Relatively speaking, the testing and tracing capacity in this country is higher than most across Europe and we are constantly seeking to increase it. In the plan, there are significant and specific measures to increase that workforce to 3,000. It is well documented and detailed. Despite efforts to say there is nothing in the plan about testing and tracing, there is, and it is very...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: People want to debate everything every week and I do not mind.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: If the House wants to meet on Friday, I am available to do that. I have no issue with debating the plan. We debated regulations two weeks ago to give additional powers to the Garda, which Deputy Mattie McGrath opposed, as he is entitled to do.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: We had a vote on them. Gardaí have to take operational decisions on the ground. The Oireachtas cannot seek to influence or interfere with the operational work of the Garda. If the Business Committee wants to meet and discuss the plan, we will provide time for a discussion on the different levels and so on. I have no difficulty with that if it is a desired objective.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Yes, that is fine.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that this committee was being rescheduled for next week. The Minister, the CMO and others involved with the HSE are actively preparing and finalising the winter initiative plan this week and are agreeable to attending the Covid-19 committee next week.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: When did the invitation go out?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: When last week?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: While I may be wrong and we need to clarify this, my understanding is that it was Friday evening.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is not. Deputy Cullinane is messing.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am willing to co-operate with the Opposition. It is, however, very difficult at times to ascertain if Deputy Cullinane is being genuinely constructive or deliberately using every available opportunity to undermine. I am willing to engage but the invitation went out on Friday evening to the people on NPHET, to those in the HSE and to the CMO and others. I am willing to clarify if that is...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: We offered Members a debate but they called a vote.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy McDonald said this is an extraordinary situation. It is not an extraordinary situation. There will be a full day's business tomorrow which was agreed by the Business Committee involving a Private Members' Bill, the Labour Party Bill on sick leave and parental leave, which is a very important Bill and on which Government will engage constructively. There is Leaders' Questions. I am...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I make the point also that all of the Members opposite supported the restrictions last Friday night. I know Sinn Féin was opposing it on Thursday night and opposing publicly the issues pertaining to hospitality.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the fact that on Friday that had changed and that it supported wholeheartedly the public health measures that were introduced to which the restrictions give effect but let us not overstate this either. I have no difficulty with scrutinising anything. I understand politics, too, when it is being played and there is no better person to play it than Deputy McDonald. She excels at...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have noticed that every Tuesday here, notwithstanding what is agreed at the Business Committee, a vote is called. If there is not one vote, there are two votes.