Results 31,701-31,720 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: It is going on all of the time.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: Every excuse will be used to politically platform-----
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: -----cause a vote, get up and posture and so on. I did say that I was open to a debate on the plan.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: I have no issue at all about that but, having said that, it was not enough for Deputies 15 minutes ago and a vote was called again. Notwithstanding that I said there should be a meeting of the Business Committee to facilitate working out the schedule, people proceeded to have the vote and not accept that as a demonstration of good faith. I have no issue at all with debating the plan. I...
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: -----with the CMO and the HSE chief executive officer on testing and everything else. That happened and it was far less heated-----
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: -----than it tends to be in the public arena.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: First, I wish to pay tribute to the Central Bank and its work, which has established some important facts and information on dual pricing. It is unacceptable and indicates the degree to which citizens were not served properly or fairly, in any shape or form, by the industry. The Government will bring forward its own proposals on this issue.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: British-Irish Co-operation (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. I met the United Kingdom Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, at Hillsborough Castle on 13 August. This was our first meeting since I became Taoiseach. We had a good discussion on Covid-19 and our respective experiences of managing the virus and dealing with its economic and societal impacts. We agreed that close contact on this...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: British-Irish Co-operation (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett's points, peace and stability come first regarding the overall impact of Brexit, and the necessity for the withdrawal treaty and the Northern Ireland protocol to be adhered to and upheld. The EU is solidly and constructively working with Ireland on this. We are part of the one negotiating team that wants to negotiate a future relationship with the UK that...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on housing was established by the Government on 6 July 2020 to oversee effective implementation of the ambitious programme for Government commitments on housing and related issues. The committee last met on 30 July and is next scheduled to meet on Monday, 28 September. In addition to the meetings of the full...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: The legislation the Government has introduced applies until January and it protects tenants who are in difficulty because of the Covid-19 crisis in terms of income and so on. It protects them from rent increases and eviction. It is a more specific Bill than that which preceded it. The reason the blanket ban could not be continued is that, fundamentally, it was unconstitutional. We were no...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: I propose to take Question Nos. 8 to 12, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on Covid-19 was re-established by the Government on 29 June to continue to assess the social and economic impacts of the potential spread of Covid-19 and oversee the cross-Government response. The committee, which I chair, meets as regularly as required and has met on five occasions since 29 June, most...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: The PUP was introduced early in the life of the pandemic as a 12-week temporary scheme. In July, the new Government decided to extend it to April. The rates were reduced but they are still at levels closely approximate to what people were earning before being laid off as a result of the pandemic. This was to make it more sustainable over the long term. A total of €3.5 billion has...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: Let me speak.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: We also need to talk to the unions so that we get a comprehensive sustainable sick pay regime.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: We are working towards this. In the meantime, in the context of Covid, the Covid-19 illness benefit is available at a rate of €350 per week to employees and the self-employed. That is the case.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: It is paid for two weeks where a person is medically certified as self-isolating. It can be extended for a further two weeks for a maximum of ten weeks where a person is medically certified.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: I ask the Deputy to stop interrupting. He disingenuously presented the Government's case wrongly.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: That benefit is available for a further ten weeks if a person is medically certified as being diagnosed with Covid-19. In a minority of cases where people continue to be sick after ten weeks they can apply for the standard illness benefit payment and can receive it for up to two years. We have extended this for people living in direct provision as well. The Deputy has missed the point...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (22 Sep 2020)
Micheál Martin: There is enough provision there for Covid.