Results 32,141-32,160 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am asking the House to not try to undermine people's bona fides. I am not trying to seal anything. I have no interest in sealing any of the records.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I deal with people just as the Deputy does. I deal with people who want access to these records.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should stop taking the high moral ground and saying that others on this side of the House, because we are in government trying to do the right thing, are somehow trying to undermine people's access.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: On the lockdown, the measures are very clear in terms of what is essential and non-essential work. That will apply. The Garda, as in the case of the previous lockdown and under the level 3 restrictions, has operational discretion but the situation is clear. We have allowed construction and manufacturing work to continue and there is a list of exemptions. I am not, on foot of every...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am very well aware of the situation and I thank the Deputy for raising it. The Minister is very possessed with the issue. Discussions took place recently between the Departments of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and Public Expenditure and Reform, which has a key role in this matter as well given concerns previously that there may be knock-on implications arising out a mechanism...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the point Deputy McGrath has made. Again, the difficulty with lockdowns is that they are crude and blunt instruments designed to reduce congregation and people gathering. Recommendations come from NPHET on the variety of measures that are required. We try to be as judicious, effective and compassionate as we can. One can always go through each individual setting. If we...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: Thank you for that lead-in, a Cheann Comhairle. First, level 5 is difficult and very challenging. It is a lockdown. Everyone says it did not happen in their place. I do not know where the virus starts. If one was to add up the list of all the places where it did not happen, one would be hard pressed to find where the virus begins. The virus spreads from people to people. Public health...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have no doubt. I am not casting any aspersions on the people who ran them, in fairness.

Ceisteanna – Questions: National Economic and Social Council (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. The National Economic and Social Council is an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of my Department. The NESC is a valuable forum where strategic policy matters relevant to Ireland's economic social, environmental and sustainable development can be analysed and discussed between a variety of actors and...

Ceisteanna – Questions: National Economic and Social Council (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: On the climate Bill and a just transition, the Bill is transformative. It should be welcomed by the Opposition and Deputy McDonald's party, Sinn Féin, although I know they have issues with the climate change agenda, have taken a negative stance on the matter and are somewhat in denial about it in reality. As for the just transition, we moved in respect of the midlands. The Government...

Ceisteanna – Questions: Cabinet Committees (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on housing last met on 28 September and will meet again shortly. The committee oversees the implementation of the programme for Government commitments in respect of housing and related matters. Significant work is under way on the delivery of these commitments through Departments, agencies and...

Ceisteanna – Questions: Cabinet Committees (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: In terms of mortgages, the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform will engage with the banks on this issue. On the first occasion, good work was done. That is not acknowledged in this House, of course, but the payment breaks worked effectively.

Ceisteanna – Questions: Cabinet Committees (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy McDonald knows the reason. It is not that we ended them. Once we came out of lockdown, there was a time limit to it with the European Banking Authority. It did not add to the number of non-performing loans.

Ceisteanna – Questions: Cabinet Committees (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: This scheme did not create difficulties for borrowers either.

Ceisteanna – Questions: Cabinet Committees (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: Indefinite payment breaks forever are not, on their own, the ideal solution either in terms of those who are borrowers or lenders. I refer here not just to mortgages but also personal loans, business loans and so on.

Ceisteanna – Questions: Cabinet Committees (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt the Deputy. I would appreciate being given the opportunity to answer the questions asked by Deputies in this House.

Ceisteanna – Questions: Cabinet Committees (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the ban on evictions issue raised by Deputy Kelly-----

Ceisteanna – Questions: Cabinet Committees (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----the bottom line is that there is a constitutional issue as well. Let us not pretend there is not. The ban came in during lockdown because a lockdown restricts movement. It gives a basis to prevent evictions because of the constraint on people's movement and then the danger of becoming homeless if evicted and so on. The Minister, therefore, will bring in legislation that will be...

Ceisteanna – Questions: Cabinet Committees (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: We did not let it slide. The Deputy deliberately misreads the situation. She knows that is not the case.

Ceisteanna – Questions: Cabinet Committees (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: If the Deputy is so certain, I am amazed improvements have not happened in the North with regard to it. The Deputy is in government in the North. I do not understand.