Results 32,261-32,280 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: We are sticking with the existing order as agreed.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Again, there is a lengthy session, but at the end of the session we will have an hour and a half to debate a Private Members' Bill, the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill. Generally, with Bills like that, people can raise issues that broadly apply to education.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Finance Bill will be taken on Thursday. We have Leaders' Questions, Questions to the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Questions on Promised Legislation, the Finance Bill and the Topical Issue debate, which Deputies feel is very important. Then we will have the Education (Admission to Schools) Bill. It is due to finish at about 7.30 p.m., which will probably be 8 o'clock on...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: It will be very difficult to respond in one minute. The CervicalCheck Tribunal Bill was passed by this House in July 2019. It was welcomed by all parties in the House. The specifics of the Bill were to help all the women who have been impacted by CervicalCheck to have their claims heard and determined in the most timely and sensitive way possible. It is a far better alternative than the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the situation. Historically, as the Deputy knows, people with terminal illnesses received medical cards.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: There was a change to that in more recent years.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Then there was what I thought was a reversion back to the practice as we understood it in the past. I will certainly deal with this and will be talking to the Minister for Health on the issue.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I had a number of consultations with different groups last week on the overall issues. The Government has issued a very comprehensive statement on its approach to the mother and baby homes issue more generally. The Minister has received the report from the commission of inquiry. There is the idea of creating more than just an archival repository centre, but a centre that would tell the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I do not have the specific details of the particular cases. If the Deputy sends them to me and to my office, we will see what we can do to engage with the Minister on that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The entire issue is around moving to level 5. That means reducing congregation and travelling outside 5 km for anything.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: How does the Deputy know they are staying within 5 km?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: You made your point. You made a very pertinent comment.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Through the Chair, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae made a very pertinent comment. He said that if I am to go on making myself unpopular with all these groups, I should continue. This is not a perpetual popularity contest that I am engaged in.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Covid is not popular and Covid-19 restrictions are not popular but Deputy Healy-Rae has been against every restriction from the get go.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: You have.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: You have and you are not playing your fair share on this. You stand up here every week objecting to this, that and the other. NPHET advised that we go to level 5.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I understand the challenges that people face-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----in relation to level 5.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: We are advised by NPHET on level 5. The restrictions apply to a range of sectors and groups. It is difficult for people but if one concedes one thing, then one concedes two, three, four, five or six things and then there is no level 5 and we do not reduce the case numbers down to where we would like. It is not something we want to do-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----but the numbers are down. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae knows everything about climate change and public health and has an abiding antipathy towards experts or people who offer advice. It is unfair. The Deputy is just playing the game all the time.