Results 32,561-32,580 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The national development plan is being reviewed. That will take on board the projects to which Deputy Kelly referred.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on education will have its first meeting on 26 November. The committee will oversee implementation of the programme for Government commitments in the area of education, including preparing for post-Covid education. I have had regular engagement and meetings with the Minister for Education and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: First, I am disappointed with the presentation made by Deputy Boyd Barrett, in which he posited the coincidence between the reopening of schools and the rise in the number of cases. He has been a long-term advocate of looking at these issues from an informed perspective. We have done our research, as have NPHET and the HSE. The level of cases after considerable testing in schools is 2% at...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is not a narrow definition at all. Equally, in terms of international research in Denmark, France and other countries, there is no evidence that schools act as a vector for the transmission of the disease. The evidence is not strong in that regard. It has been a good thing for children that we reopened the schools. We should all support that unequivocally. Being out of school will...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----and research and therefore there must be a good pathway in terms of their individual careers and then we can make progress.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 9 together. The Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland was formally established by the Government on 6 July 2020, and had its first meeting on 29 October 2020. The next meeting of the Cabinet committee is scheduled to take place on 23 November 2020. In general terms, the Cabinet committee will oversee implementation of relevant programme...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Kelly asked about the €175 threshold for the tax rebate. Deputy Ó Cuív raised this with me at a parliamentary party meeting some time ago and I know Deputy Howlin raised it in the House during the debate. The Government is responding to this and an amendment will be introduced to significantly reduce that threshold. We need a threshold from an administrative-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: There will be a threshold and it will be significantly reduced. The catalyst has been the UK's decision to leave the European Union. We will respond to that in the form of an amendment which will come before the House. One of my big concerns generally is the preparedness of Irish businesses for Brexit - deal or no deal. It is important that all companies plan and avail of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Social Media Monitoring (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: As part of the normal operation of the Department’s press office, traditional, print and social media are monitored for content of relevance to the work of the Department. In all cases, this involves only published content that is publically available - whether traditional media, print media or social media.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Government’s medium-term approach to managing COVID-19 is set out in Resilience & Recovery 2020-2021 - Plan for Living with COVID-19 which contains a Framework for Restrictive Measures across five levels. Each of the five levels contains a “basket” of measures which are intended, collectively, to contribute to lowering risk of transmission in alignment with...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Interdepartmental Committees (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is implementing the new EU ‘traffic lights’ approach to travel. A cross-Departmental Senior Officials Group meets regularly to review the position in relation to international travel, covering issues such as public health advice around travel, approaches to pre-departure and post-arrival testing, and operational issues arising. Membership of the group includes senior...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I agree with the Deputy that there must be a full public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane - a husband, a father, a brother and a son. Such a public inquiry, as the Deputy said, was provided for in the agreement reached between the Irish and British Governments at Weston Park in 2001. The Oireachtas is of one mind on this. We...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I certainly will. There is a very important aspect to this also. Where sovereign governments enter into agreements, they should be adhered to and followed through. The Irish Government at the time entered into its commitments and it established the Smithwick inquiry, irrespective of where it would land and without fear or favour. The same should apply to the UK Government. In the conduct...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have answered questions on this issue on a number of occasions, as has the Tánaiste. The Minister for Justice will answer parliamentary questions in respect of it. I note what the Deputy has said in the context of the word "criteria". Criteria are not about process, they involve judgment calls in respect of candidates.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: It then moves into breaching the separation of powers between the Oireachtas and the Judiciary.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Kelly, who is interrupting, knows the process full well.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: One name is always brought to the Cabinet and the Cabinet decides on that one name which is brought by the Minister for Justice. I do not understate the importance of the recommendation of the Judicial Appointments Advisory Board, which made a recommendation that Mr. Justice Woulfe be appointed to the Supreme Court as a suitable candidate.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: It made that recommendation on 9 March. That board is chaired by the Chief Justice and includes among its members the presidents of four courts.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is a significant body of opinion to recommend a candidate as being suitable for the Supreme Court. I accept that the overall situation needs to be reformed, which is why the Government will shortly bring forward the Judicial Appointments Commission Bill. We will make amendments to the legislation that was piloted through the House by the former Minister for Transport, Tourism and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: My overarching objective in the context of this entire situation, and in particular the publication of letters between the Chief Justice and Mr. Justice Woulfe has been to uphold separation of powers between the Oireachtas and the Judiciary. I take that very seriously.