Results 32,681-32,700 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: My Department has been working across government to integrate data and insights relevant to management of the Covid-19 pandemic since it began. The HPSC, HSE, and Department of Health, have been providing a great deal of data through the COVID-19 datahub. In addition, economic and other data are very relevant to understanding the impacts of restrictions, where supports are needed, and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. I share in the Deputy's expression of sympathies to the family and friends of the homeless individual who passed away. I also convey to the House my deep sadness at the passing of Trish Carrick, whom we lately honoured and spoke of. I offer her husband Damien and children...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. The programme for Government is very strong on this. It includes a number of relevant and key commitments, including the development of the third national strategy, which would place a priority on prevention and reduction and include a national preventative strategy. As I said, an immediate audit is to be conducted in terms of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. In relation to the Presentation Secondary School in Carlow, I did not hear the interview this morning but I agree with the Deputy that there is no place for victim shaming in any context and the Department of Education and the Minister will clearly receive a report on it. If the principal is challenging the report of what we read in the media, in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Let us not have a row about something that is important and good. We should press ahead and do it. Also in terms of the O'Malley report, the Minister has already brought it to Cabinet and published it and is determined to take action and deal with this. In accordance with the commitments in the programme for the Government we are determined to do it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I recently met Mary Crilly from the Cork Rape Crisis Centre and I have had long engagement with her through her extraordinary work over the years on behalf of rape victims. When I was Minister for Health and Children, we were involved in setting up the first forensic sexual violence centre in the South Infirmary Victoria University Hospital in Cork. Mary Crilly is a tireless worker. I met...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. There is currently a project under the remit of the Department of Transport to consider development of a new marine search and rescue, SAR, aviation contract for future service provision, as the Deputy has outlined. The Deputy has been fair in saying the provision of search and rescue aviation services in Ireland has, to a great extent, involved a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: In these Covid times, it has been very occasional. That is a very good idea. I will certainly avail of that opportunity to visit and see at first hand the helicopters, the equipment and the various facilities that are available in Baldonnel, and I will ask for that to be facilitated. I will take the Deputy up on that suggestion, which is a good idea.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Data are extremely important in terms of the entire experience of Covid-19 and learning from the first lockdown, which we did, and then informing the experiences of different phases of Covid. For example, coming out of the first phase when the country reopened and cases began to rise again during the August and September period, we brought in a team from the HSE, commissioning EY, to look at...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Recently, at a Cabinet sub-committee meeting, the Minister of State with responsibility for mental health, Deputy Mary Butler, presented a comprehensive report on mental health services generally but also in respect of the impact of Covid. Generally speaking, services have been maintained at 90% or 95% throughout the Covid period, which is a great credit to all of the professionals and staff...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am giving it to the Deputy now. The information had come from the National Office for Suicide Prevention, which is located in Cork. We will publish any data we have and send it to the Deputy. I have no difficulty with that. All data should be published. Data are there to inform public policy and public commentary, so I have no issue with that. That was the presentation made by the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: In terms of accountability to the House, and if I could be given a minute or two on this and pre-empt further questions, I have answered questions on this issue twice on Leaders' Questions, on 18 and 24 November, with Deputy Shortall and, if I am correct, Deputy McDonald before that. The Tánaiste has taken Leaders' Questions three times on the appointment of Séamus Woulfe from...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am going to answer the Deputy's questions.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am not. I will come to the core, if I may.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is the Deputy's observation.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: There have also been ten parliamentary questions from Deputy Kelly to the Minister, Deputy McEntee, which have been answered.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: There have been two from Deputy Shortall. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, has made it clear that she is willing to answer questions in this House. She said that last Thursday evening. The Opposition opposed that and any facilitation of that, which was due to happen next Tuesday, because of the format of how the questions would be asked. I believe withdrawing from the Business Committee...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Minister is committed to coming into the House to answer questions.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: She wants to deal with this and she will answer questions on this. The Business Committee should reconvene. The Minister is prepared to come into the House tomorrow afternoon to make a statement-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----and answer questions as well. I suggest that the Business Committee meet to go through the format of that and work it out. That will be as early as tomorrow. From the outset, my main aim and responsibility as Taoiseach is to maintain the separation of powers and also to maintain confidence in our judicial system-----