Results 32,741-32,760 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Legislative Programme (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. When previously questioned on this matter on 8 September, I informed the House that there were currently no Bills in preparation in my Department and the position is unchanged. The Government legislation programme was published by the Government Chief Whip on 15 September. The programme sets out the Government's priorities...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Legislative Programme (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for their various questions. Deputy Barry raised the issue of the process, the dialogue and discussions on company law reform and the need to amend the laws, particularly in regard to liquidations, the rights of workers and the honouring of collective agreements, and also the measures to implement the Duffy Cahill report, which is not directly applicable to the Debenhams...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Legislative Programme (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have answered them on a number of occasions, in particular, in the first instance when the Tánaiste said for transparency reasons to me and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan - we were not Ministers at the time - that Mr. Justice Séamus Woulfe had come through the JAAB process.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Legislative Programme (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Prior to the actual formal Cabinet meeting, I would have been advised by the Minister that she was bringing forward those proposals to Cabinet in the normal way. That question has been answered before and I have answered it again. My Department has been very transparent on this and has answered the Deputy's questions on all of these issues.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Legislative Programme (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of the recruitment of nurses and doctors. I introduced the nursing degree programme when I served as Minister for Health. At the time, it represented a very radical transformation of nursing education, and I put enormous resources into it in order to create the new facilities we have in universities and institutes of technology across the country. Those...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Legislative Programme (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----where all of its members voted unanimously for the pension age to be increased to 66 years, I believe. Who is all over the place?

Ceisteanna - Questions: US Presidential Election (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Question Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together. I spoke with President-elect Joe Biden by telephone in the afternoon of 10 November to offer my congratulations on his and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris's recent success in the United States election. We spoke about his strong ties to Ireland, Mayo and Louth in particular, and his most recent visit here in 2016. He is proud...

Ceisteanna - Questions: US Presidential Election (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: To respond to Deputy Kelly, I want to put on record my view that successive ambassadors to the US have punched well above their weight. Our diplomatic performance in the US has continuously been at a very high level, and the current ambassador, Daniel Mulhall, has demonstrated great capacity on a number of fronts. Our diplomats have great experience and have developed significant contacts...

Ceisteanna - Questions: US Presidential Election (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----is a major step forward. While the large orders that have come in from the US have played a role, capacity is important too. I recall, when I was Minister for Health during the severe acute respiratory syndrome, SARS, epidemic that the European capacity to deal with the vaccine issue was negligible. We have made a great deal of progress on making vaccines available to large numbers of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: US Presidential Election (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Many emergency measures have been taken.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The programme for Government sets out the Government's commitments on a shared island and to working with all communities and traditions on the island to build consensus around a shared future underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. On 22 October, I set out the Government's vision and priorities on a shared island in an online event at Dublin Castle. More than 800 people participated...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have not yet received the document compiled by Sinn Féin, which Deputy McDonald spoke about, regarding the benefits economically of a united Ireland. I certainly will have a look at it, as will the officials in the shared island unit. I would say to the Deputy that it is time to stop playing politics with the North. The shared island initiative is a genuine attempt to create a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Obviously, its fundamental role would be to protect populations but it would also be the fastest way to reigniting the global economy. Companies can also play their role. My understanding is that some companies will play their role in sharing the data, etc., in relation to this. The overarching priority has to be to get the vaccines out there. We have signed up for three - Pfizer...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality met on 2 November last and is scheduled to meet again shortly. In addition, a number of meetings have been held between my officials and officials from relevant Government Departments since the establishment of the Cabinet Committee in July.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Work is on-going across Government in preparation for the possible easing of restrictions currently in place. The Cabinet Committee on COVID-19 will meet on Thursday to discuss modifying restrictions at the end of level 5. Cabinet will meet Friday to further discuss and decide on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Alcohol Sales (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Awaiting reply from Department.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue this afternoon. It is deeply disappointing and very annoying that the British Government has not committed to holding a proper public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane. I know the disappointment is keenly and painfully felt by the Finucane family, by Geraldine, the late Pat Finucane's wife, and his sons and daughter. I utterly concur with the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I think that, collectively, we as an Oireachtas can with one voice articulate to the British Government again the view that a full public inquiry should be held. We can continue to work at both European and international level and with international opinion. We have support in the United States from people such as Richie Neal and others, and we can of course enlist the engagement of the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his question. The Government is absolutely and wholly committed to the timely implementation of a Covid-19 immunisation programme once the vaccines are approved for use, particularly the vaccines that are in the European Union portfolio. In this regard, I have established a cross-Government high-level task force to oversee the development and implementation of a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy and I appreciate the point he is making. I established the task force for a reason, namely, to bring a varied range of disciplines, both public sector and private sector, to the table to deal with the various work streams that will be required to deliver the vaccine. There is a work stream currently operating in regard to information technology, for example, because IT...