Results 32,781-32,800 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Garda Reform (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: In September 2018, the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland published its report outlining a clear vision and roadmap for strengthening An Garda Síochána and the broader national framework for policing, security and community safety.  In December 2018, the Government approved A Policing Service for the Future as the plan to implement the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Garda Reform (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: On Deputy Kelly's question, that issue is being examined in the context of the implementation of the commission's reports in terms of the governance-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Garda Reform (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should look at the programme for Government, for example, on the precise nature of this in terms of balancing governance with accountability. I am not so sure that the Policing Authority worked, to be honest. I do not mean that in any way to apportion blame, but there were some issues regarding role definition-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Garda Reform (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----in terms of whether it was about governance or accountability and who was ultimately responsible for the governance of An Garda Síochána. We need to reflect on that continually. I take the Deputy's point that one does not want an in-house culture that promotes certain people in certain areas. One wants an arm's-length, independent, objective approach to recruitment-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Garda Reform (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----and especially with senior appointments. That is accepted. That has been in place in recent times. We agree on the principles in this, but we must get a model and ensure it works. The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland put a great deal of work into it. I and all Deputies engaged with it, irrespective of whether we were in or out of Government.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Garda Reform (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Theesprit de corpsof the commission was a positive one. It was designed to transform. I believe the most important areas are recruitment and education. That is in the next phase and needs a radical change, in my view. We must broaden the experiences of people who apply to An Garda Síochána. On the other questions, the recruitment is ongoing. A report from the future of policing...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on social affairs and equality was established in July 2020 and oversees implementation of programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy, equality and public services, including matters relating to justice, policing reform and community safety. It receives detailed reports on...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: First, I will respond to Deputy Kelly's questions about the reopening. Dance classes are a very difficult area. The issue is where one draws the line. Individual tuition is allowed in terms of culture, arts and music, but where does one draw the line with dance classes?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: There are so many different types of dance. One is also drawing children from different communities and backgrounds to the one centre, so one is potentially facilitating the spread of the virus. As I stated in my address on Friday, we are prepared to go so far but no further. Unfortunately, quite a number of groups were left out in the modifications to level 3. The objective was to try to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Last Friday, the Government agreed the approach for easing restrictions, including a phased move to Level 3 nationally, with a number of exceptions in place for the Christmas period. The exceptions for the Christmas period are designed to support people to have a meaningful Christmas, albeit different to other years. The main objective is to stay safe and keep the Covid numbers down so that...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Matters relating to international policy and foreign affairs are discussed by the Cabinet as and when appropriate, mostly on foot of Memoranda to Government brought by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I also engage bilaterally with the Minister on such matters, as appropriate. International matters also arise in the context of the context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Global Footprint Initiative (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Under the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to seeking to continue to implement Global Ireland 2025, and its ambition to double our global footprint in the period to 2025, having regard to available resources. Despite the pandemic, which has placed severe constraints on travel and other international engagement, considerable progress on implementation by Departments and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Judicial Appointments (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The only correspondence my Department has in relation to this matter is the necessary administrative correspondence associated with the Government's meeting and decision. In accordance with the constitutional arrangements regarding Cabinet confidentiality and the Government's relationship with the President, I do not propose to release this correspondence.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Economic and Social Council (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The National Economic and Social Council is an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of my Department. The Terms of Reference and composition of the NESC are set out in legislation - the National Economic and Social Development Act, 2006, and in the National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order, 2010. The role of the Council is to analyse and report...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Further to my answer provided on 11 November 2020, the Government’s travel advice and approach to implementation of the EU ‘traffic light’ system is published on the Government website . (see ) This approach includes office holders and officials who undertake essential travel to represent Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: A schedule of all consultancy firms, legal firms, project management firms and IT firms my Department has engaged to carry out work on its behalf in 2018, 2019, and to date in 2020 has been extracted from my Department’s financial management system and is set out in the tables below. My Department has not engaged any accountancy firms in the period in question. No disputes over costs...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: First of all, the Deputy is incorrect and is wrong. We know that Covid-19 has had a very significant impact on the housing situation in 2020. It is true that Rebuilding Ireland home loan approvals have been down this year because of Covid-19 and significantly so in quarters 1 and 2. The pandemic impacted significantly on the building sector because of the first lockdown, and that has...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am not saying that people who need affordable housing have massive savings. That is why we are supporting them. That is the reason we put €150 million into the help-to-buy scheme which the Deputy refuses to support and which she attacks whenever she gets a chance. We want to give people support to enable them to buy homes. Approximately €760 million was provided in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I set up the task force. This is an issue of national priority that goes to the top of the Government and I will stay on top of this until everything is resolved. To be clear, much of the experience and expertise resides in the Department of Health and the HSE. They have been involved in a range of previous vaccination programmes with the national immunisation advisory committee and so...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is the reason I established a task force.