Results 33,041-33,060 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: It does not do that and the Deputy should not suggest that it does, or assert that it does. That is what the Deputy said. I have no doubt that the public health expertise will engage with disability organisations in terms of the roll-out of the vaccine. In the first instance, it is being rolled out to the elderly and residents in nursing homes because they are the most vulnerable. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I dealt with the student nurses earlier. I say again that, in my view, a first-year student on a nine-week placement should not have to work a 13-hour roster. The clinical placement cannot be protected if a person is working flat out.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is not what the degree programme is about. Any employer - I need to be careful because a person's words get twisted all the time around here - any employer should not abuse student nurses in that situation.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Information (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The economic division of my Department assists me and the Government in developing and implementing policy across relevant areas including economic growth and job creation, infrastructure and housing, climate action and social dialogue. This work is focused, in particular, on the delivery of commitments in the Programme for Government, for example the development of a new national economic...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Vaccination Programme (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Government established the High-Level Task Force on COVID-19 Vaccination to ensure the requisite oversight, agility and specialist input is available to support the HSE and the Department of Health in the effective, efficient and agile delivery of the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme. The Task Force, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, has met three times to date, most recently on...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Details of the fees paid by my Department on behalf of employees to professional organisations in 2020 are set out below. 2020 Organisation Name No. of Staff Cost Public Relations Institute of Ireland 1 €320 Irish Taxation Institute 1 €330

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: If I may, a Cheann Comhairle, I would like to take the opportunity briefly to wish Deputy McDonald and all Deputies in the House a very happy festive season and a safe one. This might be my last opportunity to speak. I wish a happy Christmas to the Ceann Comhairle and his team, the superintendent, the head ushers and the entire team here who have kept our national Parliament operational...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is just empty rhetoric and nonsense. Housing construction is not being led by developers. I have said repeatedly that 18,000 houses will be built this year if we can get there. Covid-19 has had a negative impact. More than half of those houses will be built by public initiative. Next year, 12,750 houses will be socially delivered. Some 9,500 of those houses will be built by local...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy that the situation in Northern Ireland, and indeed throughout Europe, is very worrying and concerning. Yesterday the Netherlands closed down before Christmas. Germany has done the same. The positivity rate in Northern Ireland is about 9%. It is not clear that testing there is at the same level as here. The numbers have been worrying for quite some time. There are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: We will be in discussions with the Executive and will discuss the Covid situation on Friday. There are political sensitivities here, and one must always be mindful that whatever initiatives the Northern Ireland Executive takes, they are the Executive's initiatives. It has to own them and be comfortable in bringing them forward, even if that means further restrictions. It is to be regretted...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I reassure him that there is no tactic or strategy here to try to claw back revenue or anything like that. That is not motivating any actions on the part of the Revenue Commissioners at all. As the Deputy will be aware, between March and August 66,500 firms received payments under the TWSS. This amounts to approximately one third of all employers...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: First of all, there will undoubtedly be ongoing consideration of the scheme. There needs to be an evaluation of the scheme, how it worked and its effectiveness. I have no doubt that it has been very effective in terms of supporting many businesses. As I stated, more than 66,500 firms received a payment under the TWSS, supporting more than 664,000 jobs. If the Deputy can submit the details...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: First, on Brexit, we have been working very hard to avoid a no-deal Brexit. The Deputy is correct in stating that the western regions and the Border counties in particular would suffer very severely from a no-deal Brexit, and farming would be very negatively impacted in terms of dairy, beef, sheep and all agricultural products. The impact would be very severe. As for fish, it would...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: As I said, the intention is to continue this on an administrative basis first and then to see if we can introduce legislation to underpin it. Essentially, officials in the Department of Health are giving detailed consideration to the implementation of a unilateral cross-border directive type of arrangement. It cannot be the same because the UK is no longer in the European Union and it does...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Government has not left the workers cruelly exposed, and no legislation will stop liquidations in the future. There are issues with regard to whether we can give greater protections to collective agreements. I have read Mr. Kevin Foley's report on this and the Deputy should as well. It is just playing politics to say it is the Government's fault. That is the easy thing to do....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Government is the only party that stood up to the plate. We provided the statutory redundancy. Some €13 million has been paid in statutory redundancy payments, and as a result of Mr.Kevin Foley's report, the Government will provide an additional €3 million to support guidance, training, education and business start-ups for the former Debenhams workers. That is what we can...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the seriousness of this matter. Deputies Cahill and Lowry have consistently raised it with me, as has the mayor, Councillor Smith. I have been in contact with the Health Service Executive on the matter and I will speak again to the Minister for Health. I have spoken to him previously about this and I intend to engage further now. Given yesterday's meeting and its potential...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: As has been stated in the House, the Tánaiste has initiated a review of the legislation on company law in respect of these issues. It is hoped that the review will be completed before the end of the year. I would caution though, that the review in itself may not be a panacea for what happened in the Debenhams case. Clearly, it is not directly applicable to Debenhams. The area I am...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Boyd Barrett is acting the populist.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Yes, the Deputy is.