Results 33,401-33,420 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: As I said last week, the timing of business and the amount of time the House sits are not determined by the Government. They are determined by public health advice. That was made clear last week, and health and safety-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am talking about the length of time the Dáil sits. There are constraints on what can be debated and what can be facilitated within the time constraints provided as a result of public health advice in the context of Covid-19 and the health and safety advice that the Oireachtas provided - not the Government, not my office, but the Oireachtas. Also, I understand there were...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Health will be in here all week on the quarantining Bill. The demand from - maybe not Deputy McNamara - most Members of the House has been for this Bill to be introduced and for this issue to be dealt with as expeditiously as possible because people want a mandatory quarantining regime to be put in place from a legislative perspective.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am open to the House in relation to the timelines for the Bill. I understood this was an agreed process and that people were anxious to get this through but the Whip may want to discuss the issue with others. I am not going to be accused of guillotining legislation of this kind but there is a time pressure on this. Let us be honest about that. People may have different views on the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: There is pressure on it, of course there is.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: Immediately after the legislation is passed, we will have to work up the regulatory framework and get it up and running. The legislation is key to enabling one to do that. With regard to Deputy Paul Murphy's point, there is no blind eye being turned to meat plants. That is not the case at all.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: We debated this on Leaders' Questions and the Deputy's view is that there should be a longer lockdown. That is what he would prefer, without question. This week, the quarantining legislation is the priority. Last week, the Minister for Health and his Ministers of State were before the House. Every week, issues pertaining to Covid have been debated in the House. My understanding is that...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government is motivated primarily and solely by the needs and concerns of the survivors, and to do right by them. That is informing the Government's policy and its response to the commission's recommendations. The Government is focused on delivering on those recommendations, as is the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, particularly in the context of the information and tracing Bill, which we...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: During Private Members' business, Members can bring forward legislative proposals. It could have been brought forward, published or engaged on last week. What is important is the Minister's statement regarding the retrieval of the tapes and the potential for the tapes to be available. There is more work to be done. In my view, the bona fides of the Minister cannot be questioned with...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I regret to have to say this but I must ask the Deputy why she is playing politics with this.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: No, it is not right to seek political advantage and say one is for every group to go up the list, and so on. I understand the position relating to carers like everyone else in the House. I stated that NIAC advises the Government. We can make inputs and engage in consideration but NIAC advises, that is the point I made last week. The correspondence in question relates to adults with...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: We are not asking for-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: People should respect NIAC. We are no experts.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will have to check into that.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: The matter has not come before Government in terms of any formal decision to be made. The Government has not dumped anybody. I will check this out and see what the process was or what happened. I will revert to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: The motion tabled by the Deputy's party's called for an extension of the commission to review the destruction of the audio tapes and then to allow for the salvaging of remaining testimony. Overnight, the Minister has indicated that he is in a position to salvage the tapes and that back-up tapes have been found. I did not hear his speech earlier but he indicated that to us yesterday and has...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is why we took the position we took in respect of the motion this morning.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: Our deepest sympathies go to all those, particularly the family and relatives of George Nkencho, in terms of what happened in that tragic event in Hartstown. Any fatal shooting of this kind is deeply distressing for all and for the entire community. The local community experienced real trauma as a result of this event. Such incidents, thankfully, are rare in Ireland but this will be fully...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: Prioritisation is always key to any workload in any of our organisations.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Feb 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising that issue. His colleagues have raised it a number of times previously. There is an issue to be examined. I will certainly talk to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, about it in terms of the application of the Local Government Fund in respect of Galway city and Galway county.