Results 33,641-33,660 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: I met with principals recently. The Deputy's constituency colleagues, Deputies James O'Connor, Stanton and Sherlock, have also raised these issues consistently. Two issues arise, the first being school enrolment at second level in east Cork because the area is probably the fastest growing in the county. A substantial investment programme, probably one of the largest ever for east Cork,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: As I said earlier, my view is that we have to provide for social and affordable housing and move away from creating barriers to getting housing built in this country given the crisis that many people who cannot access housing currently experience. I do not know the specifics of the case in question or what happened so I cannot comment on it or on whether there is a mechanism for getting the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: We want to give every housebound person in this situation a vaccine. I do not know whether the Deputy has spoken to the GP or the HSE about this but these are issues that ordinarily are dealt with by engaging with the local doctor and HSE. The National Ambulance Service has been doing this and it has been doing an excellent job. Quite a significant number of housebound people have been...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: This legislation has been progressed for some time but there have been challenges in regard to it. The Minister has succeeded in getting it through. A range of issues have arisen in respect of it, including state aid. The key point is that the agency will have a very significant impact. I will refer the Deputy's concerns to the Minister. The agency is one of a number of measures that,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of the expansion of services in the mid-Cork area, particularly the Macroom-Cork city route, which he has raised previously. The Government has committed to reviewing the frequency of that service. The National Transport Authority, NTA, is also working on this. The Deputy is correct that it makes absolute sense that we enhance high-quality...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister, clearly, is not responsible for the operation of bus schedules, but the NTA has a role in that and I will certainly convey the concerns of Deputy Bríd Smith to the NTA in respect of the points raised. On Deputy Nolan's point, the Ministers for Public Expenditure and Reform and Social Protection have been making progress on this issue and are engaging with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. The cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment has been established and first met on 8 July. It has met on a total of 11 occasions, most recently on 12 April. The next meeting is scheduled for 6 May. Membership of the committee is comprised of the Taoiseach; the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Employment...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Kelly asked about the stability programme update and the implications for unemployment. The Government is very seized of the very serious unemployment situation because of the impact of the pandemic on the economy and society in general, particularly for young people. I have said that we need a new deal for young people emerging from the pandemic. It is a new deal that needs to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: There has been a 42% reduction in family homelessness in emergency accommodation, with a 19% reduction since the beginning of this year. We want to continue to make progress on that front. Expanding Housing First is a key initiative of ours which we will do. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is committed to doing that. In my view, there is...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 12, inclusive, together. On 22 October, I set out the Government's vision and priorities on shared island in an online event at Dublin Castle. In budget 2021, the Government announced the shared island fund, with €500 million being made available out to 2025, ring-fenced for shared island projects. This provides significant new capital...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: I fully agree with what Deputy Richmond said in terms of the need for strong continuing dialogue. I am always open to dialogue and conversation on issues pertaining to the future of this island and to all of the questions relating to that. Indeed I have been open to them since the beginning of my political career when I was elected a councillor and Deputy. I do not need Deputy Carthy to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: The current Citizens' Assembly on gender equality was established in January 2020 and, following delays caused by Covid-19, resumed its work with on-line meetings in October last year. The Assembly adapted its methods to comply with Public Health Guidelines. It held its final deliberative meeting online last weekend (17th-18thApril) including voting. The results of the members’ voting...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 27 together. As a consequence of the Covid19 pandemic, this year’s programme of events to mark St. Patrick’s Day took place online. On 17 March, I had meetings with President Biden, Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, and with members of the Friends of Ireland caucus. My discussions with President Biden and Vice President Harris...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: UN Security Council (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: Ireland took its seat on the UN Security Council on 1 January 2021. It is a great honour for Ireland to have been elected to serve on the Council. We believe it has a vital role to play in preventing and resolving conflict throughout the world, and that Ireland can make a real contribution to that work. We will use our term to work with partners to strengthen conflict prevention, support...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. Table 1: Department of the Taoiseach Staff by Grade and Gender - 21 April 2021 Grade Total Male Female Assistant Secretary 6 3 3 Principal Officer 18 9 9 Assistant Principal Officer 38 ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: General Data Protection Regulation (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: My Department has received a total of 17 Data Subject Access requests from members of the public since the GDPR came into force in May, 2018. All of the requests have been accepted and no related complaints have been received. YEAR Number of GDPR Data Subject Access Requests Received Accepted/ Refused Status 2021 6 All...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Vaccination Programme (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government has regular and ongoing engagement with companies involved in supplying vaccines for Covid-19, as well as with the European Commission and others involved in the procurement and production of vaccines. I myself have had a number of direct engagements with companies involved in the development and supply of vaccines. This has included meetings with AstraZeneca, Johnson and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Commissions of Investigation (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: The NAMA Commission of Investigation, whose sole member is Judge John Cooke, was established in June 2017 following consultations by the then Government with Opposition parties to investigate the sale by NAMA of its Northern Ireland portfolio, known as Project Eagle. The Commission’s original deadline for reporting was 31 June 2018 but following several requests from the Commission,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Shared Island Unit (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: As part of the Shared Island initiative, the Shared Island unit in my Department is progressing a comprehensive research programme, working with the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) and the Irish Research Council (IRC). Strengthening social, economic and political links on the island and the promotion of all-island approaches to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Undocumented Irish in the USA (21 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: As a consequence of the Covid19 pandemic, this year’s programme of events to mark St. Patrick’s Day took place online. On 17 March, I had meetings with President Biden, Vice President Harris, Speaker Pelosi, and with members of the Friends of Ireland caucus. My discussions with President Biden, covered a broad range of issues including: Covid-19; the Ireland-US bilateral...