Results 33,741-33,760 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will feed back the Deputy's comments to the Minister and Department. I think 60 is a significant increase. Funding for the NPWS doubled in the budget. This is an area in which I am interested. I want to support the Minister and Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, in respect of the NPWS to give it stronger capacity in future in terms of our wildlife, national parks and biodiversity. ...

Ministerial Responsibilities (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: I wish to notify the House that I have formally assigned responsibility for the Department of Justice to the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys. As I signalled to the House last month, this assignment arises in the context of the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, taking a period of six months' maternity leave. She will, of course, remain a member of Government without...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: On the taxi situation that has been raised, I have no intention of becoming involved in any operational decisions that have been made. The Government is very conscious of the difficult challenges that taxi drivers have faced as a result of the pandemic, and has provided a number of supports to taxi drivers. I accept that they may not consider them to be sufficient but we have provided them...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: Gardaí have to make operational decisions. Those operational decisions are made in the unarmed police force in this country that has stood us well and served the country very well throughout the years. That reference should be withdrawn, irrespective of to whom it applies, given the appalling atrocities that Nazis committed and that Hitler committed. We are a far different country...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: In regard to the national marine planning framework, NMPF, Bill, the European maritime spatial planning directive requires all member states to publish and implement marine spatial plans by quarter 1 of 2021. I do not want government by paralysis. We have a cross-Government approach and we have been four years involved in developing Ireland's first marine spatial planning framework. This...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the assertions that have been made, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has made itself available to the Oireachtas joint committee throughout this process. It is not correct to say the legislation is being rushed through. The draft NMPF was launched in November 2019 and officials were invited to appear before the Oireachtas joint committee on 25 March 2021...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: The draft NMPF was laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas on 24 March 2021-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----and approved by Seanad Éireann on 19 April 2021. It is time for this House to get this country moving on a whole range of areas and stop trying to slow everything down and inject a paralysis into the affairs of the State-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----which is becoming a feature of what goes on here.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: There was a lot of populist rhetoric-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----in what was articulated by Deputy Michael Collins and others. There is no attack on fishermen. This is the State's marine spatial plan. In the context of the issues raised by Deputy Verona Murphy, this is not legislation, it is a plan. The absence of a proper spatial plan has led to many of the issues Deputies have raised. The country has not had a marine spatial plan to date. This...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----but let us never make a decision on anything. Let us always try to exploit something for electoral advantage, which is what Deputy Ó Broin is doing. There is no question about that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am entitled to make a political assertion, just as the Deputy is.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: The committee concluded its business on this and asked that it proceed. This was before the Oireachtas committee on 25 March and 6 April. The assertion that it has not been before the committee is false. It has been before the committee.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: There is an obligation on the State. The European maritime spatial planning directive requires all member states to publish and implement their marine spatial plans by the first quarter of 2021. Even Deputy Ó Broin, despite all the posturing, had to admit in the end that, in the main, it is a good plan. Of course, it is a good plan. It is a comprehensive plan and it is one we should...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: Regional public events were held in respect of the national marine planning framework as far back as 2018. There were five regional public events.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: There were a further eight events, seven of them held in coastal locations throughout the country. The idea that people have not been consulted is not true. Elected representatives were invited to each of the meetings, regional and local. The impression is then given that there was no consultation and it is being rushed through.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: There was consultation, which has been laid before the House and also approved by the Seanad. If one considers the Maritime Jurisdiction Bill, which will come forward along with the maritime area planning Bill and the national marine planning framework, NMPF, this Government is, for the first time ever, transforming the regulatory and planning framework for the proper utilisation and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on Europe oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments on the European Union and related issues. It last met on 22 March 2021 in advance of the meeting by videoconference of the members of the European Council on 25 March. It discussed the agenda for the European Council, including...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Apr 2021)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the decision by the Saudi Arabian authorities in respect of Abdulrahman al-Sahdan. I will pursue that. There are a range of issues around human rights and freedom of assembly. I will discuss the matter with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and our ambassador will engage to support the avoidance of what would be a very severe penalty and the release of the...