Results 34,001-34,020 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, particularly for the residents of the area and those who stand to benefit from the Kilcummin sewerage scheme. The sanctioning of the scheme is important. The Minister, Deputy Michael McGrath, was very keen to allocate substantial resources to waste water treatment plants and to water infrastructure more generally because it is an...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: As I have said, the money is not the issue in funding water infrastructure. Very significant allocations were made in the budget this year. Deputy Kelly is endeavouring to interject. He might have some experience of this scheme going back. I will engage-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I know that. We will work with Irish Water.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Whose?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: You are really calling on all the shots now, Deputy Healy-Rae.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: You are using every degree of leverage you can for this scheme. I have often gone through Kilcummin and we might be down there again in the summer, Covid restrictions permitting. I will talk to the Minister. We will talk to Irish Water, see what the issue is and see if we can get it resolved. You have made your point, which is valid.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is interesting how times move fairly quickly here. Deputies Duncan Smith, Cian O'Callaghan and McNamara raised aviation policy. To be fair to Deputy McNamara, he has had a consistent approach to Covid-19 from the get-go, which if he does not mind me saying so, is probably on the more civil libertarian wing, and he was never a great enthusiast for the Covid regulations per se.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am just putting on the record how I perceive the Deputy's contributions. I say to Deputies Smith and O'Callaghan that they were the guys looking for mandatory hotel quarantine, which impacts on aviation.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is not simplistic. You attacked the Government. Your leader attacked the Government - could not do it quick enough.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: He could not have zero Covid quick enough about two months ago.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is two months on. Of course there is an issue. There are consequences arising out of Covid-19 and the measures that we take to deal with Covid-19. Without question, aviation has been a significant casualty because of the virus and measures that have been taken which have not facilitated travel. That is simple and the correct position. You cannot have it both ways.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy cannot come into the House and attack the Government for not moving quickly enough on mandatory hotel quarantine, and I remember the debates well and the fervour with which those debates were articulated-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----and now, moving forward, say we do not have an aviation policy. We do and the Government will bring forward an approach to the travel issue that will be consistent with the European digital green certificate framework that the Commission, in parallel with the Parliament and the Council, has been working on. We will follow through on that. We have no issue with debating that in the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Regarding the lateness of the hour this evening, the Chief Whip said that was at the request of the Business Committee, with members and other parties wanting to discuss the cyberattack on the HSE and the restoration of service as quickly as possible. I understand that was requested at the Business Committee.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Do Members want to drop that? That was what I understood the Chief Whip had said.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I think that is reasonable, given the gravity and seriousness of the attack itself. Deputy Tóibín raised the issue of hot meals in schools. An expanded scheme has been provided for that this year. I do not know whether that necessitates changing the agenda or not. We can get the Minister to respond to Deputies about that point. On the broader point regarding Covid, that is a...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I agree.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I fully accept that, a Cheann Comhairle. I endorse and agree with what you are saying but Deputy Mac Lochlainn was looking at me plaintively as if I could do something about it. I was just making the point that you have responded to public health-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has met with a representative group. I believe this meeting was in February. He asked for a submission on its proposals in respect of the scheme, a scheme which had been committed to and which has been up and running since last year. He got that submission towards the end of April. He is now going to consider the proposals. He is...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: A briefing will be offered. In fact, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, was contacting his counterparts this afternoon to facilitate such a briefing. We can facilitate a briefing with leaders and we intend to do so. With regard to the specific questions the Deputy has asked, it is still far too early to identify the entry point or the manner or nature of this attack.