Results 34,321-34,340 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Order of Business is agreed by the Business Committee and sometimes people vote for the Business Committee's Order of Business. It does not mean they are against holding a debate on something else. It is unfair to cast that aspersion on Members. When Members vote for an Order of Business that has been agreed by the Business Committee, that suddenly gets translated as these Deputies...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Yes. On the guillotine, as it has been described, of the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021, we are on Report Stage of this comprehensive, groundbreaking legislation. As a former Minister responsible for climate action, Deputy Naughten knows better than most the enormous challenges facing society in meeting our climate targets. Four hours have been allowed for...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: We have a huge agenda ahead of us and that is the basis upon which we are trying to impose time limits.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has moved fast on aviation from a position where he wanted nobody travelling in or out of here after Christmas and was urging me to bring in mandatory hotel quarantining in double quick time, to suddenly turning around and saying it is all the Government's fault. Covid-19 has decimated travel. The Government has provided a range of services and in particular, we want to get...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will be responding to the Labour Party's legislation in a constructive way tomorrow. That is one issue that is in the overall mix and the Minister is preparing a broad housing strategy, namely, Housing For All. Our objective is to get as many houses built as quickly as we possibly can using every available mechanism to do that. That...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: As I said, the Minister will be responding in a constructive way to the legislation. The Government has assessed this and it will be constructive in response to the Deputy's legislation.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Again, that is a distortion of what the Government's position is. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, particularly in relation to the testimonies that were given to the confidential committee, wants the voices of survivors to be given proper status in all of this.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy says the report should be repudiated but it is complete. When the Oireachtas decides to establish a commission of investigation, it decides from the outset that it cannot interfere or interrupt the investigation. The report has been produced and covers mother and baby homes and the county homes from 1922 to 1998, a span of 76 years. The report is approximately 3,000 pages long....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should not keep interrupting. We want to implement quickly the recommendations from the report. I am clear that the vast majority of people are anxious that we get access to information, including birth certificates. The birth information and tracing Bill has been published. The legislation relating to Tuam is important, as is the redress scheme. The Government is focusing on...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is absolutely not the case. The Tánaiste has published these proposals and there will be continuing engagement with the social partners on the matter. There has already been engagement. We want to advance, modernise and improve the situation as it applies to redundancies and situations arising out of liquidations. We also want an improved situation more generally to protect...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Urban regeneration and development funding has been strong for Waterford, in particular, and for wide areas in the south east. I am not convinced that an agency, as outlined by the Deputy, would be the best model to deal with the issue but we are open to all proposals for developing increased economic activity in the south east. The south-east technological university is an advance that...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: My understanding, from the relevant Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is that the reopening and restarting of those centres is under way. I will follow up on that. Given the success of the vaccination programme, those facilities can be restarted. I will engage with the Minister of State on the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy's point is valid that the defective blocks do not respect county boundaries. The Minister is also disposed to that view and is minded to be inclusive when amending the scheme.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: In fairness to the Deputy, she has never been slow to speak up and advocate for Carlow. I will engage with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage in respect of this matter, particularly in terms of the equalisation fund and what the Deputy says has been a consistent underfunding of Carlow for quite a number of years in the amount of €2.7 million per year. I will...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Proposals are being worked on with regard to that issue. My understanding is that something similar to the company law review process, which was established many years ago and has proven to be very effective in the area of ongoing company law review, may be developed in respect of employment law review. I will revert to the Deputy with more substantive information and details on that. The...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government is absolutely committed to Shannon Airport, Cork Airport and all the airports and ensuring we can protect them, particularly given the impact of Covid-19. Deputies and Senators should always reflect on the policies they announce one month as opposed to what they announce the second month. I am amazed at how everybody who was advocating for zero travel has suddenly had a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I absolutely agree. Government agencies will engage with the company because they are high-quality jobs. They are important jobs that we want to retain in the country and the region. The whole area in question has been very effective in creating jobs relating to aviation. The Government will do everything we can to be of support to ensure the retention of jobs.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government has provided very substantial capital moneys through the Department of Justice and Minister for Justice to An Garda Síochána in respect of the capital requirements of An Garda Síochána, including Garda stations. The Garda Commissioner has operational authority in terms of the deployment of those resources. I understand fully the needs of County Meath and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for conveying his thanks to the Government for working to restore services in very quick time between Dublin and Kerry. I am fully aware of the importance of Kerry Airport to enterprise in Kerry and surrounding areas. It is an enterprising county. Kerry technology park in Tralee, for example, has some very groundbreaking companies. Killarney tourism is probably the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: British-Irish Co-operation (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. I met with the Prime Minister, Mr. Boris Johnson, in Chequers on Friday, 14 May. We had a constructive engagement across a number of issues. Our discussions focused on ways our two Governments can continue to work together to support all the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and promote peace and prosperity on both a...