Results 34,561-34,580 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. There has been a substantial increase in funding to health, particularly the winter initiative last year. There was a total of over €4 billion, the largest ever budget. It has yielded results, including 5 million home care packages over the winter period into this year. That has facilitated a greater flow. We have higher levels of activity...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: My only concern and motivation is to protect people. I do not want to close anything down. Why would I or anyone want to close anything down? The reason is obvious: there is a pandemic and it has devastated people's lives.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Nothing ever added up for you during this pandemic.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: If we had taken your advice from the beginning, there would be far more people sick and dead as a result of the pandemic.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: You have been in denial since the beginning of the pandemic.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Your approach is the Bolsonaro and Trump approach. Denial after denial of the existence of the pandemic is your approach.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is your approach.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, the most effective way to get the world vaccinated is through licensing of technology and building up capacity and know-how in terms of the production of vaccines. The European Union has pledged €1 billion to developing production facilities and know-how in Africa so that Africa can begin producing its own medicines. That, to me, is a very sensible and pragmatic way of trying...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----is playing a very noble role in this and the European Union has been a way ahead of any other large bloc-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----in respect of vaccine production.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy that the guidance should issue. I know that the Minister is close to finalisation of the guidance. It has been going on for quite some time, even longer than 2019, in respect of new guidelines for wind turbines and for renewable energy more generally. I will engage with the Minister in terms of accelerating the publication of those guidelines and interaction with...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: This is one of the many consequences of Brexit. I saw during the week that the exports to the European Union of one third of UK companies had declined. The ramifications of Brexit on the UK economy are going to be sustained in the long term. Regarding the Deputy's point, the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement has eliminated tariff duties on trade between the European Union and Great...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is having an each-way bet in that presentation. The vaccine programme has been very effective, I am sure the Deputy will agree. It has been excellently executed. The NIAC advice in respect of AstraZeneca and Janssen came in on Monday evening and was formally sent yesterday from the CMO to the HSE. The HSE has to work through that advice in terms of the implications, but it will...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is a very fair point that the Deputy has raised, although the rates are increasing and progress is being made in relation to the various screening programmes. The Government and the Minister for Health are, along with the HSE, working through and operating an awareness campaign and encouraging people to come back and avail of the screening programmes. That will continue. We will take...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I have said repeatedly and consistently here that our objective is to protect people. Over the last number of months, we have successfully suppressed the virus in this country compared to many other countries.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Let us look at what is happening in Johannesburg, for example, because of the Delta variant. I am amazed at times. I recall being here in February and everyone was talking about maximum suppression of the virus and zero Covid, though not Deputy Danny Healy-Rae in fairness.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: It amazes me that people quickly forget how devastating this virus can be on people's health. It amazes me that in a few months people quickly forget what happened in this country. We should never underestimate the potential of this virus, through various variants, to wreak havoc. We are in a better position because of vaccinations.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: We will come out of this but we will do it in a steady way, as we have done over recent months. We have reopened the country and we will continue to do so.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: We extended the PUP and the deadlines in terms of new applicants in light of advice received on Monday evening regarding the Delta variant. We have done that, we have extended it which shows our flexibility in keeping these schemes under review. It has been an unprecedented intervention by the Government across the board in protecting jobs and supporting hospitality through the Covid...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (30 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I agree with Deputy Collins in terms of the beauty of those walkways and the fantastic amenities they provide to people throughout the country who avail of the incredible landscape around west Cork by accessing those walkways he described. I will talk with the Minister, in terms of engaging with Oireachtas Members, and with the county council.