Results 34,641-34,660 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: There is an issue on the ground locally. I believe what people are saying to me. It should not happen. No one should have to go through a miscarriage on their own. That is appalling. They should not have to. If the Deputy can send me on the emails, I will pursue them with the HSE.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: The PUP, in some respects, reflected what people were earning. It represented an unprecedented support of students because it would have been the first time they received welfare payments from the Department of Social Protection. The PUP was an exceptional payment in the context of the pandemic. It still represents a very unprecedented support of students by the Government over a prolonged...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: The President of Romania was anxious to help and has responded with this offer. The Danes did something similar in recent weeks and secured supplies, bearing in mind the logistics identified by Deputy Shanahan, which I had identified as having to be fulfilled in terms of the cold chain supply and the corresponding logistics. That work is ongoing between the HSE and departmental officials in...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: I made my position clear on this project, which is a very good one and is very important for the region in respect of the creation of jobs, but it will also provide welcome diversification given Brexit and the need to bring more diversity into cheese products. It is a joint venture with Royal A-ware, a specialist cheese processor in the Netherlands and Belgium, which would be very...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: I know, but I still do not want to comment on what may transpire, other than to say, as I said previously, that people need to look at all of the issues with balance and perspective, in particular in terms of the economic development of the region.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: We know the south-east region needs more economic development.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: Aontaím leis an Teachta faoin tábhacht a bhaineann le seirbhísí faoisimh, agus admhaím go bhfuil easpa ann faoi láthair. Is gá iad a thabhairt ar ais agus seirbhísí faoisimh a chur ar fáil. De réir dealraimh beidh siad ag teacht ar ais diaidh ar ndiaidh agus beidh mé ag caint leis an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Butler, ar thaobh...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. He has been a consistent and very powerful advocate for a law in this area for some time. He has contributed to the work of the Parliament in a very informed way, resulting in the passage of this legislation. I will follow through in respect of its implementation on the ground. It would concern me if complainants were getting that type of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: In the first instance, we must be careful of pre-empting the outcome of the discussions between the hospitality sector and the Government and conflating the two issues in terms of travel and the digital Covid certificate. The latter has taken considerable work and has presented many challenges given the various sources of information – vaccination, disease recovery and PCR testing,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government is now examining that with the industry as to how best we can operationalise it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is a very specific case of a specific facility, and I would not immediately have the answers. I can approach the HSE in that respect, although I do not know if the Deputy has approached the HSE or the management on the issue. I will follow through and endeavour to get an answer.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his initiative in bringing forward this legislation. The whole area of rare diseases and orphan drugs is an important one, and there has been significant investment in research at European Union level under the Horizon programmes. There is a need here in terms of our pricing frameworks to facilitate the research and development that goes into orphan drugs in...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is a very fair point. We have had a number of events and, from what I can gather, most of the outdoor events, and indoor events as well, have been well run. An evaluation is taking place and further decisions will be taken in respect of lessons learned from those events and how we can apply those lessons to further events, both outdoor and indoor. Obviously, we have to take on board...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will go back to the Minister for Health in respect of it and see what proposals are coming forward. There has been a lot on in the health arena in the past year, as the Deputy knows, and it has been non-stop in respect of Covid and many other issues. I will pursue the matter with the Minister and get the latest update.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 8, inclusive, together. The Government co-ordination committee last met yesterday, 5 July, and its next meeting is scheduled for Monday, 12 July. The committee generally meets in advance of Government meetings to review the activity of Cabinet committees, review the agenda for that week’s Government meeting, discuss political priorities and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will deal with the questions in the order that they were tabled. In response to Deputy Kelly, the Cabinet co-ordination committee does not have endless debates on every issue. Its primary focus is to clear the agenda for the Cabinet, to discuss general issues affecting Government and issues related to Covid. We have Cabinet sub-committees on Covid, as the Deputy knows, the economy,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: Indeed, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, has engaged with those in the arts and entertainment sector on a range of proposals they have brought forward and has responded generously to their suggestions. Likewise, we have met with members of a taxi group and those in that sector as well. Facilitation has been made to allow taxi...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: On Deputy Calleary's point about the Cabinet co-ordination committee, it has been briefed on cybersecurity. The cybersecurity issue had an enormous negative impact on our health services, and especially on front-line workers. I pay a very warm tribute to everybody in administration, in the higher levels of the HSE and on the front line of our healthcare services who bore the brunt of an...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 17, inclusive, together. As committed to in the programme for Government, the social dialogue unit has been established within the economic division of my Department to co-ordinate and support our approach to social dialogue. The unit's initial focus is on supporting, enhancing and engaging with the social partners, including through existing...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (6 Jul 2021)

Micheál Martin: I take it the Deputy does not mean the political sector. It would not suit politics-----