Results 35,661-35,680 of 51,299 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy knows, the commission on the future of the Defence Forces is currently meeting to consider the organisation of the Defence Forces into the future. I will revert to the Minister on the question asked by the Deputy. There have always been exceptions pertaining to Defence Forces personnel in a range of areas because of the nature of their work and service to the State. I will...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue in the House. I am not aware of the background to this case. I will raise it with the Minister for Defence in the first instance and endeavour to get the background to the case, and ensure that justice is applied and fair and due process is applied. The allegations the Deputy has made on behalf of the individual are serious. The situation merits...

Education (Health, Relationships and Sex Education) Bill 2021: First Stage (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: No.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. Last week, I had a series of phone calls with the leaders of the Democratic Unionist Party, DUP, Sinn Féin, including the deputy First Minister, the Ulster Unionist Party, UUP, the Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP, and the Alliance Party to discuss the ongoing talks on the Northern Ireland protocol. I emphasised...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank all the Deputies who raised questions in respect of the meetings I had with Northern party leaders. Deputy Richmond raised a number of points relating to the prospectus of the unionist parties in regard to the protocol and so on. I think it is fair to say that all parties, although I do not want to go through each individual conversation, favour continued access to the European...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth made a comprehensive announcement earlier in respect of both an action plan and a payments scheme for all residents of mother and baby homes and county homes-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: It does include an enhanced medical card.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: We will have to get this reconciled-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----in respect of the medical card being available-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----on the same basis as the Magdalen laundries. That is my understanding, but I will get this issue checked for the Deputy.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Let us be clear, however, that this is an €800 million package, which is being allocated in this regard. I do not want to monetise it, but the action plan is important. Turning to information, the legislation on information and tracing is still before the House. I think it was published on 9 May and it is still at the pre-legislative scrutiny stage. We must move it on and onto...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Policing Reform (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 9, inclusive, together. A Policing Service for our Future is the Government's plan to implement the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. As recommended in the commission's report, implementation of the plan is being overseen by a dedicated programme office in the Department of the Taoiseach. The policing reform implementation...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Policing Reform (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Speaking generally, this is a long-term programme of policing reform, which the House, to varying degrees, bought into in terms of the establishment of an independent Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. I was in opposition at the time and we were properly consulted by the commission itself, along with many others. I have noted there seems to be a lot of dissatisfaction now...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Policing Reform (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I know that. I am not just talking about the issue as it pertains to a policing authority, I am talking more generally. The Deputy is now calling the Garda divisions "insane".

Ceisteanna - Questions: Policing Reform (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am not saying the Deputy is wrong, I am referring to the language used.. The point I want to get across is that there is now a huge gap between what I heard previously and what I am hearing now. That invariably happens when geography comes into the question around the reform of organisations.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Policing Reform (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I take the Deputy's point. I am not answerable on specific operational decisions as to where a headquarters is located. I take the Deputy's point about Tipperary, as opposed to the west of the mid-west, as the Deputy has described it, and the organisation of divisions, headquarters and so forth on the ground. I will follow up on that. A unit in my Department oversees policing reform and I...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank all the Deputies for their commentary. Deputy Ó Murchú raised the issue of Moore Street. Again, I regret the endless partisan politicisation of this issue by the Sinn Féin Party given that there has been considerable and very significant cross-party engagement involving Dublin City Council and many in the Oireachtas for many years on the preservation of the site of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: We have discussed this with relatives as well, and the Deputy knows that. I do not want to have an engagement that is too partisan but I believe what is going on is regrettable. I believe there is an electoral and definitely a political agenda associated with what is going on. There has been cross-party engagement on this matter for a long time. I can go back five, six or seven years in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: My apologies; I am coming to that. There are several Deputies to answer. In terms of the homeless, preparations are in place for the homeless coming into winter. The Government has worked with local authorities so that the cold weather arrangements are in place in time. They allow for additional temporary beds to be brought into use across a range of existing services and facilities for...