Results 35,761-35,780 of 51,299 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Risk Assessment (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The national risk assessment provides an opportunity to identify and discuss significant risks that may arise for Ireland. Since it was first published in 2014, it has provided an overview of strategic risks and has highlighted risks such as Brexit, housing and pandemics. The process is designed to ensure a broad-based and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Risk Assessment (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for raising those issues. In response to Deputy Paul Murphy, big tech companies meet Ministers regularly. They are responsible for thousands of jobs in the country, which should be acknowledged. I note the Deputy rarely acknowledges it in correspondence. That said, there must be meetings with such companies and they should be transparent. There is no issue, in my...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Risk Assessment (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: It should be clear who was there. Deputy Brendan Smith made a very fair point on the all-island approach to the pandemic. There should be an all-island approach. For example, it would have been far better if Covid certs were part of an all-island approach. The party opposite, Sinn Féin, opposed the Covid certs here and have opposed them in the North. A cross-Border approach to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together. I attended a meeting of the European Council on 21 and 22 October in Brussels. The agenda covered Covid-19, energy prices, trade, external relations, migration and digital transformation. We also had a discussion on the rule of law in the European Union. We discussed Covid-19, with a particular focus on vaccination rates across...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: On the questions raised by Deputy Paul Murphy, we always provide consular support to Irish citizens in any sort of difficulty. I will check to see that the embassy will be represented in the courts tomorrow. Greece is a member of the European Union and we do not, ordinarily, interfere in the judicial process in countries but we will keep a very close eye on this. We support humanitarian...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: There was a discussion. Again, the bulk of discussion concerned whether there could be pan-European measures on pricing.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I launched the shared island dialogue series to foster inclusive, constructive civic dialogue on key issues for a shared future on the island underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. Over the past year, there have been seven dialogue events and two round-table discussions. I participated in the first dialogue event last November, hearing from young people on their perspectives for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for raising these questions. I take the point made by Deputy Paul Murphy. I would like to think that the National Women's Council has formed an all-island women's forum that could become a good forum and channel for discussion and debate of the issues identified by the Deputy. I cannot comment on Sinn Féin having a dual approach. It is not new.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Sinn Féin has a different approach on a lot of issues North and South, but we do not have time to go into it here.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Sinn Féin could have ended it a long time ago with Covid certificates, but it chose not to. Sinn Féin might have changed that last night after a long period. The point has been well made by Deputy Paul Murphy. I refer to Deputy Ó Murchú's point on the citizens' assembly. I have said that 1,000 people have already met in the shared dialogue, covering subjects from...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is why we need to be careful about presenting it as a cause célèbreand suggesting that it is the most important thing, because it is not. The most important thing is to get people engaged with each other. I have experience from many years as a public representative and I have learned a lot throughout that journey. I do not go into the sloganeering anymore. When I was...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: On the ESRI and National Economic and Social Council, NESC, reports, the research programme with the ESRI is focusing on aspects of health, education, enterprise and an all-island economy post Brexit, which NESC has worked on. Scoping papers for each research topic were published on 17 May. Final reports will be published in December and early 2022. They will be important reports....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Office of the Attorney General (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Attorney General was appointed in June 2020 in accordance with provisions of Article 30 of the Constitution. There were no special or exceptional arrangements applying in this regard. While I have responsibility for answering questions on administrative matters connected with the Office of the Attorney General, I have no function in respect of the detail of the Attorney...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The establishment of a Citizen’s Assembly on all-island issues is not envisaged at this time. As part of the Government’s Shared Island initiative, I launched the Shared Island Dialogue series in October 2021, to foster inclusive, constructive civic dialogue on key issues for a shared future on the island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. There have been seven...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Ar dtús báire, gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis na Seanadóirí as an gcuireadh labhairt leo tráthnóna inniu. Is mór an t-áthas orm agus an phribhléid dom a bheith sa Seanad chun labhairt leo. Ar ndóigh is ócáid thráthúil í mar go bhfuil muintir na hÉireann faoi láthair ag dul trí...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: That will be fine.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank all the Senators for their varied contributions. I may not be able to get through every contribution in my reply but there are common thematic elements to the debate to which I can respond. Quite a number of Senators spoke about the broader issue of this island and its future. I think Senator Doherty started off in that vein when she referred to the shared island initiative and the...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----but also understanding the pressures they are under. The resolution of the protocol issue is about that same exercise. To be fair to Commissioner Šefovi, I asked him to go to the North and he did, as did the Minister, Deputy Coveney. Commissioner Šefovi went to the North, listened to the people on the ground, came away with a different perspective, to be fair to him,...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will turn to antigen testing and Covid-19. We are going through different phases of Covid-19 and learning all along the way. The vaccination programme has been very successful and it is because of that that the country is still open. The majority of those who end up in ICU are unvaccinated, and most of those who are vaccinated have underlying conditions. Consequently, making sure that...