Results 37,181-37,200 of 51,299 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: She abused it. We need to adhere to those traditions because if people are not here to defend themselves or respond, it has to be taken into context. In any event, to make a general comment on public servants, we are fortunate in this country to have high standards of public service across Departments. There is no doubt there are strengths and weaknesses, but overall Irish public...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: There are many parties on that council; let us be clear about that.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: The SIPO report will have an impact and, I would put it to the Deputy, is already having an impact. When a report like that is published, even though it is specific to a particular action by a chief executive officer in a particular local authority, it has wider implications and ramifications for other chief executive officers in local authorities throughout the country.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: Yes, it does. I would not agree with the Deputy. Not everyone is going to behave in the same way that one council does or one chief executive officer may do. Others will take note of what was laid down by SIPO and its findings regarding this issue. That is my view. It will have-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: -----far-reaching impacts on the future behaviour of councils.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: Other councils will take a different view and take on board the SIPO report and its conclusions. There cannot be any attempts to influence the content of any local radio discussion, debate or its treatment or coverage of any issue-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: Even if there are advertisements that emanate from the council and so on, that is not correct. It can never be used for that purpose by anybody. I am very clear about that.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: I do not think it is enough to say that there is growing anxiety about the aggressive position of Russia. I think we should all be clear in this House that we all condemn the Russian aggression. We should use that language clearly and without equivocation. Yes, there will be repercussions from sanctions. That is the inescapable consequence of Russia's behaviour. We do not want to take...
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: First, as has been said, we are moving from an emergency phase of the pandemic into the transitional phase. Subject to Government approval, it is intended that testing for SARS-CoV-2 will move from extensive case find and tracing of infection to reduce transmission towards a focus on mitigation of the severe impacts of Covid-19 for those most vulnerable to the severe effects of the disease...
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: My understanding is that there is not a cut of that scale in terms of inspections. The Residential Tenancies Board has the resources to pursue breaches of the legislation in respect of protecting tenants. On the issue of resources-----
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: -----in terms of the overall support, I will come back to the Deputy with the specifics.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The Chief Medical Officer is very clear that we have to move to a different phase of the pandemic, that the wholesale testing and tracing regime will no longer apply during the transitionary period and that we have to embed into our existing public health system permanent responses and surveillance of the disease and other diseases. The Sentinel...
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: I was asked-----
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: First, Government officials have been meeting and co-ordinating in respect of the Russia-Ukraine crisis in terms of contingency planning on a number of fronts in the context of potential repercussions from the escalation of the crisis and the resulting impact on fuel supplies, cost and so forth. In terms of peat, that was not a Government decision. The courts decided what was going on was...
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: The courts made a decision. We cannot just keep going on with illegality. The courts were very clear on that.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: We have, however, developed alternative approaches and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, as the Deputy is aware, has plans-----
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: -----in terms of utilising bogs of a certain size to source the peat for-----
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: -----our natural resources.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: First, I assure the Deputy that the Minister, Deputy Foley, wants this resolved and is anxious and supportive of the talks process. The Minister, Deputy McGrath, wants it resolved also. Both of them have given this considerable momentum since the formation of the Government. As I said to the Deputy or another Member who raised the issue last week, there have been intensive discussions at...
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Feb 2022)
Micheál Martin: That is easier said than done. I fully accept the Deputy's frustrations, by the way.