Results 37,441-37,460 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: That should not be done now. We need to concentrate on the war effort in terms of helping people to come out of that and stopping the war. Supporting the people of Ukraine should be our immediate priority, rather than getting, if you like, diverted on a debate around military neutrality and so on. It has not stopped anything we need to do with our European colleagues in respect of helping...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: We were recently elected to the United Nations Security Council, which is about as good a benchmark for our credibility in the international world as anything I can think of. That is because we have pursued an independent foreign policy as members of the European Union, the greatest characteristic of which has probably been our nuclear non-proliferation initiatives. This began with the then...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----in respect of what has now happened.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this suggestion. We have considered this in Government and I agree with the Deputy. As a result of the appalling situation and war in Ukraine, we have evolved our tone and theme of St. Patrick’s Day next week from an overt focus on Ireland to a broader focus on the fact Ireland is an active, engaged and fully committed member of the international...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising those issues. We have maintained contact with the Ukrainian Government. I spoke last week to the Prime Minister, Mr. Denys Shmyhal. On behalf of everybody, I committed our continued humanitarian support and, in terms of the sanctions, our full support of a very proactive policy on sanctions to act not just as a deterrent but to try to put pressure on the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: This is an informal meeting.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: As I said to Deputy McDonald earlier, the Government is aware of the issues with regard to rising fuel prices and acknowledges the enormous impact these increases in energy prices are having on people in terms of going to work, heating their homes and so on. The matter is under active consideration by the Government.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Government will respond. To respond to Deputy Mattie McGrath, we are certainly not sleepwalking into this. This war is 13 days old. It is having, and will continue to have-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Government responded to the cycle of inflation induced by the pandemic with a budget package of €500 million. The war is going to mean a lot more inflation. It will mean that life will not be quite the same as we thought it would be, at least for 2022. That is all I am saying.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Government will respond to this. To respond to Deputy Barry's comments, this is an informal meeting of the European Council hosted by the French Presidency. Conclusions will not be drawn from it. I would not be as conspiratorial as the Deputy about it. On the one hand, it will deal with a number of issues pertaining to the strategic compass. On the following day, the economic...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: We facilitated that Act on Second Stage. I have no issue with lifting-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Hold on a second. Those involved are not convinced that the Act is perfect or will do what it says on the tin.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Leaving that to one side, we have no objection to facilitating its passage. I think the Deputy wants pre-legislative scrutiny waived and he will meet the Minister tomorrow to discuss that. I do not have an issue with that now. Deputy Joan Collins should bring the matter she raised forward in Private Members' time.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Every week there are calls for debates on a range of issues and we need to allow Government time for legislation.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is a tight week and everybody wants statements on different items. It happens every day in the Dáil.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Minister will bring this to the Government in the coming weeks and we will have a decision on that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: First, I want to say in passing that I think we need to reflect on what we just did, in such an enclosed environment and with so many people, in terms of a roll-call vote. It is farcical in itself but makes no sense at all from a Covid perspective. Covid has not gone away. I just have to say that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is something we should reflect on. I just had to get it off my chest because I found it incredible what we did, as a collective group in an enclosed space, when we have technology available to vote and enable a vote to be done. We really should cop on a small bit. In regard to the biggest humanitarian crisis we have seen since the Second World War because of the war on Ukraine, every...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Health is opening several endometriosis specialist centres in 2022 as part of an overall women's health strategy that will see an allocation of up to €30 million-odd, and €48 million in a full year, to women's health, with a particular focus on endometriosis as well as other issues.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has raised a very fair point. There could be evidence of some price gouging going on but, clearly, there is a broader issue of an increase in fuel prices, which is receiving the Government's active attention right now. I take the Deputy's point and do not disagree with the need to be vigilant to make sure price gouging is not occurring.