Results 37,561-37,580 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Is féidir leis an Eoraip teacht le chéile, agus is iontach an scéal é go bhfuil an méid sin aontas ann agus go bhfuilimid go léir ag obair le chéile maidir leis an méid atá déanta ag an Rúis ar an Úcráin. Is uafásach an scéal é go bhfuil cogadh ag an am seo agus go bhfuil a lán daoine ag fulaingt de dheasca...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am supportive of the very poignant point raised the Deputy. It is extremely difficult for people in Ukraine because of the bombardment they are under and I can only imagine how difficult it is for people with cystic fibrosis because of the added complexities arising from their condition and the difficulties arising. Given it is a condition that is particularly prevalent in Ireland and we...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The fundamental point about passports is the exponential growth in applications and the number being issued. I will come back to the Deputy but I believe 1.7 million passports will be issued this year. There were 634,000 issued in 2021, despite Covid-19 restrictions. A total of 45% of online adult renewals are processed within one working day while 99% of online applications for renewals...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The first point is that ESB is a State company and is owned by the people of Ireland. Second, it is making very significant investment in projects now and for the future that will need to be financed by borrowing, and the debt already accumulated by ESB is quite significant. It needs profits to enable it to meet debt obligations and to ensure its capital expansion plans in future can be...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The energy security issue is very important given what is going on.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his question. He might also have picked up on the latter part of my commentary where I indicated that our immediate focus should be on the current war in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis flowing from it, as well as the need to direct all our policies and energies to that. I am somewhat concerned as we need a united approach in the country on how we deal with...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising those very important matters, particularly with respect to the undocumented Irish. I will certainly raise that with President Biden. It is subject to the domestic political environment and realpolitik in US politics. I will also meet representatives of Friends of Ireland in Congress and I look forward to engaging with them on the matter. It was very...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Yes, efforts are being made on that front. In the initial phase, the Government was determined to give cash aid to trusted international agencies such as the Red Cross and UN agencies, and €20 million has now been allocated for humanitarian assistance. A further €10 million was allocated through the European Peace Facility in respect of non-lethal supplies to be sent to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I am conscious of the fact it is under investigation by the PSNI. We do not have jurisdiction over the PSNI so there would be practical difficulties in what we can do here. I will reflect on what the Deputy has said and see how best we can go about raising the issue.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The decision was taken based on an extensive procedure under the Arterial Drainage Act and associated legislation which involved the engagement of an environmental consultant, public consultation and engagement with other relevant bodies, including the OPW, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. This decision was not taken...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Making such a provision for everybody in the State regardless of geographical location in cities and towns would be a very significant expansion, the impact of which would need to be fully researched. There are discretionary medical cards available and measures were taken in respect of a terminal cancer diagnosis. That discretion should be applied in cases that are presented to the health...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I take Deputy MacSharry's point. It is a matter of the instruments that are available to us. There is an issue with VAT. If we bring it down significantly on a temporary basis, we could end up with a much higher rate once the temporary situation is over. We have concentrated on the measures we can do within the various frameworks and legal situations. That is a cut of 20 cent and 15 cent...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland was formally established by the Government on 6 July 2020 and had its first meeting on 29 October 2020. The committee last met on 4 March 2021. A meeting scheduled for 29 November 2021 was postponed due to a Covid meeting. A meeting on 24 February 2022 also had to be postponed...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Brexit Issues (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: On Deputy Richmond's points, in essence we welcome the fact that the EU–UK joint committee, co-chaired by Vice President Šefčovič and the UK Foreign Secretary, Ms Liz Truss, met on 21 February. We also welcome the continuation of the technical talks and the meeting yesterday of the Specialised Committee on the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. At the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policies (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 11, inclusive, together. Ireland's well-being framework is the result of a programme for Government commitment to develop a set of well-being indices to create a well-rounded, holistic view of how Irish society is faring. This will help us to do things differently and place an emphasis on quality of life issues, as we recover from the impacts of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policies (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. The first question related to the setting of policy and budgetary priorities. The well-being framework will ultimately help to inform policy, the budgetary framework and budgetary initiatives. Deputy Mairéad Farrell specifically raised the issue of Brain Awareness Week being next week and the issue of Alzheimer's, dementia and so on. I believe the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policies (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will come back to the Deputy on wards of court. He raised an issue. I will talk to the Minister for Justice, who has responsibility over that area. As to the point raised by Deputy Barry, again in terms of excise duties and the cuts we have made------

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Policies (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am not in a position now to say what inflation will rise to. I know there have been various scenarios around that but it is going to rise because of the war, on top of the rate of 5.7% in February.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 15, inclusive, together. The national reform programme is an important element of the European semester, the annual cycle of economic and fiscal policy co-ordination among EU member states. As part of the semester, Ireland, along with all other member states, prepares and submits a national reform programme to the European Commission each April....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am very struck by Deputy Boyd Barrett's comments.  He said that the EU wants to use the war in Ukraine as an excuse to militarise and increase defence spending.