Results 38,021-38,040 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: Braitheann sé ar an dialann ach beidh mé sásta.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: At the end of the day, we have a democracy. Directly elected Members of this House pass legislation and our fundamental and basic laws on an annual and sessional basis. The power lies in this House in terms of legislation and raising issues on a timely basis. With any funding initiatives and so on, the elected Government and the Oireachtas sanction the Estimates of various Departments....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: First, I want to pay tribute to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, for her commitment and ongoing work on disability issues. I did not get a chance to deal with that issue in my first three minutes. Indeed, I work with the Minister of State and, in my view, there has to be a review of the progressing disability services programme. I will be meeting with the Minister of State and the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: First, I appreciate the issues the Deputy has raised and the individual cases she has raised. It is not satisfactory that any person would have to go through that in regard to access to home care. The issue, as the Deputy knows, is not one of funding now because €150 million of additional funding was provided in 2021 to provide for 5 million more hours of home support, and that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Michael Collins welcomed, I think, the reduction in transport fares we have announced and now brought in - in the context of the cost of living - for public transport and for young people. It is very important that we reduce public transport fares, and the Minister for Transport can do that readily within the legal frameworks. It is not as easy with the private transport issue. We...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: However, the substance of the issue is this: people who have their own bogs have no issue in terms of using turf. They can share turf with their neighbours. The traditional practices regarding turf will continue. This winter there is no issue at all. All of the arguments have been that now is not the time and it should not happen this winter. It will not happen this winter anyway in...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: The substantive point is the more relevant point on the Order of Business. People raise issues on the Order of Business normally to change the Order of Business in terms of debating time and getting more hours. I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for responding to the Minister's request for submissions on the Ukrainian crisis. We have six hours of debate on legislation this week. If Deputies are...

Ceisteanna - Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 12, inclusive, together. Through the Government's Shared Island initiative, we are engaging with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future and to deliver tangible benefits for the whole island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. The Shared Island dialogue series is a key part of our approach, bringing together...

Ceisteanna - Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is not dropping. I have been involved since I was Minister for Health. I want to be positive about this. We need others to participate in this. We need the Northern health authorities to participate in this. We had participated in this through investment and, likewise, the Northern Executive in the past agreed on a cardiac service for children and that there would be one national...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 22 together. The Government recognises the importance of regular and open engagement with all sectors of society as we tackle the many economic, social and environmental challenges facing the country. In particular, the Government has been working to strengthen social dialogue in a range of areas, including the national economic dialogue which will...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: Regarding Deputy McDonald's point, I will revert to the Tánaiste in relation to that. We all of course want workplaces that are free of violence and harassment. A whole raft of legislation is already in place on our Statute Book dealing with harassment and violence in the workplace and to protect employees. Sometimes the various declarations passed by international organisations have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: Níl an ceart ag an Teachta. Tá fianaise ann go bhfuil polasaí an Rialtais ag obair. Tá níos mó tithíochta á cruthú againn. Tá sé sin soiléir ó na figiúirí atá againn maidir le cúrsaí tithíochta. The Deputy is not correct in saying that the Housing for All strategy, launched last September, is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: The existing banks should step up to the plate and should do everything they possibly can to assist the customers of the exiting banks, KBC and Ulster Bank, in respect of their needs and to facilitate switching. I am unclear as to what the Deputy thinks the Government should do. He has not really specified that. He spoke about a laissez-faireapproach. I am not clear on what he is saying...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am still unclear as to the fundamental point the Deputy is making. Is he saying the Department of Finance-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: Is the assertion-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: He has not articulated it. Is he asserting that the Department of Finance should take over the role of the Central Bank?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: What is the function? We have had this argument-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: This is an argument that is not from today or yesterday with regard to the management of banks. The Central Bank is there. There is a separation between the Government and the operation of banks. There always has been. I am interested in hearing the Deputy's ideas as his presentation was not clear.