Results 39,041-39,060 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (13 Jul 2022)

Micheál Martin: I attended a meeting of the European Council on Thursday, 23 June, and Friday, 24 June, in Brussels. The meeting was preceded by a meeting of European Union and western Balkans leaders, in which I also participated, and was followed by a meeting of the Euro summit, at which leaders were joined by the President of the ECB and the President of the Eurogroup. It was the fifth meeting of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (12 Jul 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet Committee on COVID-19 was established to assess the social and economic impacts of Covid and oversee the cross-government response. The Cabinet Committee last met on 28 February. However, Covid continues to be considered at the Cabinet Committee on Health and I meet with the Minister for Health on an ongoing basis to discuss Health matters including Covid. Over recent months the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (12 Jul 2022)

Micheál Martin: In the period from 1st January 2020 to date, a total of €17,412 was incurred by my Department for training and development services provided by Carr Communications. This included staff attendance on training and development courses provided through the Civil Service Shared Learning and Development Centre known as OneLearning. My Department has not engaged the services of the other...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Schemes (12 Jul 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Shared Island Fund is allocated to Government Departments to support delivery of approved collaborative North/South projects that implement the Government’s commitments and objectives on Shared Island as set out in the Programme for Government and the revised National Development Plan (2021-2030). Shared Island projects are delivered through all-island partnerships, including...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (12 Jul 2022)

Micheál Martin: The table below details expenditure by my Department on advertising from 2012 to 30 June 2022. Year Expenditure 2012 €562,573 2013 €68,128 2014 €6,192 2015 €53,666 2016 €21,815 2017 €40,616 ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Functions (12 Jul 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Economic Policy Unit is part of the Economic Division of my Department. The Unit supports me, as Taoiseach, in delivering sustainable and balanced economic growth and in advancing the Government’s economic priorities. The Unit also advises me on a broad range of economic policy areas and issues, and provides me with briefing and speech material on economic and related policy...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Functions (12 Jul 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Parliamentary Liaison Unit in my Department assists Government in its relationship with the Oireachtas. It works with the Office of the Government Chief Whip on issues that arise at the Business Committee and the Committee on Dáil Reform and Standing Orders, including Dáil reform proposals and amendments to Standing Orders. The Unit supports the Office of the Government Chief...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (12 Jul 2022)

Micheál Martin: I attended a EuroAtlantic dinner in Madrid on Wednesday 29 June, hosted by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The dinner was attended by the leaders of all EU Member States, as well as members of NATO. While it took place in the margins of the NATO Summit, it was a separate event. While in Madrid I had a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Karl Nehammer of Austria, a country...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (13 Jul 2022)

Micheál Martin: The rates of remuneration of the Secretary General and Assistant Secretaries at my Department are based on the pay-scales set by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with the Secretary General being paid at Secretary General 1 level. The current rates used by my Department are set out in Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Circular 04/2022, Application of 1st February 2022...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (13 Jul 2022)

Micheál Martin: Recruitment to my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office (the only body under the aegis of my Department) is, in the main, undertaken through the Public Appointments Service which plays a central role in recruiting diverse talent to take up public service employment opportunities in line with their Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2021-2023 which aims to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2022)

Micheál Martin: My Department has no offices which are usually open to the public to access services and neither does the National Economic and Social Development Office, which is the only body under the aegis of my Department. All accommodation is provided and managed by the Office of Public Works including the provision of fully accessible changing places and toilet facilities.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Rights of People with Disabilities (13 Jul 2022)

Micheál Martin: My Department supports the implementation of national policies and strategies designed to advance the lives of people with disabilities including those set out in the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. Neither my Department nor the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), the only body under the aegis of my Department, currently provide statutory services...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: In the first instance, on behalf of the Government and on my own behalf, I again would like to convey my deepest sympathy to King Charles, the royal household, the United Kingdom Government and the British people on the loss of their beloved monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. There are many on this island who saw Queen Elizabeth as their queen. We sympathise with them on this very sad...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is one that will always endure in the folklore of our city and, indeed, the country at large. In respect of the energy and cost of living crisis, we are facing the worst global energy crisis since the 1970s at least, and probably worse than that of the 1970s because it also applies to gas and other fuel types, not just oil. Clearly, it emanates from a deadly war-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----in terms of Putin's war on the people of Ukraine and his weaponisation of war. We need to be very clear about that at all times in assessing and in how we respond to this issue. It is having massive consequences for the entirety of Europe, so it makes sense that Ireland respond as part of the wider European Union framework. We are not just relying on EU measures alone, as the Deputy...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy said her proposals are time limited. I would say to the Deputy the crisis may not be time limited. She may need to think beyond the end of February.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is the point. That is the very point that I am making. The Deputy’s proposal is vague, it is not costed and it is one-dimensional. It does not have the breadth or depth of what the Government is considering in alleviating and reducing pressures on households, protecting jobs, helping out schools with capitation grants, and helping out various State entities that provide...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----because we are going to intervene. We are going to reduce the burden of electricity prices on people. However, we are going to do more in the budget and in pay. We have concluded the public service pay talks. We will have tax proposals in the budget as well. We will be reducing costs more broadly.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: First of all, I agree with the Deputy in her analysis. It is going to be a difficult winter, but it is our responsibility to do everything we possibly can to reduce the pressures on households in respect of energy costs, and also to protect jobs in society. I appreciate the fact that the Deputy is clear about the need to work through the European framework in terms of carbon tax or a...