Results 39,161-39,180 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: In 2021 and to date in 2022 my Department incurred expenditure of €727,162.88 on social media advertising. €708,325.33 of this spend was on 26 COVID-19 public information campaigns as part of the Government’s coordinated approach to COVID-19 public health communications. All expenditure related to advertising campaigns on a range of social media platforms - Twitter,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Constitutional Amendments (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together. Constitutional Reform takes account of priorities identified in the Programme for Government and from the Citizens Assemblies and it is viewed as an ongoing process.   In relation to a constitutional amendment with regard to the declarations required to be taken by the President, members of the Judiciary and Council of State on...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Local Authorities (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Louth County Council received €10,000 in 2016 under the Local Diaspora Strategy Development Fund (LDSDF) which made up to €10,000 available for each Local Authority to invest in developing strategies for diaspora engagement at local and community level. A total of 24 Local Authorities received funding under this programme in 2016. Diaspora funding was transferred to the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Commissions of Investigation (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Certain information relating to matters in the Final Report of the Commission of Investigation on Mother and Baby Homes were disclosed in a newspaper report prior to the consideration of that report by the Government. In that context, I requested that an investigation be carried out. A senior official in my Department is carrying out the investigation and it is being done in the context of a...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a significant number of the staff in my Department have been working from home since March 2020 with some business units maintaining a continuous on site presence throughout due to the nature of their work supporting the essential operation of Government Buildings to support the work of the Taoiseach and Government. A phased return to the workplace has been...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Commemorative Events (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: As part of the programme of events for the Decade of Centenaries, a cultural event will take place on Saturday, 17 September to reflect on the Centenary of the Civil War and to remember those whose lives were lost. The event will take place in the National Concert Hall, Dublin and it will include a variety of musical and spoken-word performances, involving the National Symphony Orchestra and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: My first point is a general one. People get anxious and worried when politicians tell barefaced lies. Generally, as politicians, we should not tell the public barefaced lies. We should tell the people the truth.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The bottom line is clear here.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The pension age is 66. I do not know where Deputy McDonald is coming from. The Deputy is not telling the truth in her presentation because the Government decision is that the pension age will not rise beyond 66. Under this system, people will still be able to retire at 66 and draw down their full pension in exactly the same way as they can today. Sinn Féin has been in government...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is a spectacular feat that Deputy McDonald pulls off. Sinn Féin has been in government in Northern for well over a decade and its members voted for 66 as the pension age. This Government has decided the people will retire at 66. We are creating choice for people as well because people always seek choice in terms of their pension options and in terms of the State pension. The...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Who made this up for the Deputy? The Government decision is clear. Anybody will be able to retire at 66 under the Government decision, just as they can do so today. Does the Deputy not get that?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy McDonald is deliberately not telling the truth on this one, it seems to me, in respect of the age and the deferral. She moves to the Trojan horse - I do not who made it up-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: I have addressed it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The core issue is the age, which is 66. As for the second issue to which the Deputy referred, she said we all want to facilitate people who want choice and who might wish to stay working.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is what the Government is doing. It will facilitate people who may want to defer whatever they want to do.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The full pension will be available to people at 66. That is the Government decision - no question about it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has an obligation to the public watching in to be faithful in how she describes the decision the Government is taking.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: In addition, as for the 65-year-olds, the Minister has got sanction from the Government to explore avenues to facilitate those who have worked 40 years of their lives, in manual work in particular, and are not in a position to continue working. That is also a decision the Government took today.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is unbelievable what Deputy McDonald-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will first say that the health system went through very tough times during Covid-19, as we all realise. I have long articulated my admiration for all those who worked on the front line during the various stages of Covid. We saw on our television screens the enormous challenges and pressures that Covid put on our health system. Our health system proved itself resilient in the face of an...