Results 40,361-40,380 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ukraine War (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: What the Deputies are at is a disgrace. I have watched it now for months.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ukraine War (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is all you do. You are puppets for the Putin regime. I will revert to Deputy Crowe with a reply.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 25, inclusive, together. The priorities set out in my Department's Strategy Statement 2021-2023 reflects the role of the Department to support me as Taoiseach and the Government to ensure a sustainable economy and a successful society, to pursue Ireland’s interests abroad, to implement the Government’s programme and to build a better...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy O'Rourke raised the issue of femicide and the broader issue of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. A great deal of progress has been made on that matter under the Cabinet social affairs committee and the work of the Ministers for Justice and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputies McEntee and O'Gorman, respectively. Various reports on this issue are...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: The key is to get more social houses built. I think we will have a record number of social houses provided this year between build, lease and acquisition.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: I know, but we will do whatever we can there. Deputy Cathal Crowe referred to jobs for Ukrainian refugees earlier. I did not have the chance to respond but I will take the matter up now. I do think we should move faster. In some cases, the qualifications authorities are working to accelerate people being enabled to work in certain professions. The Deputy also referred to aircraft...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: The general scheme of the human tissue Bill has been agreed by the Cabinet.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

COP27: Statements (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: We meet at a critical moment. This year alone, we have witnessed record temperatures, wildfires, calamitous floods, and prolonged droughts across the world. Populations are on the move because, before our eyes, parts of our world are becoming less amenable to human habitation. On every continent of the planet, our people are living with the reality of climate change. I am particularly...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: Ar dtús báire, ní aontaím leis an Teachta. Is í an aidhm atá ag an Rialtas seo ná ospidéal den chéad scoth a chur ar fáil ionas go mbeidh seirbhísí den scoth ar fáil do leanaí na tíre, ní hé amháin sa lá atá inniu ann ach sna blianta atá le teacht. I first make the point that the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----well in advance of the formation of this Government and I note that the Deputy’s comment is very much focused on this Government. For future generations of children and the children of today it is one of the most important projects that is being managed by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, NPHDB, and that the Government is clearly overseeing. I am in no doubt...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----and disadvantage the State. I am very clear that we need to complete this hospital and to create a first-class facility. We also acknowledge the work done in Tallaght and the paediatric outpatient and emergency centre that was opened there as part of this project. By November 2021 it would address up to 17,000 outpatient and 25,000 emergency attendances alone. The facility at...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----approved €1.433 billion has been drawn down to date. It is a live contract and I am not going to prejudice the enforcement of that existing contract by getting into a decision about cost, hypothetical or otherwise, at this particular time. I do not think that would be advantageous to the taxpayer. I visited the hospital recently on 17 November. Substantial progress has been...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----and this is something that we need to complete as quickly as we can.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: Construction started in 2016 on this hospital. This Government came in last year. I am intrigued by the Deputy's line of questioning. She seems to be suggesting-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----that we play the contractor's game.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy seems to want the Government to look at it from the perspective of the contractor. Her estimates are the contractor's estimates of the claims. That does not mean that ultimately becomes a reality. Each claim is being contested through a process. Many have been contested and there is a system of arbitration. It would be foolhardy and wrong for me, the Government or the Deputy...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: That would not be the correct approach and the last thing politicians should do in terms of projects, which I religiously avoid,-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----is to announce global figures that X project will cost X, Y or Z. The Deputy is trying to create a narrative that the claims are a new reality, but those claims will be contested by the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Government will hold firm on this. We are in a process but will get this hospital complete and are working with all concerned.