Results 43,441-43,460 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: What I can say is that-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: -----we have cut costs across the board for patients. We have removed inpatient hospital charges.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: We have had the biggest expansion of access to free GP care in the history of the State. Up to 60% of our population now hold a GP or medical card.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: We have reduced the drug payment scheme costs.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: We have funded diagnostic scans for patients. We have introduced free contraception for women up to the age of 31. We have publicly funded assisted human reproduction, including IVF, for the first time. We have agreed a new contract for consultants and up to 700 have signed up to it. We have added more than 22,000 staff since 2020. Funding has been provided for 22,000 staff since then.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: We have increased our hospital bed capacity by more than 1,000 beds at the same time, and we have also expanded our ICU capacity.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: We are increasing college and training places. For every GP who retires, between one and a half and three new GPs are working. We also expended huge funding in the context of the pandemic.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: We are doing the actions.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: Having said all that, and with there having been €7.5 billion in additional funding since 2020, I am making the point and there is nothing wrong in saying there is a need for further analysis in this regard in terms of our growing population-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: Analysis that is logical and informed-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: -----and not just sort of-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: The Deputy spoke about flood relief schemes. He may recall his own comments in relation to the Cork city flood relief scheme, where he described the OPW's proposals as crude and not taking into account the people of Cork's relationship with the River Lee. He backed the campaign to, essentially, undermine the OPW's programme of flood relief. I have no problem with people making submissions...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: In Douglas, close to where I live, there was a terrible once-in-a-century flood and the scheme there worked yesterday. On the Owenacurra river, a flood scheme is emerging for Midleton. Again, we want to see these developed. The money is there to get these projects done. I do not make these points to try to attack anybody or anything like that, but only to point out some realities and the...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: Getting one month's rain in a day means we have to adapt faster. This means we have to put in the flooding schemes much faster and society has to respond in that spirit.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: We will look at all of those issues in both schemes we have for flood relief, including the humanitarian aid scheme and the scheme for business. With regard to Midleton, there is a total project budget for the flood relief scheme of approximately €50 million. The option has emerged for Midleton to protect 250 properties and that will provide protection in flooding from the Dungourney...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for the question and I thank all of the staff who help to keep our health services working on a 24-7 basis. They deliver a public service under very challenging circumstances. The Minister for Health received a letter and I have read the letter. He is very concerned with the issues raised in the correspondence and will meet with representatives of the GPs next week...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: The Minister will meet with the doctors. I take the Deputy's point that emergency departments can become the gatekeepers for the rest of a hospital. That was the point I was making in that it does need a more whole-of-hospital approach. Where that happens, there are very good outcomes in hospitals across the State. The Deputy referred to Cuban GPs.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: They are exported by their Government.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: I am not sure that is a system that I would like to be co-operating with.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2023)
Micheál Martin: They have exported their doctors for oil to Venezuela. They do so in some areas in Africa for humanitarian benefits. However, it is a very repressive regime in terms of the suppression of civil society.