Results 44,421-44,440 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Boyd Barrett attacked me this morning. He has attacked me for going to Israel to try to get Irish civilians out of Gaza. In the same breath, he has asked me to help to get Irish civilians out of Gaza and condemns me for trying to do that.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: We need a bit of honesty if the Deputy wants a cross-party approach.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: According to UNICEF, Ireland has probably been one of the better performers when it comes to reducing child poverty globally. We are in the top ten.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: That is where Ireland is positioned globally. There has been a consistent reduction over the past number of years in child poverty. Covid created challenges but we put huge investment into social protection. We targeted that investment at children at risk and will continue to do so in the context of social welfare payments, which will be doubled in the forthcoming payment next week as part...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Our free primary schoolbook scheme is a dramatic intervention that significantly reduces costs for families, particularly in the context of participation in education. We have made progress. We need to continue to do so.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is no question that we have made significant interventions such as the free book scheme and in the reduction of costs for health, for example.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: It depends on the nature of the public forum. There should always be engagement between State agencies and the public in structured ways that can lead to the provision of information, questions being answered and issues dealt with. It is unacceptable that there should be discoloured water in the two houses to which the Deputy referred because overall, drinking water quality from public...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: In Dundalk, is it?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is active work underway in respect of raising the retirement ages in our Defence Forces and in other uniformed forces as well. It takes a cross-departmental approach. We had meetings prior to Christmas on this. I anticipate that measures will be decided upon very quickly shortly that should inform the gentlemen spoken about-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----that might assist him before that deadline of 2025. We had interim measures and increased the ages on that basis but I am looking for a more permanent sustainable solution because I agree with what the Deputy is saying.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy makes a very fair point and I pay tribute to Shaun for his resilience and his family for their care and nurturing. We provide supports for disabilities within third level education and that helps but we must do everything possible for people with disabilities to enable employment. I am 100% in agreement with him. We have increased the thresholds for the medical card...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: It depends on the nature of the employment obviously. I recommend that the Deputy speaks to the Minister.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and it is something to which I am very committed. As Taoiseach, I was anxious to promote the idea that there would be a recognition and an acknowledgement of the role that many communities the length and breadth of the country have played in welcoming Ukrainians who were fleeing from a most vicious war perpetrated by Russia and Putin. There was a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I know this is an issue for which he has advocated for quite some time. Some funding was provided last year to facilitate the progression of those projects. There are huge pressures on the capital budgets because of the inflationary cycle we have experienced. Most road projects now are turning out, after tender, at significantly higher cost than...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The freedom of information legislative framework is a very comprehensive one. It allows for appeals in respect of decisions to refuse information. We have always supported the fullest co-operation at all levels of Government with requests for information. Government does not intervene in local authorities all of the time because, if it did, the Deputy and others would be the very first...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I can say that in my early time as a councillor, I was refused an FOI for two years with regard to a dump that I wanted closed. I eventually got the information and I then realised why I did not get it two years earlier. Now it is an amenity park, and a wonderful amenity park for the area. FOI has its role, and we want to see it adhered to.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has clearly nailed his colours to the mast, although that is the wrong analogy with regard to this Castlemartyr bypass. I now note that he has enlisted the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, onto his team to increase pressure in respect of that project. It is very serious for the people of the area, and I hope that within the next number of weeks we can bring clarity to the whole...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Is the Deputy is referring to Fórsa's decision not to progress correspondence because of the current situation in the HSE?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I do not condone it. I think it is wrong, and Fórsa should desist, in the interests of democracy. There is also the fact that, as I said earlier, €7.1 billion has been allocated to health since 2019. We can have arguments and debates about whether we need to do more, and I accept that, but we need a sense of perspective on these issues as well. That is my view on it. Above...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate Deputy Harkin raising the issue, and we certainly will. I will say again that we are doing everything we possibly can to get Irish citizens and their dependants out of Gaza. We have succeeded in getting quite a number out. Our ambassador, Sonya McGuinness, is working very hard. She is based in Tel Aviv. There are Members of the House who want us to expel ambassadors and pull...