Results 44,921-44,940 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: It has been a long saga, without question. Issues arose about structures and all the rest of it, but I am in no doubt that in the context of our current services in Crumlin or Temple Street, the sooner we get this hospital built and operational, the better. It will be transformative for children in terms of having single suites, the theatre capacity, infection control and, especially for...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the Deputy raising the issue. I will talk to the Minister for Health and ask that the information be sent to the Deputy in respect of either timelines or the wider issue of neuro-rehabilitation.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy knows, and as I said earlier, in 2019 the then Government agreed €5 million in funding towards a runway extension project. The estimated cost then was approximately €12 million and that €5 million was contingent on local authority and private investment necessary to complete the project being committed. It said at the time any risks relating to cost...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy knows what I am saying.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The real meat of this came in December last. Neither of the Deputies mentioned that, but that is the reality. What that is clearly saying is that the €12 million cost is no longer a relevant overall cost. Apparently, the cost is closer to €26 million. There is a public spending code.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is all of that. That has to happen. We will come back to the Deputies.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: First of all, the number of social houses being built is way greater than anything in many years. It is record numbers. It means that people are being offered social housing now, which is a good thing.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government cannot organise every single connection to every single public light in the country. There are people paid and funded to do that. I agree that they should go away and get it done and the person should occupy the house. We need to focus where the issues are - on the utilities or on the local authority. There is a limit to what the Dáil has to-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: They are funded and they should go and do it. Nobody should be 18 years by the way. That is another matter. I do not know the background to the case or the individual. The bottom line is the house has been allocated. They should get the public lighting sorted.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: First of all, it is a bit more complex than that. The European Union is divided and member states have different perspectives for historical and other reasons. Ireland has a very strong pro-Palestinian position in terms of the right of the Palestinians to their own state living in harmony with an Israeli state. We work with approximately eight like-minded countries on a number of issues....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has made very fair points about communication. There has been a ramping up in respect of the community engagement teams, additionality and additional resources. The scale of the challenge is enormous and that has to be recognised as well. In January alone, over 2,000 people sought international protection in the country. That is double the average of last year. We have 27,000...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government has allocated unprecedented funding for inner city renewal across a range of funding, including housing, city centre infrastructure and regeneration. Dublin City Council is the key agency here and is responsible for its own housing stock and regenerating many of the apartment complexes the Deputy has spoken about. In many other cities, regeneration of various apartment blocks...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I read recently that the county council had made a submission. That will have to be examined by the Department, obviously, in respect of the wider damage to the area. That figure is a huge amount, and it is illustrative of the cost of climate change. I have no doubt the storm was a climate event. It is an illustration of how we have to move on adaptation and flood relief. I will come...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy, basically. I think he has articulated the case very well. There is a shortage of drivers. Obviously, Bus Éireann wants to make sure the safety situation is correct and it has resisted making that change, in its view, in the interests of safety. The world has changed dramatically in relation to life expectancy and people are now in a position to work at ages...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, has been attentive to the needs of An Post. He and the Government have worked over the past two or three years to support An Post through a variety of funding approaches. An Post is responsible for operational planning and change of systems. I think the Deputy indicated it will either review or make sure the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Referendum Campaigns (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government is not entitled to spend public money for the purpose of promoting a campaign for a particular outcome and a guidance note outlining this position was circulated to all Government bodies and agencies, including to my Department. I wish to assure the Deputy that the officials of my Department are aware of their obligations to remain impartial as they serve the State. ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Engagements (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 48 and 49 together. I visited Colombia on 10-11 January 2024. During my visit, I met with Defence Minister Iván Velásquez, Vice Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Francisco Coy and Elizabeth Taylor Jay, and representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace (OACP). In my meeting with Vice Ministers Coy and Taylor Jay, we...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foreign Conflicts (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Since the signing of the Peace Agreement in 2016, Ireland has provided over €20 million to support peacebuilding and the promotion of human rights in Colombia. Ireland funds the UN Multi Partner Trust Fund and the Organisation of American States Mission to Support the Peace Process. These partners support a broad range of initiatives designed to progress the implementation of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foreign Conflicts (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: For many years, Ireland has been actively engaged in supporting Colombia’s peace process through political support, advocacy, and by regularly engaging with relevant institutions, organisations and communities. These actions have served to consolidate Ireland’s long-standing reputation as an honest, trusted and credible interlocutor with all parties to the Agreement. Our key...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foreign Conflicts (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: During my recent visit to Colombia on 10-11 January 2024, I had the opportunity to discuss the peace process in meetings with Defence Minister Iván Velásquez, Vice Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Francisco Coy and Elizabeth Taylor Jay, and representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace (OACP). In these meetings, we discussed the significant progress that has...