Results 45,041-45,060 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has raised a fair point. That evidence-based study and research is vital to inform future action but it also has to galvanise the public, more generally, and society in making sure that we can get these schemes through. The OPW is funding two full-time staff for the Midleton flood relief scheme and will be bringing forward interim measures pending the scheme's completion....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: First, I condemn unreservedly what happened. I do not think it is fair to say that if it happened in one club or another, there would be a different----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is not fair to say that if something happened outside one club as opposed to another-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Will the Deputy let me finish? What happened is wrong, fundamentally on the part of those gathering. Second, there has been very significant sustained investment in Knocknaheeny and in the north side across housing, health and so on. There is a great community there.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: We need to promote what is a great community. I have been there a lot, as the Deputy knows. There are great schools there and great community endeavour and spirit. At various times in the history of the city, we have had different outbreaks at different times. The best way to get at it was through on-the-ground community interventions, at which the Garda has, historically, been very good....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will talk to the Garda, get a report and get back to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am unsure. Is the Deputy saying she supports this but she wants to make sure services are in place?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Apologies. I will check out what the position is. There should, of course, be consultation and engagement between the local authorities and their representatives. I am not ware of the specific proposal to which the Deputy referred. We have built modular homes in different locations across the country and, by and large, it has gone fine. There has been no issue and it has worked out okay,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Every agency of the State should be cognisant and conscious of the need to align with overall Government policy on disability access. There may be operational issues in terms of adjusting every single bus in the fleet right now. I would have to check all that out. I do not want to make commitments in advance but I am very clear that there should be a legal and legislative framework...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Boliden Tara is officially on board as a client company of Enterprise Ireland. The latter is liaising with the company on energy and productivity supports that can assist with a sustainable reopening. The Government is very committed to a sustainable reopening because of the impact Tara Mines has on the wider region. It generates about €75 million in annual economic activity in the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: That is an interesting question to which I do not have an immediate answer. There is an issue in this regard. We have provided financial supports to An Post to support post offices. Increasingly, it is becoming an issue that a postmaster exits and there is no subsequent take-up. I will talk to the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, who has been working with the postmaster organisations,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: We should never look a gift horse in the mouth. I would distinguish between the two. We have to go ahead with the solar element, but the Deputy’s point was well made, in that the repairs have to happen as well. The Minister is in discussions. Year on year, we now have the highest capital allocation to education as well as a growing population, but the school in question clearly...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government is working on a national adaptation plan. With UCC, Cork County Council has concluded a major survey of the entire coast of Cork to understand the vulnerabilities. There are other vulnerabilities, as I understand it, underneath Midleton. We have to more proactively develop sea protection mechanisms to cope with rising sea levels. I have argued publicly that we have to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I saw some of the videos of people trying to navigate their way out of shops. It was quite frightening, and that was with the tide out and very little warning.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Regarding Deputy Cahill's question, the European Parliament passed the restoration of nature law this week, but there are lots of procedures and phased approaches to its implementation. We first need to read it and understand what is going to happen next year, the year after, in five years and in ten years. The Government had two reports this week on inland fisheries in terms of removing...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Fair enough, but I thought the defect scheme lay with the Minister, Deputy O’Brien.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Deputy McAuliffe’s adherence to the rules is commendable.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The only point I would make in response to Deputy Tully is that it is important that the organisations in question and their employees get funded. They are not HSE organisations, which perhaps explains why the HSE is outsourcing it. There is a tendency for us to micromanage every agency in the country. The HSE is not every agency, and do not get me wrong on that, but we appoint boards and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----for the efficiency and timeliness of their employees getting paid. I question whether we should micromanage every single decision that a CEO or board makes. The HSE has a board. That board’s members are appointed and they are accountable to the House eventually and they appear before the various committees. My comments are not targeted at Deputy Tully. There is just a general...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (29 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not so sure about that. The Deputy should be careful what she wishes for. The agencies were created for various reasons. Sometimes, it was to give them greater autonomy to get things done. Perhaps the Deputy and I will speak again some time.