Results 47,681-47,700 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (24 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am advised by my officials that my Department no longer has ownership of any lands in County Longford. My Department sold a RDF property in Longford Town in June 2014 and a second property, Connolly Barracks, in 2017.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (24 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: The establishment of an Office of Veterans Affairs, under new Defence Forces structures, was one of the recommendations included in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces published on 9 February 2022. A detailed implementation plan for the Commission's recommendations was subsequently published on 21 November 2023. The plan envisages the establishment of the Office of Veterans...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (25 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the Act“). The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. In order to meet this requirement, each passport applicant must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service has issued over 855,000 passports to date this year. All passport applications are subject to the requirements of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. First-time applications are the most complex applications due to the necessary checks involved to verify the identity and citizenship status of the applicant. The turnaround time to complete first-time online applications is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Deaths of Irish Citizens Abroad (25 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I can confirm that officials in my Department and the relevant Consulate are aware of this case and are providing ongoing consular assistance to the citizen. I understand that a case officer has been assigned to the citizen and that they remain in contact. I further understand that the Consulate has very recently followed up with local authorities on the case as part of efforts to further...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Reports (25 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 9 and 10 together. Given the passage of time since these tragic events, and in light of litigation cases which where I am advised confidential to the parties involved, I have requested my officials to examine the Deputy's request and report back to me with a recommendation on same. Upon my consideration of this awaited report, I will revert to the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (25 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available from the Department's financial management systems within the time frame sought. Officials from my Department will arrange to have this information forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this extremely important issue. The carnage and the slaughter of innocent children, women and men across the Middle East is to be condemned and I have condemned it consistently. The action of Hamas on 7 October 2023 was horrific and heinous, but the Israeli response to that murderous attack by Hamas has been absolutely disproportional, has resulted in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: Again, Ireland along with Spain, were the first more recent European Union member states to recognise the State of Palestine. Slovenia has now followed on the recognition question and Norway also did that. We were central to turning around the narrative on UNRWA within the European Union and stopping the denial of vital aid into UNRWA, and likewise in terms of aid and support from the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his remarks. I would argue that there is no poverty of ambition. This year we are spending up to €13 billion plus on capital infrastructure, which is significantly higher than previous years. The rate and level of capital expenditure during this Government's term has been significantly higher than previous Governments. The challenge with capital expenditure,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: It was this Government that introduced the RZLT legislation.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: Unless I have mistaken the Labour position, I think all parties in the House were of the view that productive farmers, people who were actively working their land, should not be captured by the RZLT. I do not know if that is Labour's position.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: It certainly is the position of the three party leaders. The mechanisms devised to enable farmers not to be covered have not worked; that is the reality. Therefore, discussions are under way. They are being led by the Minister for Finance. The three party leaders have been apprised of that proposal, the objective of which is to exclude active farmers, people who did not seek rezoning or...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I accept the basic point he has put forward. There is an issue with water treatment in many towns and villages across the country. The population is increasing, which a positive in terms of the progression of Ireland. From a demographic point of view, we are finally turning around the decline that occurred from the Famine era onwards in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----given the prowess of its club, which I know only too well. However, it is a problem. We need to engage again with Irish Water in respect of the allocation of funding for the future with a view to saying that it is not just the bigger cities we want prioritised and that we want towns and villages looked after in the context of wastewater treatment plants. There is a consequential...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: The affordable housing schemes are making progress. A total of 21 local authorities are now actively planning, developing and delivering sustainable affordable purchase schemes with the support of the affordable housing fund. Across the board, a concept that really has only begun in the last number of years has gained traction and momentum and will continue to do so. Do not forget that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy O'Donoghue for raising this issue, which is causing immense anxiety, stress and trauma-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----for many families, particularly to the children who require surgery and treatment in a timely manner. This is being prioritised in the Government. It has been prioritised. Funding is not an issue from the Government's perspective. Additional staff have been recruited. As Deputy O'Donoghue knows, there have been issues in respect of some aspects of it over the past two years. There...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is about capacity. In 2019 approximately 380 procedures were done. Last year approximately 464 were done. A higher number were done in 2022 with 509 spinal procedures. The hiring of more healthcare professionals has happened in Crumlin and Temple Street children's hospitals and at Cappagh. A fifth theatre in Temple Street was opened in October of last year. An additional magnetic...