Results 47,901-47,920 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy and I agree with the concept of extra time. In fact, when I was Minister for Education and Science between 1997 and 2000, I introduced an extra half hour for dyslexia. At that time we did not have a State Examinations Commission, but then when I left education, it changed and they took it back again. They said some people were complaining it was too long for...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Obviously, changes in this area can have repercussions and implications. I will refer the matter to the Minister for Social Protection and ask that a response would issue to the Deputy in respect of the issue he raises. I understand the point he is making, which applies in means-tested situations. I will come back to him.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is making fair points. The situation is not satisfactory at all. 1 o’clock Since the High Court decision of more than a year ago, we need to legislate. The Oireachtas needs to bite the bullet and legislate on assessments of need because big delays are coming. There is now a huge absorption of professionals on the assessment side but not on the intervention side....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I certainly will. I will raise it with the Minister, who will raise it with BusConnects. This is the Clongriffin core bus corridor and the proposal for pedestrian-cyclist connection, which plans to provide direct access for the residents of Ayrfield estate to the high levels of bus service on the Malahide Road. The Deputy has said that a safety issue then arises. The NTA engages in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----about the safety aspect of this because these are important issues that we cannot be oblivious to. It cannot all be just an engineering solution. The needs of the community and of children have to be taken into account.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I do not know who the individual is.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes. Let me finish. I will make an important point and statement. When I was Taoiseach on the dates concerning the allegations against this individual, I received security briefings but I was never told and never briefed that there was a spy in the Oireachtas, which to all intents and purposes is what the article in The Sunday Times asserted. I am very surprised at the degree to which...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I understand fully the points she made. I do not know whether she has spoken to the Minister for Justice or the Minister of State at that Department about the case. Obviously, we need GPs. They are vital in rural Ireland in particular. I do not have the details of the case. In fairness, there is an independent process for the granting of visas...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I make the point generally that President Biden was of some assistance to Ireland in respect of Brexit and in the Good Friday Agreement. He has supported the Good Friday Agreement all his life, but particularly during Brexit. We were anxious to commemorate 100 years of diplomatic relations between the US and Ireland. That is a good thing. I am not anti-US generally. The Deputy may be but...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: It clearly is, because we cannot physically------

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: We cannot physically-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and the Department of Transport are responsible for that area because it is civilian overflight. As the Deputy knows, anyone wanting to fly weaponry through Irish sovereign airspace must seek permission.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: If they do not, they are violating our legal framework. In the first instance, the Department is trying to ascertain from the Belgian Government and from the company involved the full details on this and then deal with the company subsequently.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will talk to the Minister for Health about that. That is both the flu vaccine and the Covid vaccine for healthcare workers. I will follow that up.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Is it both Ukrainians and-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I accept the point the Deputy is making. Obviously, the Russian war in Ukraine created many pressures and caused the largest displacement of people since the Second World War on the European Continent with about 12 million people displaced. That had an impact. There is a programme of change going on with some contracts not being renewed, and also relocation. The Ukrainian population has...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: That is true and Clare generally has been a very receptive county overall but the challenges of migration are enormous. It is because of the earlier stuff we were talking about. There are wars all over the world and people are leaving with their children, trying to get out. What is going on in the world is terrible.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (9 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service has issued over 886,000 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...