Results 50,301-50,320 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: I agree, although I note that, maybe not Deputy Bacik, but others last week were looking for the resignation of the board or something tantamount to that. That was put to us. A drip-feed of resignations is not the answer, obviously. The Minister has been clear on the number and series of steps. The immediate one is clinical follow-up that will be external, independent and give the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: I am sorry. It will involve the HSE. We have to do things in a way that does not disrupt urgent procedures that children require today and next week.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: Again, I reiterate that this is a shocking report into hip operations. For example, there is the variation between Crumlin at 98% that were clinically indicated - that has to be stressed - to only 60% in Temple Street and 21% in Cappagh. This variation alone, from an external independent author, sends all sorts of alarm bell ringing. We have to find out how that happened and why it...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: As I said, to be fair, the audit was external, which means, in anything we do will have that reassurance for families in terms of the independence of any external review. There will be a retrospective review of every case. The Minister has acted and the Government fully supports her in this series of actions. The first priority is clinical follow-up for all those who had surgery and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: There is a complexity to the social protection system and if you move in one area, it can affect others. We are all familiar with meeting pensioners when knocking on the doors, who will say they lost their wife last year and found it very difficult because they still have the same heating bills, running expenses, rent or mortgage.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: Their expenditure had not gone down at all but their income had been halved in many instances. I will ask the Minister to look at this and we will revert to the Deputy on that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Government and I have made it clear that, as far as we are concerned, Israel is committing a war crime in terms of the weaponisation of humanitarian aid going into Gaza, the blockade and the prevention of the basic necessities of life going into Gaza. We have been proactive from the very beginning. We were the first country in the EU to call for a ceasefire, the release of all...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----the Deputy knows as well it is simply unworkable.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: We will not be opposing Labour's motion tomorrow-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----in respect of actions at the United Nations because we are fundamentally multilateralist. We have worked on the Gaza issue with many like-minded states within the United Nations. Many of the votes on the Middle East reflect that approach by Ireland. We have worked with Arab partner states on a peace process in the Middle East. We supported them and helped in respect of formulating a...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: The occupied territories Bill will come before the Dáil. That in itself will not change Israel. We need to be realistic.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: We need a collective approach. I am cautious about saying it but the EU-Israel association agreement is now under review by the European External Action Service.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: For the record, there is no major trade between Ireland and the occupied territories. Let us be clear about that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: There is very little, actually, but that is not the point.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: The point is that it is a symbolic move. That is important in itself. We recognised the State of Palestine with Norway and Spain. As soon as we did that, all of those who had called for it changed their tune a couple of weeks later, saying that it was too little too late and not of much significance. My point is that we have done very practical things. Probably the most impactful has...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: Those are the realities.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that the Minister visited Donegal recently and had constructive engagement with all involved. Work is under way now within the Department. I will ask the Minister to maybe revert to the Deputy in respect of specific timelines around the legislation.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: First of all, I believe that design is important. Perhaps one of the issues with the new children's hospital - and which was reported in the PwC report - was that it did not have a finalised design prior to the contract issuing. That is one of the conclusions. That is my understanding and I stand to be corrected on that. I would not be against good design for a national children's...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: No, it is more than that. It is more than just building boxes.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Smith for raising this issue. It is something that has been raised in the House and it is an issue that has been causing concern over the past number of months. Regrettably, day services recently ceased due to staffing shortages. That has caused a lot of distress to service users, their families and the Irish Wheelchair Association personnel at local level. The service...