Results 50,321-50,340 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: It is a laudable objective to be listed as a UNESCO site. That might not mean the level of investment that the Deputy envisages, however, as it could have other implications in terms of investment. I will talk to the Minister. Is the application under way?

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

Micheál Martin: There has not been an application. There are others seeking UNESCO status at the moment. My first advice is to get the process in place to apply. The port has all sorts of historical and literary contexts that are quite unique in themselves. The first process, I think, would be to organise an application. I will talk to the Minister for culture and heritage.

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

Micheál Martin: Victoria's case should not have come to that-----

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

Micheál Martin: ----- because very substantial funding was allocated last year and this year, particularly with regard to a case of that priority. It is difficult to understand how that case could not have been accommodated above and beyond any other case.

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

Micheál Martin: I am just making the point. I know the city council can prioritise, too. I know the Minister is engaging with the city council. I do not know the specifics of all cases-----

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

Micheál Martin: Do not tell me the council is not in a position to resolve the case as it is presented now.

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

Micheál Martin: Yes. Very.

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

Micheál Martin: Very serious.

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

Micheál Martin: First, I thank Deputy Cahill, who has been raising the issue of the UNESCO world heritage site of Sceilg Mhichíl persistently. As he knows, the Office of Public Works conserves and manages the UNESCO site. The boat permit system was originally introduced to improve health and safety on the journey to and during visitation of the island. In December 2024, the OPW advertised a...

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

Micheál Martin: I would hope common sense would prevail.

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

Micheál Martin: First, the legislation tabled by Sinn Féin is simply unworkable. It has been written in a manner that in no shape or form could ever be made workable. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, has a very clear view on this in terms of its workability. It does not oppose any crime in Israel. It does not focus on Israel at all, but on individuals, who five, ten or 15 years ago could...

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

Micheál Martin: We will continue to intervene in other ways.

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

Micheál Martin: The big focus we have now is on the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

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

Micheál Martin: Intervention at the European Union level has far greater influence, if we can get an EU response of this kind.

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

Micheál Martin: Does this relate to the forthcoming EU pharmacy regulations?

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

Micheál Martin: The fundamental position of Government is in respect of supporting IP and the proper exploitation of intellectual property. We make no apologies for that and I never have. As far as I am concerned, we need to have consistent research in medicine and to facilitate, reward and incentivise investment in medicine. Otherwise, we will reduce the number of companies investing in such critical...

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

Micheál Martin: It is always a balance between the price issue and ensuring we have enough and a significant pipeline of medicines that dramatically change disease and improve treatments for disease. The vaccine is the most recent example of it.

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

Micheál Martin: There is a commitment in the programme for Government in relation to municipal authorities in towns over a certain population threshold. I had good time for Brendan Howlin, formerly of this House, on many issues, but he led the charge on this matter and subsequently sort of had regrets. From a democracy perspective, I believe local town councils and town commissioners were important. Very...

Ceisteanna - Questions: International Relations (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together. As part of my St. Patrick’s Day programme in the United States, I visited Austin and Washington DC. My programme in Washington included political, community and economic events. I was hosted at breakfast by the vice president and second lady and had a bilateral meeting with President Trump in the aftermath to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: International Relations (27 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: In response to Deputy Ó Murchú, at the time of the visit in March, the primary objective of the Government and myself was to protect the Irish economy and jobs in respect of any tariff impositions on European Union goods, in particular Irish goods, from whatever sector. Therefore, we used the opportunity to emphasise the very substantial investment by Irish companies in the United...