Results 20,001-20,020 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Kelly for raising this issue. I know he does so in a genuine way and I agree with much of what he has said. I am not happy that there is not a specific timelined roadmap that I have yet seen for the restoration and reopening of disability day services. The Deputy can tell Philip, Leah, Darragh, Stephen, Padraig and Alan that I am working with the Minister for Health, the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy loves throwing accusations about the place and assertions in relation to the Government's overall policy. She is basing her claims, and is trying to throw away the political consensus that has served the country well in dealing with Covid-19 over the past five months, on the fact that as few as 100 people have had their pandemic unemployment payment, PUP, suspended because of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: As Deputy Kelly said, they were there before that as well. They have been there for a long time. The fact that we are extending this payment until the end of next April shows our commitment to helping and supporting people. Alongside that, we have also put together a very substantial job activation programme under the July stimulus to help people secure alternative employment. All we are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: These are the facts and the Deputy must know them. She is being completely disingenuous in her attack on the Government on this issue. As regards her question about reviews, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection is there to hear reviews. We are not out to undermine anyone on the PUP or to single them out in any shape or form. I want to make that very clear. On the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: EU Summits (29 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I provided a detailed report to the House last week on the special meeting of the European Council on 17 to 21 July, where we reached political agreement on a €1.8 trillion budgetary package to drive Europe’s economic recovery and the climate and digital transformations. These were especially challenging negotiations, lasting over four days. With a significant number of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Freedom of Information (29 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Covid-19 has presented a unique set of circumstances to the continuity of work carried out by Government Departments, including in relation to the processing of FOI requests, but officials in my Department continue to make every effort to ensure that all FOI requests received are answered in accordance with the statutory timeframes laid down in the FOI Act. Since the arrival of Covid-19 in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will start with Deputy Kelly’s comments. It is unfair to single out one and say there was no mention of SNAs. The entire roadmap is about three school settings: primary schools; special schools and special units; and post-primary schools. That is made very clear in the document. The overwhelming idea is a safe school community, embracing all the school staff. That is not just...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The national development plan will be reviewed and obviously there are key agenda items in terms of rail infrastructure generally across the country. In the July stimulus funding is already going into remedial works in our existing railways. Developing fast-track rail between the major cities is one agenda item. There are major projects in and around the Dublin area, including the metro...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on education was established by Government decision on 6 July last. The next meeting will take place in September. It will oversee implementation of programme for Government commitments in the area of education. Its membership comprises the Taoiseach; Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: In the first instance, as I outlined, the Minister, Deputy Ryan, will chair the committee. The agenda is clearly set out in the programme for Government. The immediate objectives of the Cabinet committee will be, for example, the climate action (amendment) Bill, which will be introduced to Dáil Éireann within the first 100 days of the Government, the development of a national...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: In response to the comments of Deputy Kelly and others, I do not think there is any surprise that the Joint Committee on Housing, Planning and Local Government is meeting approximately a month after the Government was formed. I met very quickly after the formation of the Government with the Minister and his Secretary General to discuss a range of issues, including homelessness and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I also want to deal with the questions asked by Deputies Boyd Barrett and McDonald, if I may. On the evictions moratorium and rent freeze, the only reason we are introducing the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Bill is because they were not legally tenable. The Bill will give a stronger statutory footing to protect tenants who are in rent arrears from being evicted during the Covid...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Speaking to Deputy Barry's point about the end of the moratorium, we will continue to monitor the situation. We are bringing in legislation to strengthen the position of those in rent arrears and facing eviction. There are other protections in the Bill that allow for the Residential Tenancies Board to assist renters and strengthen supports for those in rent arrears. We have no desire to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 6, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on the environment and climate change was formally established by the Government on 6 July 2020. It will oversee the implementation of the programme for Government commitments on the environment and climate change and will receive detailed reports on identified priority areas, including the annual climate...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on housing was established by the Government on 6 July and its first meeting will take place this Thursday, 30 July. In addition, I have already had a bilateral meeting with the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government to review housing issues. The committee will oversee implementation of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank all the Deputies for raising the issues of coach and bus companies and how they have suffered as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The temporary wage subsidy scheme has been a major benefit to many sectors, including this sector, to enable people to stay intact.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Let me finish. The restart grant is now up to €25,000 and is also available for those businesses. The rates relief is now fully expanded, is of six months duration, and is also an available support, as is the facility to offset any loss this year, in tax terms, against profits of last year. All of that, added up, will help. There is also a facility to refinance, for lower interest...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The seasonal workers have been included in the new employment subsidy scheme. They were not included in the older-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: They were not included in the older-----