Results 20,041-20,060 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: First, I note that Deputy McDonald was saying last week that it was reckless for people to travel - that was her position - and that the Government was adopting a reckless policy generally. She was dead set against any travel whatsoever, but has obviously changed position within a week. Equally, the line now being trotted out is that the Government closed the economy. The interim...

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

Micheál Martin: That must be acknowledged. We discussed this on Leaders' Questions. As I said with regard to any individuals who are genuinely wronged, I have no issue with those cases being reviewed. There have been compliance measures at airports and ports since 2012 in respect of social protection.

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

Micheál Martin: This must be kept in perspective. There are 287,000 people legitimately on the pandemic unemployment payment. That will continue and we have extended it to the end of next March. We are talking about a handful of cases here. I have no issue with those cases being reviewed and fair play being applied to everybody. However, there is an extraordinary schedule of legislative activity to be...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy makes fair points and this has to be done in a way that we protect livelihoods and families who are in traditional employments that are under threat because of the inevitable change. We have to accept this change is inevitable but what we must try to do is work with the families, workers and communities involved to make sure it is a fair transition and not an immediate cliff fall...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Admhaím go bhfuil feachtas pearsanta á rith ag an Teachta maidir leis an gceist seo agus go bhfuil sí ag obair go dian dícheallach ar son daoine atá ag baint seirbhís síos ón tseirbhís sláinte. Aontaím leis an chuid is mó de céard atá ráite aici. Táim taobh thiar de straitéis na Roinne agus laistigh de sin,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Some refurbishment has been undertaken lately on the unit and more is planned for 2021. I am told the HSE have not received any formal proposal about the new unit being built on the same site as the new primary care centre in Roscrea but I know what the Deputy is saying in that right. I assure him that the Government is anxious to see the Dean Maxwell centre continue to provide and develop...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. At the outset, I wish to address the €146 million that was taken out of the proposed allocation to the rural development fund. As I secured €337 million in alternative funding for agriculture, we more than made up for that particular loss. Furthermore, the Common Agricultural Policy will now have a higher share of the multi-annual...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: There is no agenda in terms of endeavouring to penalise any one sector as opposed to another. I recall the former Labour Party leader, Joan Burton, when she introduced the legislation to empower social protection inspections, referred to "the fight against the small number who scam the system", and said it was "important that we address this; otherwise, confidence in the system among...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: In the first instance, Deputy McDonald should withdraw her inference that I suggested 287,000 people were trying to game the system. I never said that and she knows I did not say it. She should not have attempted to put those words into my mouth. She should disengage from that type of behaviour in here. It is unworthy of her. It does not deal with the issue. She is entitled to raise it...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is not right. It is not fair politics. The whole purpose of introducing the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment was to help people through Covid-19. It developed very strong social solidarity. We want to continue to help people in that situation. That is why 600,000 people in the country were on the payment in May and why 287,000 are still on it. I would like the cases of genuine...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: A statutory instrument was introduced on 10 July. Statutory instruments do not have to come before the Government and this one did not come before the Government. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection states that it had been saying this in response to numerous queries on and off since early July. That did not seem to capture anybody's attention at the time, including...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Lowry for raising with me on Leaders' Questions this issue concerning the Dean Maxwell community nursing unit in Roscrea. As has been said, this is one of a few residential units for the elderly in Tipperary which, as we are all aware, is a very large county covered by two separate HSE areas. Like many community nursing units across the country, the Dean Maxwell unit has a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: There is no debacle with regard to the travel advisory, as the Deputy suggested. In sharp contrast to the decisions taken in Northern Ireland by the Deputy's party, the decisions taken in the Republic of Ireland have resulted in some of the most restrictive travel guidance globally. The results of this are there for all to see. It must be acknowledged by all that the pandemic...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Census of Population (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Censuses of Population held between 1926 and 1991 inclusive were carried out under the 1926 Statistics Act which did not permit any access to Census records, at any time. However, the 1993 Statistics Act repealed the 1926 and 1946 Statistics Acts and provided for the release of Census forms for these Censuses 100 years after the date of the relevant Census. This retrospective introduction...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Advisers (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 70 together. The persons currently assigned to me to work as Special Advisers are detailed in the table below. As outlined in the Programme for Government, a number of reforms will be implemented in order to ensure openness and constructive cooperation within government. These include the establishment of an Office of the Tánaiste and an Office of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 71 together. On 21 July the European Council agreed an ambitious recovery package, Next Generation EU, and the EU’s next seven year budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027. The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), comprising €672.5 billion, made up of €360 billion in loans and €312.5 billion in grants, is...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality was established by Government decision on 6 July last. The first meeting will take place on 31 July. It will oversee implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy, equality and public services, including matters relating to justice and public service reform. It will receive detailed reports on...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Policy Functions (28 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: As set out in the Programme for Government, a new Shared Island Unit will be established within the Department of the Taoiseach which will use the potential of the Good Friday Agreement to deliver sustained progress for all communities. This unit will work towards a consensus on a shared island and will examine the political, social, economic and cultural considerations underpinning a future...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (22 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will get specifics on any incidences of infection in a workplace arising as a result of travel. I am not aware of any such incidences. There have been infections resulting from travel that have had a knock-on impact, many involving households. Deputies may be aware of the house party that took place in Killarney, for example. As stated earlier, the bigger threat relates to how people...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (22 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I stated last week that there is either a rate for a position, in this case the super junior Ministry, or there is not. The matter will be regularised. There are three super junior Ministers, one of whom is the Chief Whip. The matter will be regularised. Either one is a super junior Minister with a seat at the Cabinet table or one is not. On the points raised by Deputy Boyd Barrett,...