Results 2,701-2,720 of 6,944 for speaker:Michael McNamara

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998: Motion (23 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: I do not necessarily have a problem with the fact that there is a Special Criminal Court. It is provided for in our Constitution so there is nothing that I could do if I had a problem with it. It is not unusual across the world to have a special criminal court or for certain offences to be tried by a non-jury court. What I have a problem with, as has been repeatedly criticised by various...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Schemes (22 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: 258. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the 2021 sports capital programme will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33061/21]

Regional Airports and Aviation: Statements (17 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: I was taken aback by the Minister of State's introductory remarks, particularly when she stated she wanted to introduce an antigen testing pilot study at the very least but the advice she obtained was that it was not possible, in accordance with WHO guidelines. I have no doubt of the veracity of what the Minister of State said to the House, but I have a lot of questions about the advice she...

Regional Airports and Aviation: Statements (17 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: Either-----

Regional Airports and Aviation: Statements (17 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: -----those advising the Minister of State are right or the rest of the European Union is right.

Regional Airports and Aviation: Statements (17 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: I will leave it with the Minister of State. I will give her the documents.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: I wish to speak in favour of this amendment. It is important we insert “social, economic and” into this Bill for the simple reason that when legislation is challenged in the courts on the distribution of State funds or what social end or economic principles are prioritised, the courts always take the view they will not hear this because these matters are determined here in this...

Common Agricultural Policy: Statements (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: What exactly is the Minister going to deliver? Many promises were made before the last election, as there usually are. This was an unusual situation in that the promises continued on into the programme for Government. The Irish Farmers Association, IFA, has been particularly unimpressed by the results-based environmental agri pilot, REAP, scheme. I looked at it and I was a little bit...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: In response to between 300 and 500 jobs being at risk at Lufthansa Technik in Shannon, the Minister for Transport announced another task force for Shannon. That comes 12 months after the aviation task force reported, with none of its recommendations being implemented in the interim. Meanwhile, we are implementing the EU digital green certificate without the use of antigen testing and we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: I want to come back to the report compiled by Professor Ferguson, the chief scientific advisor to the Government. I have looked at the minutes of NPHET and the report was not on the agenda for discussion or minuted as having been discussed, notwithstanding the fact that Professor Ferguson is the chief scientific advisor to the Government and chaired a panel of experts. Is it correct to say...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: I ask Dr. Holohan, as chair of NPHET, to confirm whether it was discussed.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: So it was not discussed. I thank Dr. Holohan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: It was not discussed. Okay. The witnesses collectively stated that there is a paucity of reports pointing to the efficacy of antigen testing in the real world. The Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety has put forward a list of agreed antigen tests. That has been approved by the health security committee of the European Union.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: That committee is comprised of ministries of health from across the European Union. Is Dr. Holohan saying they are wrong in the stance they have taken and he is right? That is quite a statement to make, given the composition of the health security committee of the EU.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: Does Dr. Holohan recognise the antigen tests that are included in the annexes to the agreed list of antigen tests published on 19 May?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: I am.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: I ask Professor Keogan to be brief. Will those antigen tests be recognised for entry into Ireland? Professor Keogan said earlier that the validation could not be carried out while the sector is shut down, yet the sector cannot open up without antigen testing because of the cost involved in PCR testing. That is an extraordinary exercise in circular reasoning.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: No, I have a question to ask. Will NPHET recognise the list of antigen tests in the common agreed list provided by the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety and approved by the health security committee on 19 May? That is not a loaded question. First, will NPHET recognise it? Second, will it recognise it for the purpose of travel into the State?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rapid Antigen Testing: Discussion (Resumed) (16 Jun 2021)

Michael McNamara: What happens when we do not get there?