Results 2,901-2,920 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Permanent Defence Force does not have part-time members, I am assuming that the Deputy is referring to the Reserve Defence Force, namely, the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve. Members of the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve are volunteers who undertake training in their spare time. In order to facilitate the voluntary nature of Reserve Service and to maximise attendance...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Defence Forces continue to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including security operations, critical supports to An Garda Síochána and ATCA supports to other Government Departments and Principal Response Agencies. I am committed to ensuring that the personnel of the Defence Forces continue to be equipped and trained to best international standards and I can confirm...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: As of 5 June 2024, Ireland is contributing 430 Defence Forces personnel to overseas missions and locations, which reflects the Government's continued commitment to our responsibilities in the area of international peace and security. The main mission in which personnel are currently deployed is the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 344 personnel. Ireland also contributes...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Budgets (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The 2024 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) provides an allocation of €1.25 billion in Defence Group funding, an increase of €40 million over 2023. The Defence Vote Group includes the Defence and Army Pensions Votes. The allocations for 2024 are €933 million for the Defence Vote and €317 million for the Army Pensions Vote. This significant level of funding will further...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Irish Coast Guard has had overall responsibility for the provision of maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) services within the Irish Search and Rescue domain since 2004. The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) comes within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Transport. My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: In my view, local authority housing is fundamentally an issue for the local authority to deal with. It should have sufficient capacity to get in early to repair, refurbish or eliminate issues that give rise to mould developing in the first place.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: In this Dáil and Oireachtas, we constantly talk about local autonomy and local government, but every time something happens, we want to say the Government must do it. Local authorities have responsibility for their housing stock. It is interesting; in the affordable housing schemes, they maintain their housing schemes and their houses. Local authorities need to do the same. Maybe,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I spoke earlier on this. There is no reluctance to strengthen the Act. I do not believe local authorities have been strong enough in enforcing the Act. That is a view I have. They might argue it takes too long and there are legal issues and so on which can go on forever. There are other ways to refurbish streetscapes and town centres. We also have to think about our town centres,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I meant that in a spirit of-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I think An Ceann Comhairle understands where I am coming from.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I would be happy to participate in something An Ceann Comhairle convenes.

Arts (Recognition of Comedy) (Amendment) Bill 2024: First Stage (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Comedy, is it?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The RSA currently has sanction to employ up to 205 driver testers, which is more than double the 100 sanctioned posts in June 2022. To further assist in reducing waiting times, in October last year a change was made to the booking system to allow any unused test slots to be made available for candidates to take up at short notice. If a driving test is cancelled at short notice, the RSA...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I certainly will raise that with the Ministers concerned. Prior to any provision, work has to be done, various surveys have to be carried out and so forth. I imagine that is happening right now. I will talk to the Ministers about consultations and dialogue.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy. It is concerning. I have my own views on BusConnects. There seems to be a tendency that initial proposals are ones that will never be accepted by anybody; then they get diluted when the consultations start. It seems to me if we cut to the chase in the beginning and had more reasonable proposals at the outset, we might have truncated many delays related to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will certainly talk to the Minister for Health. I picked up on one or two cases like that during the local elections recently when I was knocking on doors. That should not be happening. People with long-term disabilities or special needs, where it is clear there will not be any significant improvement in circumstances, should have long-term cards. It could save an awful lot of cost in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is a huge scheme and the allocation committed to it by Government is enormous. That is a fact. I am not giving impressions that the scale of this is such. I understand fully the plight of many householders, quite a number of whose houses are uninhabitable, and the distress and anxiety caused by mica. There have been a number of refinements to the scheme. It replaced a scheme the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Fitzpatrick for raising this issue, which is a serious one. I have always believed in the efficacy of the housing adaptation grant. It has been very effective historically in enabling people to get vital adaptations to their homes, especially as they become more frail in their more senior years, and also in respect of people with disabilities. The grant threshold is under...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I believe very strongly in the first responder model. The professionalisation of that service has been one of the great changes in healthcare in the past two decades. There has been debate in the House as to what is the best model for the organisation of our ambulance and first responder services. There have been difficulties with recruitment generally across the economy because we are in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Beidh mé sásta teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an Aire Sláinte chun an cheist seo a réiteach. Is oth liom a rá go dtógann sé an-chuid ama ar fad - iomarca ama, uaireanta - chun cuid de na seirbhísí seo a chur i bhfeidhm ach táim sásta caint leis an Aire. Le cúnamh Dé, beimid in ann dul chun cinn a fheiscint.