Results 38,741-38,760 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Croke Park Agreement (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: Question 141: To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he has attended any meetings in relation to the implementation of the Croke Park Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19790/12]
- Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: The Government announced over a year ago that it planned to review the domiciliary care allowance in order to reduce costs. Since then there has been a relentless assault on children with special needs and the domiciliary care allowance and this is unacceptable and wrong in my view. As a result of the reviews to date, nearly 50% of children with autism and with serious special needs have...
- Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach is on the wrong issue.
- Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach has missed the point completely. The issue is not about the review of payments at the age of 16 that the Minister has initiated. I am talking about children as young as four to eight years of age whose domiciliary allowances are being taken from them because of desk-top reviews. I met the parents concerned outside the gates of Leinster House this morning and I have also met...
- Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: They were due to meet the Minister for Social Protection but 20 minutes beforehand they were advised that the meeting would not go ahead. I am not talking about a review, I want a change of policy. Since this system moved from the Department of Health to the Department of Social Protection it is clear there is a deliberate policy afoot to target children with autism by removing their...
- Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: It is having a devastating impact on families who up to now have used that money for therapeutic interventions, including occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and a range of other special needs therapies. Why is it that the cuts the Taoiseach has initiated are hitting the most vulnerable in our society above and beyond anybody else? It is not just me who is saying so,...
- Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: I want a change of policy. Will the Taoiseach confirm that he will change the policy as it is being implemented for autistic children?
- Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: The reality is different.
- Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: No, I want a policy change.
- Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: The people concerned asked me to give the Taoiseach these letters.
- Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: Be careful, Taoiseach.
- Official Engagements (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: Question 2: To ask the Taoiseach the position regarding his recent activities in relation to the inter-faith dialogue. [16226/12]
- Official Engagements (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: Question 3: To ask the Taoiseach if he has recently met any of the religious orders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19783/12]
- Official Engagements (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: Question 4: To ask the Taoiseach the position regarding his office's dialogue with churches and faith communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19789/12]
- Official Engagements (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: I listened to the Taoiseach's reply very carefully. I do not get the sense of any substantial engagement with the churches. The reply seemed to focus on the process and the framework. Not long after he took up office, the Taoiseach assured me in this House that he would engage actively with the various churches. In particular, he assured me that he understood the needs of smaller...
- Official Engagements (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: I met a Church of Ireland bishop in Cork over the weekend. It is a very serious issue for that church as well. Can the Taoiseach explain how the Government can reconcile its stated commitment to supporting religious diversity in our society with its attack on the very lifeblood of minority communities? Can he explain what he has done on foot of the many complaints he has received from...
- Official Engagements (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: The Taoiseach has not really addressed the question I asked, which related to his activities on interfaith dialogue. I asked him to make a statement on the question of any meetings he has had with religious orders. The bottom line is that it is incomprehensible that the education situation, in so far as it applies to minority religions, would not be a core part of that dialogue. Has the...
- Official Engagements (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: I am not talking about structured dialogue. I got very little from this exchange because the Taoiseach has not answered my questions. This is a very serious issue for those concerned. Has the Taoiseach discussed the matter with any of the churches and will he agree to meet representatives of the minority religions on this issue?
- Official Engagements (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: Question 9: To ask the Taoiseach if he met the Vice President of China on his recent visit; if he will report on his visit to China on a trade mission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10580/12]
- Official Engagements (24 Apr 2012)
Micheál Martin: Question 14: To ask the Taoiseach if he will report on the meeting he had with the Vice President of China and other Chinese Government members; the issues that were discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19795/12]