Results 481-500 of 46,414 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue in a constructive way with a proposal to deal with the issue. I could not agree more that multi-agency working is essential. One of the great problems and challenges in public services is the silo mentality and the absence of a genuine cross-agency and multiple agency co-operation approach. I will refer the matter to the Minister for Justice and the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It is important. Citizens Information offices are essential in terms of providing information to our citizens and have performed wonderfully over the years. The Deputy mentioned that an additional allocation was made to cover a pay deal this year. I will have to check with the Department of public expenditure and the Department of Social...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is getting more bellicose as the elections are getting closer. Deputy Chambers is a fine Minister of State.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy seemed to indicate to me that there is a commitment to do it, if various sites have been looked at.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am surmising that what the Deputy is saying is that sites are being rejected because there is no commitment to provide.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will revert to the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers. Drogheda is a large town of 40,000 people. It is a fine town with great history and great heritage. It is an important resource for people.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the constructive approach the Deputy has taken in terms of working with school principals and schools in the area to bring about an increase - 19, he said - in the number of classes. In the context of Sacred Heart, I will certainly intervene with the Minister to see if the needs of that school in terms of two ASD classes can be provided for.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Through the Chair, two or three years ago there was a lot of concern in the House about backlogs and delays in getting passports. The speed at which one can get passports today online is quite dramatic. It is tremendous all round. More staff have been recruited and we continue to do this. It is a good service and it is responding well. When there are individual problems it equally...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The real issue with passports is that we work with people and we can just get the procedures correct but there is always a security dimension. We have it in other debates in the House on other issues, where people are condemning the Government for the absence of security dimensions.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is an issue with disability services and CDNT teams. My view is that the progressing disability programme has not worked. The progressing disability policy was announced in 2013 and it simply has not worked and we need to change it. I have been working with the HSE and various education and equality bodies. Parents and children cannot wait any longer. This should not impede the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I cannot talk about an individual case but from what I understand, the position in this particular case is that the person in question sought international protection in Ireland and inquiries identified he had previously been an applicant in the United Kingdom. Under the arrangement in place since 2020 the United Kingdom agreed to accept his return and also advised that he had been convicted...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Justice has asked for a review of the case to be carried out.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: From what I have been presented with, it seems there has been a very serious lapse in regard to this case.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: What the Deputy is presenting is ridiculous. It should be resolved between the two State agencies. The Deputy has said the county council and Uisce Éireann have an issue. They should sort it. With the greatest respect to everybody, there are people on the ground working with the two agencies. For God's sake would they go away and get it done. That is all I would say. I am not...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: While the Deputy cannot be calling everyone a joke, this needs to be resolved.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I agree that it should be resolved. We need to be clear also that those responsible on the ground should do their job.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I support absolutely the recruitment of further bus drivers. I believe the NTA is before the Committee of Public Accounts today and as much pressure as possible should be brought to bear. We are in a full employment era, which means many agencies have challenges with recruitment. Certainly we will be very supportive of this.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy must know that the Government has invested hugely in Knocknaheeny in terms of the regeneration programme, house building and education and it will continue to do so. Likewise, house building in Cork is strong. CBL is the methodology by which people want to choose a particular house in a given location. We have dramatically increased social house building and the Deputy should...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have already answered. There are enforcements. The RTB is taking action and has sanctioned landlords in respect of breaches. Some 77% of the breaches were in respect of the rent pressure zones. Supply is the key. People can pluck figures out of anywhere but real targets have to take in a number of factors. We know that this year we should be a position to build 33,000 or 34,000...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----which most political parties seem to be adept at doing this right now. We need to be real and be honest with people. Yes, we need to increase supply but unfortunately, I have seen very little policy on increasing supply from anybody in the Opposition.