Results 5,121-5,140 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: Perhaps the one Department that might want to sit on it, but we might think about it, would be the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. I am not so sure it would be so enthusiastic about the idea that we would encourage people to take up all their expenditure entitlements.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: As I said earlier, there has been a significant increase in the number of special classes and seven new special schools have been formed in recent years. I do not have the background to the specific individual cases the Deputy referred to. The National Council for Special Education, NCSE, is there. I ask the Deputy to engage with the Minister and bring to her attention the specific area...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: I think we have legislated for this in terms of more proactive undertakings. In many instances, it is about NCSE approval, planning, etc., in conjunction with the Department. Our objective is that every child needing a place will get a place. This means, then, that we must plan for this provision and ensure it happens, and this is what we have been doing over the last two to three years....
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: That is what I mean. There can be an area-based response if there is a problem in the area.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: What did the Department say?
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: First, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications will deal with that question. I will ask him to respond. I think we are looking at some date at the beginning of June. I am not clear on whether Saturday is the best day either but we will see.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: I know the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, has been very active and proactive in working with the Irish Postmasters Union in respect of supports for postmasters generally. I am not sure in this case if the closure was occasioned by a retirement-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: -----or whether it was a policy decision to close it. I do not know the background to the case but I will certainly talk to the Minister in regard to it. I would have had my reservations about some colocations with supermarkets but it has worked in some areas because of the significant footfall, which means there is more access and more people use the service and that, in turn,...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: I appreciate the Deputy raising the issue. We have had ongoing engagement with the HSE and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in respect of this issue. There had been issues with the recruitment of therapists and the filling of vacancies in particular in paediatric services and the children's disability network teams in certain locations. The roll-out...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: We did take that forward-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: -----and we did ensure a rethink. There was a review.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: There was a further review of previous reports. I am not sure the 2017 report is as clear as the Deputy has outlined in terms of undergrounding. EirGrid has been consistent in saying undergrounding is not feasible. We did ask for a review of that and we secured it from the Minister. We looked at what happens internationally, as well as the specifics of this case. The review has since...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: I am not sure what proposals will work.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: It will deal with settlers in the West Bank and not the ministers initially-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: I am answering the question. Last week I saw Deputy Gannon's tweet saying I was in the Chamber for only five minutes giving a speech. I was actually here for an hour and I made a submission.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: It is a bit unfair of Deputy Gannon. It will apply to the settlers and particular settlers have already been identified at European Union level. If it does not happen at European Union level we will then consider doing it ourselves.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: The Department of Transport has responded swiftly to alleviate the demand pressure by sanctioning the recruitment of 75 additional driver testers in March 2023. This is in addition to the 30 permanent testers who were previously sanctioned in July 2022. This brings the total number of sanctioned driver tester posts to 205, which is more than double the 100 sanctioned driver tester posts in...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: A total of 41 additional testers have joined the Road Safety Authority. There is ongoing work and the Minister is very conscious of it and we will continue to increase capacity.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: It is working. The passport service worked exceptionally well last year in terms of issuing passports in very fast timelines and in terms of responding to emergency situations all of the time. I do not think Deputy Murphy's characterisation of the service is accurate here and now today. It might have been a year ago but it certainly is not today.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)
Micheál Martin: If Deputy Murphy can-----