Results 5,841-5,860 of 49,984 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The length of time these investigations are taking is distressing for the family. A further court case is imminent, as the Deputy will be aware, in the Lebanese judicial system. We have a lawyer in court monitoring it, who cannot intervene on behalf of our State. The Garda Síochána investigation is advanced for the purpose of preparing a report for the coroner. It is almost...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: However, the most significant one I am waiting for the is one from An Garda Síochána.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that the Department is aware of the issues and will work to see if they can be resolved. I will raise the issue with the Minister for agriculture.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The bottom line in the discussion afterwards was about how we avoid losing the derogation or going below 220 kg. There was much realism at that meeting. Many people realised the reality of the situation. It was critical that, nationally, we take every effort, working with the farming community, to make sure we do not go below the 220 kg limit and that we retain that at the time of the next...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy raised a multiplicity of issues. The farm organisations are being invited to meet the Revenue Commissioners and the Department of Finance to discuss the VAT issue next week. The Department works with the farming organisations and farmers on these issues.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department is also working to resolve the issue in respect of the knackery situation, the fallen animals and the issues that have arisen. I am confident it can get a working resolution of that issue for farmers more generally. Our whole approach is to get payments to farmers to facilitate this. That is why we have allocated the resources. We are not out to get anybody or undermine...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I think the statistics he outlined about the level of activity are quite significant. I am conscious that there are many staff in various Departments who are very enthusiastic in responding to the 52,000 parliamentary questions - I say that in jest. We have to remember the people who toil in the offices across the public service to do their best to get...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising those issues. Since 2015, medical cards are awarded without the need for a financial assessment to children under 18 years of age with a diagnosis of cancer. More broadly, the Government took a position whereby if there was a terminal prognosis of 24 months, the Government would facilitate the granting of a medical card. In other words, eligibility does not...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising multiple issues under the overall umbrella of farming and agriculture. The fundamental objective of the Government is to protect farm family incomes. The most effective mechanism to do that is through the Common Agricultural Policy. We negotiated a Common Agricultural Policy for the period 2023-27, with a strong focus on supporting family farms regardless of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: He said "senior politicians".

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I know he was not there but I was there. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan facilitated it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: Actually, it was a very constructive meeting. We went to see how farmers in the Timoleague-Kilbrittain area were dealing with a research project with Teagasc in respect of water quality. We spent a good three hours there. It was informative and insightful.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: As I said and as the Deputy confirmed, this was sent to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and that committee has now completed its report. If we did not send it to the committee, I would respectfully suggest that the Deputy would be standing here this morning asking why it was not referred to the committee and why the committee should not deal with it. We have to follow up on that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----including the review but we cannot dismiss the fact that we put certain arguments before the people at a given time not so long and people voted on the basis of those arguments. That was the Taoiseach's point and it is a valid point. That said, the review was also contained within the Act. We have had the review and we will act on it. The Government will give that active...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It reflects the hardworking nature of the Deputy in terms of the cases that come to him via his constituency office and the people he meets on a regular basis and I respect that. More generally, I would make the point that there has been record investment in health since this Government came into office. This has focused a lot on reducing costs...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----the number completed last year, which exceeded the targets for last year that were set in Housing for All. Objective, independent assessments of the ESRI state we will be at 32,500 this year. The target was 29,000. The pipeline for social housing is particularly strong.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy did not say that in 2022 we saw the highest level of delivery of new-build social housing since 1975. Over 10,000 social homes were delivered last year, including 7,433 new builds. That will happen again this year.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The strong pipeline of over 23,600-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: Again, Deputy Ó Broin does not want the truth to be told in the House. I am being heckled again.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: It happens here, week in and week out. When we want to put a few facts on the agenda, Deputies Ó Broin and Doherty seek to intervene.