Results 7,161-7,180 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: All of these issues should be resolved by negotiation through the established industrial relations machinery, and there is an obligation on employers to engage in such processes. There is no place for intimidation. I always condemn intimidation of any kind against lawful conduct in respect of industrial relations, picketing or taking action that is acceptable. There should be no...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Government has acted. Some €12 billion has been provided over the past year and a half, which is 4.5% of our national income, to help households and help people cope with the cost-of-living increases brought about by the war in Ukraine and the inflation that came from the ending of Covid. Those have been in specific tax and expenditure measures. Eight lump-sum payments were...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: There is no issue with the deletion of sexist language. If there was, this would have been resolved a long time ago. The Deputy is a person of some capacity in the legal world and understands the complexities of this. It is not as simple as she has stated. The various wordings that have come forward need rigorous assessment from a constitutional perspective. The balance between the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: This recommendation has emerged from the industrial relations process. The Government has accepted the outcome of the industrial relations process. I am not going to pre-empt the outcome of the ballot. The industrial relations process is independent and has come forward with an outcome. The Minister was proactive in all of this. He commissioned the report in the first instance. We have...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Minister is very committed to this. Under the framework that has been agreed, there are a number of attractive options for water services workers including full protection of terms and conditions for those who choose to remain in their local authority. For workers in particular, it sets out the options that will become available generally and empowers each worker to decide voluntarily...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. She is correct to say this has gone on for far too long. It is not satisfactory. I will engage with the Minister for Finance to bring forward proposals to deal with the issue. It has had a long history. There was an earlier scheme in the 1990s that was broader. At that time, the then Department of Finance had views that it was too broad and it...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Health is engaging with the National Rehabilitation Hospital in the context of the operation of this scheme to make sure there are sufficient numbers of necessary medical resources and staff, and on the broader issue of the volume of applications in terms of there being sufficient numbers on the board or to support the board in respect of processing the applications. I...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am sorry. Can I say something?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: I take the opportunity, which I should have at the outset, to thank the Ceann Comhairle and all of the ushers and staff in Leinster House for their courtesy, co-operation, tolerance and infinite patience with all of us. We wish them a bit of a break, or rather, more of a break. They will obviously still be here but will have some respite from the day-to-day pressures of the House being in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----over the last two and half years has been against measures that would increase supply and has been about the introduction of measures that would reduce supply. That is a fundamental problem in terms of the Deputy's policy proposition.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: We are committed to social housing and affordable housing, and on the vacancy, the Deputy knows the Croí Cónaithe grants have been increased from €50,000 to €70,000-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: There is also the new revolving funding of €150 million. Therefore, for the first time in a long time, there is a focused, targeted and well-resourced programme on vacancy and dereliction. The Deputy should at least acknowledge that, but there we are.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. In terms of lifespan generally, the last 20 or 30 years have seen a dramatic improvements in lifespan. Over the history of the State, we have gained 25 years in lifespan. In terms of health outcomes, there have been fairly dramatic improved outcomes on cancer care and survival rates and cardiovascular in terms of survival from cardiac issues....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is all of the above. It will need more resources, if one looks at the trajectory of health expenditure. Much of that is on the human resource because the human capital in health has increased. The numbers of people working in the health service have continued to increase but more and more services have come on stream with it. It means more investment of capital, in equipment and in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: With respect, I never said anything about anybody not getting additional funding. The Deputy just said that I did. That is untrue. Do not be putting words into my mouth. The Deputy came out two weeks ago about sources he had saying that remedial works needed to be carried out. In the public interest the Deputy should reveal the sources.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: What is the secret?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: If someone comes to the Deputy and says that he or she has information-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: No. The Deputy should put the source in. Who came to the Deputy?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: Through the Chair if I may-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am answering the Deputy's question. I am simply saying that in the public interest. There are lots of agendas here. I am not talking about the Deputy now. I am talking about the cost of this. We must protect, as best we can, the taxpayer. I never gave a date on this. The reason I did not give a date is that I am aware of the tensions between the contractor and the hospital...