Results 7,321-7,340 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has clearly nailed his colours to the mast, although that is the wrong analogy with regard to this Castlemartyr bypass. I now note that he has enlisted the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, onto his team to increase pressure in respect of that project. It is very serious for the people of the area, and I hope that within the next number of weeks we can bring clarity to the whole...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Is the Deputy is referring to Fórsa's decision not to progress correspondence because of the current situation in the HSE?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I do not condone it. I think it is wrong, and Fórsa should desist, in the interests of democracy. There is also the fact that, as I said earlier, €7.1 billion has been allocated to health since 2019. We can have arguments and debates about whether we need to do more, and I accept that, but we need a sense of perspective on these issues as well. That is my view on it. Above...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate Deputy Harkin raising the issue, and we certainly will. I will say again that we are doing everything we possibly can to get Irish citizens and their dependants out of Gaza. We have succeeded in getting quite a number out. Our ambassador, Sonya McGuinness, is working very hard. She is based in Tel Aviv. There are Members of the House who want us to expel ambassadors and pull...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I had not heard that. The bowel screening programme has been cut back?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: No, that is not the case. I will check that with the Minister. That is the first I have heard of that. On the endoscopy unit, in which hospital?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is saying that is closed, is it?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will talk to the Minister for Health on that and come back to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Griffin for raising this issue. The Minister, Deputy Foley, was in touch with me as well. I take the Deputy's point. Yes, the industrial relations processes should be used. I will talk to the Minister for enterprise in respect of that. Kerry Group is one of Ireland's most successful global multinational companies, starting with very humble beginnings in Kerry and Tralee....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: In Dundalk, is it?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is active work underway in respect of raising the retirement ages in our Defence Forces and in other uniformed forces as well. It takes a cross-departmental approach. We had meetings prior to Christmas on this. I anticipate that measures will be decided upon very quickly shortly that should inform the gentlemen spoken about-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----that might assist him before that deadline of 2025. We had interim measures and increased the ages on that basis but I am looking for a more permanent sustainable solution because I agree with what the Deputy is saying.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy makes a very fair point and I pay tribute to Shaun for his resilience and his family for their care and nurturing. We provide supports for disabilities within third level education and that helps but we must do everything possible for people with disabilities to enable employment. I am 100% in agreement with him. We have increased the thresholds for the medical card...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: It depends on the nature of the employment obviously. I recommend that the Deputy speaks to the Minister.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and it is something to which I am very committed. As Taoiseach, I was anxious to promote the idea that there would be a recognition and an acknowledgement of the role that many communities the length and breadth of the country have played in welcoming Ukrainians who were fleeing from a most vicious war perpetrated by Russia and Putin. There was a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I know this is an issue for which he has advocated for quite some time. Some funding was provided last year to facilitate the progression of those projects. There are huge pressures on the capital budgets because of the inflationary cycle we have experienced. Most road projects now are turning out, after tender, at significantly higher cost than...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I do not agree entirely that people cannot avail of the schemes. Quite a number are availing of them. I know people like those the Deputy just described who have been in a position to purchase homes. The situation is particularly acute in Dublin, which I acknowledge.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is possible in Clare for people in the areas the Deputy identified to purchase homes, particularly with the support of the help-to-buy scheme, the first home and various grant schemes and the local authority home loans that have been made available. It is improving. I know of people in exactly the categories the Deputy mentioned who have managed to purchase homes in the past year or two.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: That majority are double-income families. No question, and I acknowledge that. The Deputy makes a fair point in that regard. It is a combination of factors, but there has been huge take-up in respect of the help-to-buy scheme. The first home schemes is particularly geared towards trying to help people bridge the gap in the context of what a house costs, with the State providing equity to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: That is an outrageous assertion. We established the council back then. I believe passionately in the idea of an independent fiscal advisory council. I respect the outcomes of the council's deliberations. That is democracy. Any suggestion that there is an attempt to undermine the council is outrageous, ill-founded and wrong. I looked at Sinn Féin's budget proposals. I recall...