Results 9,301-9,320 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (3 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that Defence Force Regulation (DFR) A9 sets out the qualifying criteria required to be awarded Defence Forces Medals. The award of Service Medals for both Officers and Non Commissioned Officers and Privates is as follows: 1. DFR A9 Paragraph 4a provides that the qualifying service for the award of the Service Medal to an officershall be satisfactory and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (3 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am advised that the request is under consideration in my Department and in that context the Deputy may wish to note that a similar request was also received from another Club recently in respect of the same lands.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: That is a very fair point. As we move online and increase the digitalisation agenda, we should always look out for those who are not as efficient online or who find it very difficult. I will ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, who has responsibility for local authorities to follow up on that. Local authorities and councillors should also...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Minister inherited a difficult and challenging situation in An Bord Pleanála. Resources have been allocated to increase staffing, to the order of 60% of an increase. The challenge when one wishes to rapidly increase human resource capacity is to recruit at the right pace and with the right quality. In the planning area, like everywhere else and every other sector, there is a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: We have significantly increased investment in wastewater treatment plants since the Government was formed. Investment in wastewater treatment has been consistent over the years. I do not have the specific data on the progress of the one the Deputy identified in Cavan. The Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Donohoe, and his predecessor,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, can supply a timeline in regard to that. The bottom line is that the Government has resources and has allocated substantial resources to deal with the cost of living to try to help people deal with what have been exceptional increases in the cost of living due to the war in Ukraine and energy crisis. I take the Deputy's point on the need to reduce costs and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. In terms of age more generally, there needs to be more reflection on the regulatory framework governing age in terms of qualifications for things like driving because chronological age does not correspond to medical fitness or health. Someone could be aged 72 or 73 and be very fit, while someone who is aged 55 could be very unfit. Deputy Kenny is...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am a bit off it yet. I read recently that lifespan in Ireland has increased by 25 years over the past 100 years. Otto von Bismarck introduced a retirement age of 65, thinking that there would be no one alive at 65 and, therefore, pensions would not be a significant cost. We are now in a situation whereby there are people aged 75 doing marathons. We will stick to bus drivers for the time...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: To be fair, it is excellent infrastructure. It is designed to facilitate the hordes of Waterford supporters who will come to Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday to play Cork. It will mean a faster slipstream into the Jack Lynch tunnel, aptly named after one of our greatest hurlers and a man who won six all-Irelands in a row. Inflation happens and costs go up. There is no doubt that piece...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I do not think we should pit one against the other. There has been an overall increase in the allocation for infrastructure. I hear what the Deputy has said regarding those specific projects. On the bill, we will hand the Deputy the bill when we get it. There is a framework that we agreed already, which has gone through a huge examination by the Department of Public Expenditure, National...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----with a broad range of measures.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will speak to the Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, regarding engagement with the organisation referred to by the Deputy. Obviously, the overall agenda is the safety-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----and protection of people. This is all that informs any legislative or regulatory proposals that come forward. I will talk to the Minister of State regarding the issues raised by the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will make two points. First, statutorily, if the review should happen, it should happen. Second, from what the Deputy has said, and I do not have the benefit of seeing the Minister's reply, that there are human resources capacity issues. One person should not be doing everything in situations like this. I will speak to the Minister regarding...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: Again, in the context of this year's budget, a broad range of measures will be discussed. Housing will continue to be the number one priority in respect of taxation and expenditure measures. The finances are in a good state; the Deputy is correct. Obviously, a significant element of these revenues comes from corporation tax, which the Department of Finance is concerned about as being once...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: Which one?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I knew Dr. Mick Loftus and his family very well. He was a fearless campaigner on alcohol when it was not fashionable. He stood up to the lobbies and advocates for the alcohol industry in a fearless way as a medical person. He was also an outstanding president of the GAA and a great footballer, as well as being a referee of some note. He refereed some important Cork matches down through...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: Dr. Mick Loftus was a legendary, iconic figure reflecting the best of the spirit of the west and of Mayo. On the River Deel, I will follow this issue up. From the Deputy's presentation, I am not clear as to whether it is a planning issue that is the problem, if the money is ring-fenced, but I will talk to the Minister.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. Some of the costs have come down but I take his point overall on the broader need. Once we make the reforms, reductions should follow given that the industry pushed hard for some of these reforms and that a group of Ministers, which was convened at the start of this Government to work on this, brought forward a range of reforms. Government will...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I respect the Deputy's perspective on this and people are entitled to have different positions. I support the initiative to facilitate facial recognition, in respect of certain areas such as child sexual abuse, for example, where its use could mean getting to a perpetrator early to intervene or in a murder case or for the prevention a crime, but not to be used wholesale. There is no...