Results 9,441-9,460 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have discussed the issue of the delays with the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers. He is working proactively with the RSA in respect of the NCT. Progress has been made, with 33,500 tests having been conducted last week. That is a significant increase on the pre-Christmas period, when tests were averaging approximately 25,000 per week. The backlog is simply too long, however. As the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----the fulfilment of the charter. My understanding is there is now a commitment to fulfil the charter and the obligations within the charter in respect of those whose tests are delayed.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The National Car Testing Service, NCTS, has recruited 110 vehicle inspectors, including 44 testers, bringing the total number of vehicle inspectors to 595 by the end of last year.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: We need to update the guidelines in terms of wind energy also. The Minister is seeking to bring those forward. The Deputy's point is made in respect of biogas and anaerobic digestion. There will have to be significantly more progress in respect of anaerobic digestion into the future, given the climate action plan and the commitment therein for far more anaerobic digestion plants, but I...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: In fairness to the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, he has raised this with the relevant Minister, namely, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy O'Brien. It is almost equivalence. There is a small issue around retrospection, potentially, but I do not see an issue arising in the context of the regulations the Minister will be issuing in respect of mica. The agreement...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is there.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has made a very fair point. There has been exponential growth in diagnostic access for GPs across the country in the past two years. I will ask the Minister to examine the situation in Carlow to see if that can be expanded. I am not clear about the reasons which it has not been. There may be personnel issues. I just do not know. I will follow that up. I have no doubt the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The point is well made in respect of the impact of migration on tourism. It is a real challenge in terms of accommodation. The Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media, Deputy Catherine Martin, is working with the industry and met a confederation recently in respect of endeavouring to find solutions and create options. We have a real challenge in the country. We are in a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: No, I do not think compensation is------

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: No, it is not nothing.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The first point I would make is that 40 years ago the world of health was vastly different from today. We have had far more productivity in the health service in the intervening years, particularly in terms of the revolution in day-case activity, day-case procedures, length of stay in hospitals and so forth. All of this has radically changed the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: First of all, on the issues relating to the north east in particular, clinical protocols have already been adopted in terms of patients going to the right hospital location for the right outcome.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: That is the fundamental principle that governs how doctors respond to a particular emergency. There is an issue in terms of pressures on hospitals, and of that there is no doubt. The proper utilisation of Navan in the context of medical emergencies, or indeed the pressure in medical assessment units and so on, is critical. The utilisation of hospitals in the most effective way is the key...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the issue the Deputy raises. I understand the point he makes in terms of the value for residents of the centre being open seven days a week, on a continuous basis, so they would not be disrupted. I will ask the Minister for Health and the Minister of State with responsibility for disabilities to engage with the HSE to resolve this issue, or at least to understand the background...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the specific fund itself, Coillte has legally entered into an arrangement and had the powers to do so. The review I am talking about relates to broader policy, looking at the development of alternative models. We have to avoid a monocultural approach but there will be a need for commercial forestry to underpin the timber industry itself. In the future, both Coillte and the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Not to this specific arrangement but the Ministers are meeting.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy and acknowledge that he has raised this before. I met with Pavee Point before Christmas as well and we discussed a particular pilot project. I will be taking this up again with the Minister to see if we can get the pilot project expanded. I am not clear why the limits are there at all, particularly as we go through a very harsh winter.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has made a very good point. We saw during Covid that the role of community pharmacies was quite effective and that is still the case in respect of the Covid-19 vaccination programme. That has worked well. I do not have an up-to-date position in terms of the outcome of the working group but I will speak to the Minister in that regard and seek to have further information provided...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that the Minister has offered to come before the House at the earliest opportunity.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: There is no massive sale of land by Coillte.