Results 9,701-9,720 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy McDonald raised the issue of the long Covid clinic at the Mater. I do not have the reasons here but the Deputy is suggesting it is closing. I will make inquiries with the HSE on what is happening there and what the background to the situation is. In the notes I received earlier, the indication was that this clinic is still operating. On the transfer, I have spoken to the relevant...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Risk Assessment (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: A consultant's report should be sufficient or a GP should be able to give a confirmation in those circumstances. It seems to me that certain local authorities might have different approaches. The Deputy said a man had been moved seven times over the past nine years.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Risk Assessment (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: We have to build more social houses, and we are building them. We are getting far more social houses built now, but there is room for local authorities to house people with medical conditions of that kind. Particularly in the situation the Deputy outlined, one would have thought a solution would be found by now for that individual.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Risk Assessment (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will do so. Deputy Murphy raised an issue in respect of adult education tutors. My understanding is that this would come under the remit of the education and training boards and it would take responsibility for it. The issue must ultimately be determined through the labour relations procedures and processes we have. Deputy Bríd Smith raised the issue of tenants in Liberty Lane...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 to 29, inclusive, together. The Covid-19 and health unit of my Department supports me and the Government in developing and implementing health policy and related matters and co-ordinating the Government's response to Covid-19. This includes supporting the work of the Cabinet committee on health, the Cabinet committee on Covid-19 and the associated...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Risk Assessment (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy McDonald raised the issue of poverty, and Social Justice Ireland also raised the same point. Overall, the national risk assessment deals with strategic risks facing the country from external sources, including hybrid threats, terrorism, armed conflict and war. These were identified for the period 2021 to 2022. Risks referred to include the rise of a multipolar world; the future...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: In response to Deputy Daly, I mentioned the significant increase in Garda numbers since 2015 and that funding had been put aside to recruit a further 1,000 gardaí in the 2023 budget. That impacts on the pilot schemes Deputy Daly wants extended, particularly the relationship with mental health, dealing with mental health call-outs and so on. The overall aim of the Government is to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: This Parliament is the last bastion of democracy and free speech. The Deputies opposite feel free to make all sorts of assertions and allegations against Government Members on a consistent basis, whether we are puppets of oil and gas or of NATO, which is a constant assertion of Deputy Murphy and others. I will always retain the right to speak freely in this House. The far left does not get...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Risk Assessment (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 11 to 18, inclusive, together. The national risk assessment has been prepared since 2014 and provides an opportunity to identify and discuss significant risks which may arise for Ireland. The national risk assessment 2021-22 was published last December. The experience of recent years has brought home the importance of work in the area of risk...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill was published in August. The Government asked the Minister for Justice for more information on the potential inclusion of facial recognition technology, FRT, by means of amendments on Committee Stage. A report has been prepared for the Cabinet and will be published in the near future. The...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: In recent years there has been a substantial increase in resources for recruitment of gardaí. That will continue. I accept that there are challenges, particularly in the context of antisocial behaviour and in rural Ireland. We want to strengthen and support An Garda Síochána. Funding for 1,000 gardaí to be recruited next year was provided in the budget. I am informed...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will have that examined, but I am not familiar with the details of what the Deputy has just said. The opening is very good news. It is a very good development. The bypass has been long awaited and will be of significance to Kerry as well as to Cork and to all who travel on that route. We will engage with the county council and TII in respect of the Deputy's suggestion.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: The authorities are pursuing this matter. It was because of the local authority, in this case DCC, enforcing the legislation on fire safety that action has been taken to protect those who were in that unacceptable accommodation.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: The consequences are in the legislation, but it is a matter for the council to pursue that. I am not going to prejudice any potential case that may arise.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy said that SIPTU or had been engaging but that it has now called a strike. We hope the existing industrial relations mechanisms can be deployed to resolve the issues in Bantry. I did not fully pick up what the Deputy is asking the Government to do in the case of-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will engage with the Deputy later on the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be glad to know I raised and discussed this issue last week with President Macron, who is acutely aware of the needs of the west of Ireland. To be fair, Jeffrey Donaldson, leader of the Democratic Unionist Party, has raised this issue with us also in the context of an all-island approach to a Tour de France event. An all-island focus would be particularly important. We are...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will say no more. I was going to be a bit humorous. They want an eventful trip, certainly. I will not get into precise routes. I will defer to the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, in that respect.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: We have provided very significant resources for services for people with disabilities. I do not mean to be facetious, but I do not operate or run every service in every area of the country. There is a responsibility on the HSE and the people working in the local authorities to ensure that the necessary respite care is provided.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (30 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Government has provided resources for disability services for respite and residential care. If the Deputy wants to forward the details we will take up the matter.