Results 9,901-9,920 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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...

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

Micheál Martin: We can certainly facilitate a debate or statements on the report. The entire report has been referred to the health committee. Obviously, I anticipate that the health committee will focus on the legislative options or recommendations but there are also a number of operational recommendations. The Government has agreed that the HSE will establish an implementation group to progress those...

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

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the Deputy's concerns as to the high electricity costs in Ireland, particularly arising from the impact of the war in Ukraine. We did bring in significant intervention measures over the last 12 months to try to cushion somewhat the blow on households and consumers. The windfall tax is progressing in respect of the levies on the excess profits made by companies during this...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I did not say that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is all out there. The documentation is published.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is all transparent. The Deputy will always raise issues, through the Chair, about who is backing what or who is behind a particular organisation. It is very clear to me that Chay Bowes is a political opponent of the Government, as is Paddy Cosgrave. I would love to know who is funding The Ditchin its entirety. They partly fund it but who else is funding it? The site has no advertising...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I ask for reflection on that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of the regional competitiveness index report from the European Commission, which confirms that the northern and western region is a lagging region when compared with other regions across the country. Unprecedented investment is now going into the northern and western region. The Deputy mentioned the national broadband plan but there are 42 separate...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy raised a fair issue with regard to the ports and offshore wind that I did not address in my original response. However, there are plans on that which involve the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Ryan, working with the various port authorities on the submission of business plans for the offshore wind industry. The west coast in particular will have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----and I see this now through a totally different prism. I see how all of this is being organised and set up by people who are very clear in their campaign-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----against me and my party. It can be seen in all of the comments that have been made. Paddy Cosgrave is a strong supporter and there are deep connections between the Web Summit, Paddy Cosgrave and this organisation. What did he say? "...Maybe it's time to body bag...". That was a tweet. It continued: "... a few minions in media, civil service, charities, judiciary, private sector..."

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: We are not facilitating this; that is the answer to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is slavishly following this agenda.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I accept her bona fides as a Deputy; do not get me wrong but it is only when-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----the thing came to a crescendo during the week that all the questions started to come in. The Deputy is part of it. She is inadvertently being dragged into it. I would respectfully suggest that there are a lot of issues around this that need interrogation.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: There is nothing to cover up but the Deputy has made his decision.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Paul Murphy made his mind up a long time ago. I saw him on "Prime Time" last week and to all intents and purposes he has labelled Deputy Niall Collins as corrupt and as having committed a criminal offence.