Results 11,061-11,080 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Let us not undermine the motivations of other people who have different views, such as medics in Meath. There are different views between the medics in Meath. Some are genuinely concerned about safety issues, which have to be dealt with. I sometimes worry about the manner in which Deputies reduce things to just the electoral and political issue. That is why I have to say this. I have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: It was taken in 2013. I have been here since 2013. At this stage it is manifesting itself. Equally, I would say we need a more balanced approach in terms of health. Yes, there are huge challenges. Covid-19 has had a huge impact on our hospitals, negatively. There is no question about that with regard to waiting times. We have to focus very strongly on getting waiting times down because...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Centres of excellence were opposed the length and breadth of the country at the time but have resulted in greater survival rates for the vast majority of cancers. We need balance in the debate. I appeal to the Deputy for that balance.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: We acted comprehensively to help people over the last 12 months and we will continue to do so. We will intervene again to take people through this winter period. We have to help people right through to the end of March. We also have to protect jobs, just as we did during the Covid pandemic. Whatever the Deputy’s views and although he will never accept this, we took the economy...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will make two points to the Deputy. He said the problem has got much worse, which I outlined earlier. It was striking that he did not elaborate on why it has got much worse. It is because of Putin's war on Ukraine. The Deputy seems incapable of articulating that in the context of this energy crisis, as do many on the left, for some strange reason. The bottom line is Putin's war in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: We also increased the fuel allowance by 55%. That was a massive increase last year. Measures taken related to school transport fees, the school meals programme being extended and the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance. The student maintenance grant payments went up by €200 per year. There was the holiday earnings disregard and so on for students. We did a range of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Prior to that, during Covid, we took extraordinary measures to protect workers and the economy, which resulted in the fastest economic growth of any European member state since Covid. That gives us the resources to enable us to intervene again in a significant way on Tuesday two weeks with the budget and the cost-of-living package we will announce. If we had taken Deputy Boyd Barrett's...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: We do not envisage or advocate the nationalisation of the Corrib gas field. The European Union measure deals with the Corrib gas field and other gas fields in terms of fossil fuel extraction or production. Before any domestic measures are taken, it makes sense for us to have clarity and a decision from the European Union on the operation of the gas market and the mechanisms it would deploy....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: First of all, I agree with the Deputy in her analysis. It is going to be a difficult winter, but it is our responsibility to do everything we possibly can to reduce the pressures on households in respect of energy costs, and also to protect jobs in society. I appreciate the fact that the Deputy is clear about the need to work through the European framework in terms of carbon tax or a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy said her proposals are time limited. I would say to the Deputy the crisis may not be time limited. She may need to think beyond the end of February.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is the point. That is the very point that I am making. The Deputy’s proposal is vague, it is not costed and it is one-dimensional. It does not have the breadth or depth of what the Government is considering in alleviating and reducing pressures on households, protecting jobs, helping out schools with capitation grants, and helping out various State entities that provide...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----because we are going to intervene. We are going to reduce the burden of electricity prices on people. However, we are going to do more in the budget and in pay. We have concluded the public service pay talks. We will have tax proposals in the budget as well. We will be reducing costs more broadly.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: In the first instance, on behalf of the Government and on my own behalf, I again would like to convey my deepest sympathy to King Charles, the royal household, the United Kingdom Government and the British people on the loss of their beloved monarch, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. There are many on this island who saw Queen Elizabeth as their queen. We sympathise with them on this very sad...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is one that will always endure in the folklore of our city and, indeed, the country at large. In respect of the energy and cost of living crisis, we are facing the worst global energy crisis since the 1970s at least, and probably worse than that of the 1970s because it also applies to gas and other fuel types, not just oil. Clearly, it emanates from a deadly war-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----in terms of Putin's war on the people of Ukraine and his weaponisation of war. We need to be very clear about that at all times in assessing and in how we respond to this issue. It is having massive consequences for the entirety of Europe, so it makes sense that Ireland respond as part of the wider European Union framework. We are not just relying on EU measures alone, as the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Staff (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The expenses paid to advisers in my Department in the years 2020, 2021 and to date in 2022 are set out in the table below. Year Expenses 2020 €1,678.53 2021 €2,557.18 2022 (to date) €757.55 Total €4,993.26

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Local Authorities (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: My Department has not allocated any grant-aid or subsidies to any local authorities in the years in question.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: In 2021 and to date in 2022 my Department incurred expenditure of €727,162.88 on social media advertising. €708,325.33 of this spend was on 26 COVID-19 public information campaigns as part of the Government’s coordinated approach to COVID-19 public health communications. All expenditure related to advertising campaigns on a range of social media platforms - Twitter,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Constitutional Amendments (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together. Constitutional Reform takes account of priorities identified in the Programme for Government and from the Citizens Assemblies and it is viewed as an ongoing process.   In relation to a constitutional amendment with regard to the declarations required to be taken by the President, members of the Judiciary and Council of State on...