Results 11,561-11,580 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. Her commentary and some of the debate on this issue in recent days has become somewhat detached from the reality we find ourselves confronted with. We need to be very clear about what this is all about, what has happened, where we are and where we go from here. The first thing that has to be done is to acknowledge and pay tribute to the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 149 together. While there are elements of communications to most policy roles in my Department, the Unit in my Department whose function relates to communications is the Government Information Service (GIS). GIS includes the Government Press Office and the MerrionStreet content team and works on a cross-functional and collaborative basis to: - provide...

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is not on the agenda at the Council meeting.

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: We know that.

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is not on the Council agenda.

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: No, I do not actually.

Pre-European Council Meeting: Statements (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The European Council will meet in Brussels later this week on 20 and 21 October. Before turning to that meeting, I will briefly update the House on the first meeting of the European Political Community, which took place in Prague on 6 October, and on the informal meeting of the European Council that took place the following day. The first meeting of the European Political Community on...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy McDonald raised the scoping inquiry into the death of Shane O'Farrell. I met with the family during the summer. The Government agreed to facilitate the family with a copy of the scoping inquiry report. The Government has not yet considered the report in deference to the family's wishes at that time. I will meet with the family again, and I understand a date has now been agreed by...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: We need to have bespoke measures to try to help people in district heating settings with effective interventions. Deputy Paul Murphy raised the issue of local employment services in Tallaght and Clondalkin being shut down for three months and then being restored in a differently organised way. He said it is a slimmed down version. The tendering did not facilitate a race to the bottom. We...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: Regarding the north west, I have spoken to the Minister for Transport on this matter. I am anxious for that to happen, but it is in the transport domain right now. Regarding the rail strategy, east-west connectivity is a big issue because the A5 has been caught in a lot of planning issues, public inquiries and so on. Then there is the rail issue. The largest number of submissions on rail...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 17, inclusive, together. The public service, justice and policing reform unit is part of the social policy and public service reform division of my Department. The work of the unit supports me in my role as Taoiseach on policing reform, criminal justice, public service reform, social affairs and other related matters, supports the Civil Service...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: No, Deputy McDonald is first.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 9, inclusive, together. I am advised by NESC on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Ireland. The NESC work programme in 2022 has five main areas, including to carry out a major piece of research and consultation on climate, biodiversity and how to achieve a just transition in agriculture,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for raising a range of issues. We can in the future put to NESC the issue of the nationalisation of the entire energy sector, although I do not advocate that. We have a regulated market and an independent regulator.

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Economic and Social Council (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy made a specific point in respect of district heating but the specific issues pertaining to district heating would not in themselves merit the nationalisation of the entire energy network and system in the country.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens' Assembly (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I cannot sing but I am tempted to sing “Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head”.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens' Assembly (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The last point is very valid and I say to the Deputy that if he wants to come back to us with his local community group on Cratloe Wood, we are open to initiatives from the community up on biodiversity and in respect of native woodlands in particular. The Government would be very interested in getting behind that idea and developing a project around that. There are many projects across the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens' Assembly (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: Please do. The main point is that we must develop offshore wind, which is clear. We want to reduce and eliminate our dependence on fossil fuels. The most effective way to do that is both onshore and offshore wind, which we are both agreed upon. That has to be done in a regulated and planned way with inputs from all stakeholders, not least those representing our biodiversity. I have...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens' Assembly (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: Excuse me?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Citizens' Assembly (19 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy used the word “force”. Farmers have been attached to the land for a very long time in this country. We have to engage with all involved on the land, including our farming community, and food security is important. We have to balance all of that. We need a greater variety of production and we are, through the carbon tax revenues, encouraging environmentally...