Results 11,741-11,760 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will put this point to the Deputy. It is a good decision today for the women of Ireland and for newborns into the future that we will have a new maternity hospital and a neonatal centre of excellence in public ownership, in State ownership for the next 300 years. When it is built and it is proven to be a good decision I hope that Deputy McDonald and her party will have the good grace to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Shared Island Dialogue (17 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Shared Island Dialogue series is a key part of the Government’s approach to engaging with all communities and political traditions on the island, to build consensus around a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. In our approach, the Government is taking full account of the political complexity and challenges in Northern Ireland, and is working to listen to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (17 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: No staff of my Department are currently seconded to the university or third-level sector.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Investigations (17 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: There are currently two such investigations ongoing.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Northern Ireland (17 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I had phone calls with the leaders of the main parties in Northern Ireland last week and I also met with Michelle O’Neill earlier this week. I will travel to Belfast on Friday for further meetings with party leaders. In the calls, I emphasised the importance of early formation of the Northern Ireland Executive and a functioning Assembly. The people of Northern Ireland want their...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Communications (17 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I had an extensive discussion with Prime Minister Johnson on Tuesday 10 May. During our call, I urged the Prime Minister to engage in intensified EU-UK discussions to address issues relating to the implementation of the Protocol. I set out clearly my serious concerns at any unilateral action at this time, which would be destabilising in Northern Ireland and erode trust. I pointed out that...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Constitutional Convention (17 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Convention on the Constitution and the Citizens’ Assemblies to date were established by Resolutions of the Houses of the Oireachtas and operated independently of the Government, albeit they were assisted by my Department which provided Secretariat and other supports. Details of expenditure for the Convention on the Constitution are set out in the following table: Constitution...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Equal Opportunities Employment (17 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: My Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) - the only body under my Department's aegis - actively support diversity and inclusion in the workplace including the employment of people with disabilities and the provision of reasonable accommodations to employees where required. Recruitment to my Department and NESDO is, in the main, undertaken through the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Commissions of Investigation (17 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: The NAMA Commission was established in June 2017 following consultations with Oireachtas parties to investigate the sale by NAMA of its Northern Ireland portfolio, known as Project Eagle. The Commission is fully independent and other than what is published in its Interim Reports I have no information as to how its investigation is progressing. Its original deadline for reporting...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Engagement with the Taoiseach (12 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: Ba mhaith liom mo bhuíochas a ghabháil leis an gCathaoirleach as ucht an gcuireadh a thabhairt dom chuig an gcruinniú seo agus as ucht an bhfáilte a chuir seisean agus baill an choiste romhainn go léir. I wish to recognise the important role of Oireachtas committees in providing advice to the Houses of the Oireachtas on a range of matters in their sectoral areas,...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Engagement with the Taoiseach (12 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: First, in relation to Deputy Howlin’s point, we have approximately 29,000 - I can check those figures for the Deputy - Ukrainians who are fleeing war. We did undertake to take in 500 from Moldova. I will check the specifics on that and I will come back to the committee and to the Deputy. I will take on board what he said about financial support. Initially, in the immediate...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Engagement with the Taoiseach (12 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will follow it up.

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Engagement with the Taoiseach (12 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: In the last number of years - I was an advocate for Dáil reform in 2016 and for confidence and supply - we created a budget office. We have created far more resources now in the Dáil than would have been the case. I will check with the Oireachtas Commission and with the Minister about this. Some legislation on this went through before Christmas.

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Engagement with the Taoiseach (12 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: My sense was that the envelope has not been as stretched as-----

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Engagement with the Taoiseach (12 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is what I am suggesting to the Deputies. Deputy Quinlivan was making a fundamental point. He also made a point about Northern Ireland MEPs. My understanding is that the Oireachtas reform committee is examining that at the moment. I have no issue with that at all. However, there are some legal issues that have to be dealt with and addressed.

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Engagement with the Taoiseach (12 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Dáil reform committee discussed it last week.

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Engagement with the Taoiseach (12 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: It did. I fully accept the extraordinary work of Deputy Lawless’s committee and its legislative workload. It has been substantive. I take the Deputy’s point about the loading of legislation and then a valley period and the withdrawal of Bills at short notice. That should not happen. There should be a back-up all of the time to make sure that is a continuous pipeline of...

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Engagement with the Taoiseach (12 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will pay attention to time. My apologies.

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Engagement with the Taoiseach (12 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: Did the Deputy say the children's hospital?

Working Group of Committee Chairmen: Public Policy Matters: Engagement with the Taoiseach (12 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I have to accept that Deputy Funchion's committee has had an incredible agenda of major legislation, particularly the information and tracing Bill. The latter will give unprecedented access to birth records and is very important. There was the burials legislation and now we have the payments legislation. There are also other issues. I pay tribute to the fantastic innovation that children...