Results 11,941-11,960 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: Can I take a few minutes?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: The courts have taken their decision about the two gentlemen Deputy Boyd Barrett referred to. On the Solomon Islands, Deputy Paul Murphy has outlined his distaste for the Chinese authorities getting a presence there. Again, it is a far cry from what is going on in Ukraine.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: From our perspective, the world is becoming a more dangerous place because of the work of authoritarian regimes that do not subject themselves to elections on a regular basis.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: On Deputy Bacik's question, we did not receive any US intelligence regarding operatives operating in the embassy during my conversation with the President. We discussed cybersecurity and the threat that represents for Ireland and for both private and public sector entities working in Ireland. We also discussed the need for a collaborative approach in order to repel cyberattacks and develop...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together. I visited Washington DC for a programme of engagements, arriving on the evening of 14 March. On Tuesday 15 March, I met the editorial board of The Washington Postto share the Government's priorities and exchange views on current events, including the ongoing war and suffering in Ukraine. I attended a lunch for Congressman Richard...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is good that we have been in a position to reduce public transport fares as part of the cost-of-living measures. The Deputy raises a fair point and the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has engaged with commercial operators and will continue to engage to see if some resolution can be found to this.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: To be fair, reform of the carer's means test has been an ongoing issue. In budget 2022, the Government announced significant improvements in the means test for carer's allowance in recognition of the vital role carers play. The general weekly income disregard for carer's allowance will be increased from €332.50 to €350 for a single person and from €665 to €750...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----it has been estimated a universal carer's payment would cost in excess of €1.2 billion per annum over and above current spending, so we have to weigh everything up in terms of all the various schemes we provide.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I do not have the background to the individual case and it is very difficult in that scenario to respond but we will certainly talk to the authorities and highlight the issue the Deputy raised with them. The Deputy may be in a position to give details of the individual case to them.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his comprehensive presentation. The Minister, Deputy Donohoe, and his officials are engaging with the banks that have indicated their intentions to leave the market, in particular, KBC and Ulster Bank. They have recently confirmed they will provide their customers with six months' notice to close their accounts. The Minister and his officials are also engaging with...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: We have the strongest legal advice from the Attorney General in relation to these matters in terms of advising the Government on the legal guarantees that have been given. I am not privy to the HSE board meetings. It is a new departure that we now seem to be getting into a situation where there is public discussion of the individual contributions - whether they are accurate or not I do not...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: What I can say is that the new hospital will have clinical, operational and financial independence and that there are a number of legal instruments that guarantee that all the services that are legally permissible in this State will be provided to the women of Ireland now and well into the future and that is important.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is aware of the allegations that have been made and he understands that those allegations are denied by the board member concerned. However, a senior counsel has been appointed to provide a report to inform his consideration of the matter. Terms of reference and timelines for this report are...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Health wrote to the HSE CEO on 26 April to request that an expert team be sent to UHL to ascertain urgently what additional resources might be deployed as well as any changes that could be made quickly to alleviate the current pressures being experienced in the emergency department. That expert team began its assessment at UHL last week. A key part of the solution for...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: There are further plans for Limerick including the provision of a 96-bed ward block at UHL. The award of a works contract was approved by the HSE board on 25 March.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It has been of concern for quite some time. Many in the medical and health community do not treat it separately from other conditions. I will engage with the Minister for Health in relation to the representations the Deputy has received on this and come back to the Deputy on it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. There are challenges and pressures at Sligo General Hospital, as the Deputy outlined. Of that there is no doubt. The HSE is working actively with sites of concern, including Sligo, to mitigate the situation. Key actions include reviewing discharges and egress options, liaising with smaller hospitals in the group to facilitate transfers, as...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is a very dishonest presentation. This Government intervened in an unprecedented way during the Covid-19 pandemic to protect workers, in the main, businesses and enterprises right across the economy to an extraordinary degree. It was the right thing to do because of the protection it gave to workers and jobs. That was evidenced by the rebound in the economy in the aftermath of the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: The cost of living is a very serious issue brought on by the war in Ukraine and, as economies rebounded from Covid-19, the major imbalance between supply and demand. Since the budget, we have allocated €2 billion to a whole range of measures to reduce VAT rates, for example, in addition to the decision to increase the free fuel allowance. Some €914 was paid to eligible...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (4 May 2022)

Micheál Martin: We have brought in a very comprehensive range of measures on the cost of living. The Deputy knows that.