Results 12,021-12,040 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Work of the Shared Island Unit: An Taoiseach (28 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: Someone used to refer to the midlands as the Balkans with the different hospitals competing with each other. The north east is no different as Mr. Brady knows. I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for her positive comments. As she said, education is key to jobs, quality of life, future engagement and that whole idea of the Atlantic innovation corridor. We are funding interesting research through...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Work of the Shared Island Unit: An Taoiseach (28 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: Has it cleared all the required processes? We can talk to the Department of Transport about this. The rail review, then, covers all areas. I note that Deputy Conway-Walsh got in the subject of the western rail corridor. Along with all her colleagues from the west, she has made the importance of this project clear to us as well and it is covered by the rail review. The main issue with...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Work of the Shared Island Unit: An Taoiseach (28 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: We are very conscious of the passports issue.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Work of the Shared Island Unit: An Taoiseach (28 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will finish by saying, because the greenway was mentioned, that if any of the members have projects or ideas, they should let us know-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Work of the Shared Island Unit: An Taoiseach (28 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----so we can progress them in a programmatic way. We are anxious to undertake greenways. A map of all-island greenways will shortly be produced by the Department of Transport. The next question then will be how we can connect all these greenways over time. It will involve a ten-year plan. Existing greenways are everywhere. The question, on an all-island basis, is how we connect all of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Work of the Shared Island Unit: An Taoiseach (28 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: The committee is very welcome. I thank all the people in the Department as well, including Aingeal, Eoghan and all the team, for the work they do in this unit. This initiative is genuinely gaining critical mass and many people in the research community are involved at different levels. Therefore, this is progressing in an orderly way. I thank the committee.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: First, on Deputy Mac Lochlainn's point, I had a very worthwhile visit to Derry recently and met with the North West Regional Development Group. I think it is a very progressive group that leaves politics outside the door and its members do a lot of good work in terms of the economic and social development of the north west. We had a very good meeting in respect of commitments North and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 14, inclusive, together. The Government co-ordination committee last met on Monday, 25 April and is scheduled to meet again on 9 May. The committee generally meets in advance of Government meetings to review the activity of Cabinet committees, review the agenda for that week's Government meeting, discuss political priorities and review...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Mac Lochlainn raised the issue of the impact of Brexit on fisheries, which was significant because the approach of the Government of the United Kingdom to the fishery negotiations left it until the 11th hour. A no-deal Brexit would have been ruinous and had appalling consequences for our fishing industry. Brexit has led to a reduction, particularly in terms of the pelagic fleet,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 10, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on Europe oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments in regard to the European Union and related issues. It generally meets in advance of a meeting of the European Council. The Cabinet committee discusses the agenda for European Council meetings as well as other programme for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Communications (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: On Deputy Mac Lochlainn's question, the inquiry is not completed. We have to await the recommendations that flow from it. On the mandatory provision in the Birth Information and Tracing Bill, the Deputy has to accept that the Bill represents a dramatic advancement on previous Bills circulated in previous Dáileanna regarding this issue. It represents a transformative approach to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Communications (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. The Government Information Service comprises the Government Press Office and the Merrion Street content team. The Government Information Service has the following responsibilities: to provide the Taoiseach and Government with press office support; ensure strong collaboration and co-ordination among press and communications...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Michael Healy-Rae is correct about the extraordinary work that is now going on within the Passport Office. Passport service staff numbers have increased by more than 300 since June 2021. There is a competition under way at the moment which, when completed, will see staffing numbers of 900. That is a doubling of staff numbers since last summer. It is engaging in intensive training...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí agus ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy and Legislation (27 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is a matter for the local authority. That is why we have a city council.