Results 12,121-12,140 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: I think it has already been announced that it is the intention of the Government to work in terms of domestic violence leave. That is something we are committed to doing but I will get further details on that for Deputy Farrell.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: There are two elements. First, the Government is funding out-of-hours services comprehensively and has been doing so for quite a long time now. That was introduced to ease pressure on GPs generally in terms of weekend cover, rostering and so forth. Increasingly, however, there are issues in rural Ireland with access to GP care and the recruitment of GPs to serve. That is an ongoing...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: Obviously the Minister will have proposals in the forthcoming Estimates for the budget. Phase one of the roll-out of the model of care has involved the establishment at secondary care level of regional fertility hubs within maternity networks in order to facilitate the management of a significant proportion of people presenting with infertility issues at this level of intervention. Phase...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the issues the Deputy has raised. There has been significant investment in University Hospital Limerick but there are very significant issues there. It is my belief and the Government's view that we must look at further increasing bed capacity there in the short to medium term. I will talk to the HSE about the points Deputy Cahill has made about governance.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: Yes, including the finance committee.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputies are interrupting again. The truth is simple. I repeat it for them again. The Minister for Health has said there is no question but that he will go before the finance committee or any other committee that asks him to go before it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: He has helpfully suggested that there is an external review, an external independent review which the Deputy and other Members of this House asked for - it always moves on, of course - and that when that has happened and has been concluded, he believes a better conversation could be had before the committee. That is all.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is all. On the issue of a public servant, I do not like the witch hunt nature of the approach that has been adopted. As far as-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: It certainly has that ring about it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: That needs to be watched as well.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am not aware of who has written to Mr. Watt or whether people have written separately, but will I pursue that issue.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: They will be met and they will be provided. All procedures that are legally available in the State will be provided. The memorandum has not yet come to the Government. It will have to come to Government. It will go before the Oireachtas. We need a new maternity hospital.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: Well, it is not agreed, because it has gone on for years, and the pace of construction of new hospitals has not been the strongest area, to be straight about it. Many hospitals that have been built have taken an inordinate amount of time to commission and develop, with arguments about them. I remember that Tallaght hospital took an inordinate length of time back in the 1980s or 1990s....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: First, there have been huge advances over time in disability services across the spectrum, in education in particular, compared with how they were. Progressing disability has caused issues in respect of a dilution of services. One of the key areas that need expansion - we have provided the resources - is the provision of therapies. Special needs assistant, SNA, provision, for example, has...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: I have already said I will be meeting with the CEO of the HSE and with the Minister on this shortly.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: To be fair to the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, in the area of women’s health, he allocated €31 million in the previous budget for new developments to support women's health. There was additional funding for the national maternity strategy into 2022 and beyond, access to contraception for women between 17 and 25, further developments in menopause care by an increase in the number...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: That matter will be considered by the Minister and subsequently overall by the Government. We also need to think it through as to what is in the best interests of the Defence Forces in terms of pay and conditions. The commission has finished its work. In keeping with the commitment in the programme for Government, the Minister for Defence will now consult the Minister for Public...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy keeps saying the Minister for Health has refused. The Minister for Health this morning said publicly that there is no question but that he will go before a committee.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: The substantive point is the more relevant point on the Order of Business. People raise issues on the Order of Business normally to change the Order of Business in terms of debating time and getting more hours. I thank Deputy Boyd Barrett for responding to the Minister's request for submissions on the Ukrainian crisis. We have six hours of debate on legislation this week. If Deputies are...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (26 Apr 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thought the aromatic flavour of wine was more berry-like and that whiskey was more peat-----