Results 12,521-12,540 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy knows that is what I sought. I said that to her already. We have sought a derogation in respect of the application of the rules around the VAT directive and the energy tax directive, which covers excise. Basically, we have sought that if we reduce our VAT rate, because we have an historical derogation already in this regard and already have one of the lower VAT rates on energy...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: If we bring that down-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: No, I do not think we should go to zero. If we did bring the rate down, we would go back up to 23% under the existing rules.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I have been saying this to Deputy McDonald for two or three months and so has the Minister for Finance.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is well aware of it, but she should know that. Therefore, we have been seeking from the European Commission-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----a change in the application of those rules and a temporary derogation from those rules so we could give ourselves and other states flexibility in respect of the application of VAT, or, indeed, excise duties. Turning to home heating oil, carbon tax is there now, with VAT. Those are the two options. The Deputy is technically using different terms, deliberately to-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Politically, the Deputy wishes to avoid the charge that she wishes to get rid of the carbon tax.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is what it means. That said, we want flexibility on the VAT side, obviously.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is right to say that this is going to go right through to the end of the year, and that is how the Government must react here. We cannot be bringing in separate measures every week.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: We have to prepare for the medium term in terms of helping to manage the economy properly.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy, all Members of the House and many well-wishers for their kind remarks in the aftermath of my brush with Covid. Thankfully, it was a light brush and probably points to the value of vaccination. I urge anybody who is not vaccinated to get the booster. There is no doubt that there has been a severe increase in the cost of living in recent months. As we emerged from...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Commissions of Investigation (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The only Commissions of Investigation for which I am the specified Minister under the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 are the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Commission of Investigation and the National Asset Management Agency Commission of Investigation. Both Commissions are fully independent. The IBRC Commission of Investigation was established in June 2015 following...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: EU Meetings (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I attended a meeting of the European Council on 24/25 March. Our meeting was joined for a period by President Biden and, via video link, by President Zelenskyy. We discussed the situation in Ukraine from a range of concerning perspectives: humanitarian, migration, energy, nuclear security and safety and reconstruction. We agreed on the establishment of a Solidarity Trust Fund for Ukraine....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ukraine War (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 34 together. I spoke to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, by phone on 16 March. He expressed his gratitude to the Government and people of Ireland for their support for Ukraine, including in welcoming those fleeing the war; for our support for Ukraine’s application for EU membership; and for our support for the most robust and severe...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Northern Ireland (29 Mar 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. Through the Dialogue series, the Government is listening to people’s views on a range of common concerns, and how we can work for a shared future,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Apology (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Since taking office I have issued one formal apology in the Dáil, on behalf of the State, for the hurt experienced by many former residents of Mother and Baby Institutions and County Homes. I apologised for the profound generational wrong visited upon Irish mothers and their children who ended up in a Mother and Baby Home or a County Home and for the shame and stigma which they were...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality oversees implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy, including sport, arts and culture, equality, including children and youth affairs, and public services, including matters relating to justice, policing reform and community safety. The Cabinet Committee last met on 7 March this year and will meet...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Northern Ireland (29 Mar 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. Through the Dialogue series, the Government is listening to people’s views on a range of common concerns, and how we can work for a shared future,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: My Department engaged the services of the company in question from 2013 - 2016 and from 2019 - 2020 for translation services. This provided for the translation of reports, press releases, speeches, website text, and correspondence. It also included the use of interpretation services for a small number of press conferences and meetings with visiting members of European governments. The total...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (29 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: My Department has no contracts or expenditure with the company in question.