Results 12,561-12,580 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I am conscious of the fact it is under investigation by the PSNI. We do not have jurisdiction over the PSNI so there would be practical difficulties in what we can do here. I will reflect on what the Deputy has said and see how best we can go about raising the issue.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The decision was taken based on an extensive procedure under the Arterial Drainage Act and associated legislation which involved the engagement of an environmental consultant, public consultation and engagement with other relevant bodies, including the OPW, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. This decision was not taken...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Making such a provision for everybody in the State regardless of geographical location in cities and towns would be a very significant expansion, the impact of which would need to be fully researched. There are discretionary medical cards available and measures were taken in respect of a terminal cancer diagnosis. That discretion should be applied in cases that are presented to the health...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I take Deputy MacSharry's point. It is a matter of the instruments that are available to us. There is an issue with VAT. If we bring it down significantly on a temporary basis, we could end up with a much higher rate once the temporary situation is over. We have concentrated on the measures we can do within the various frameworks and legal situations. That is a cut of 20 cent and 15 cent...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am supportive of the very poignant point raised the Deputy. It is extremely difficult for people in Ukraine because of the bombardment they are under and I can only imagine how difficult it is for people with cystic fibrosis because of the added complexities arising from their condition and the difficulties arising. Given it is a condition that is particularly prevalent in Ireland and we...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The fundamental point about passports is the exponential growth in applications and the number being issued. I will come back to the Deputy but I believe 1.7 million passports will be issued this year. There were 634,000 issued in 2021, despite Covid-19 restrictions. A total of 45% of online adult renewals are processed within one working day while 99% of online applications for renewals...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The first point is that ESB is a State company and is owned by the people of Ireland. Second, it is making very significant investment in projects now and for the future that will need to be financed by borrowing, and the debt already accumulated by ESB is quite significant. It needs profits to enable it to meet debt obligations and to ensure its capital expansion plans in future can be...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The energy security issue is very important given what is going on.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his question. He might also have picked up on the latter part of my commentary where I indicated that our immediate focus should be on the current war in Ukraine and the humanitarian crisis flowing from it, as well as the need to direct all our policies and energies to that. I am somewhat concerned as we need a united approach in the country on how we deal with...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising those very important matters, particularly with respect to the undocumented Irish. I will certainly raise that with President Biden. It is subject to the domestic political environment and realpolitik in US politics. I will also meet representatives of Friends of Ireland in Congress and I look forward to engaging with them on the matter. It was very...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Yes, efforts are being made on that front. In the initial phase, the Government was determined to give cash aid to trusted international agencies such as the Red Cross and UN agencies, and €20 million has now been allocated for humanitarian assistance. A further €10 million was allocated through the European Peace Facility in respect of non-lethal supplies to be sent to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Health yesterday announced a women's healthcare strategy, with significant expenditure, which also involves the establishment of specific endometriosis clinics, which would deal with issues in a multidisciplinary way. The measures announced yesterday contain a focused approach, and funding has also been allocated.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Consumer Protection and Competition Commission exists to pursue any companies breaking the law, price gouging or behaving in an anti-competitive manner. Equally, as I said earlier, this is an internationally-traded commodity and we must take that reality on board in respect of price caps or price controls, which have never worked in the past as a mechanism to deal with situations like this.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: There has been significant investment in the past while and particularly on the cardiac front, as the Deputy will be aware. The Government has been in office now for a year and a half and we are responding in respect of-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy knows a process is in place in respect of getting the new facilities in place. The tendering has happened, and all of that, and the money has been allocated. That has occurred and the Deputy knows that. There is no issue with the Minister for Health meeting with Deputies from the south east. A lot of progress has been made, however, on the cardiac front-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Regarding procurement issues, they have to be gone through.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The beef, milk, pharmaceuticals and technology products produced and manufactured in Tipperary are exported to every member state of the EU and all over the world.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Ireland depends on a global free trade environment.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should know that.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is the same within the EU. That is the bottom line and most people with a bit of common sense know that too. We need less of that kind of rhetoric and so on.