Results 13,401-13,420 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. Since this Government came into office in the midst of a global pandemic, a one-in-100-year event, the Government has intervened to an extraordinary degree to underpin incomes and support lower income workers, to keep people in jobs and to support enterprises. That has been an effective and successful intervention in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: A comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic over the past 2 years. This will help ensure that we are in a better, stronger position if another pandemic or another similar type emergency arrives. We are considering what the best model for this evaluation will be. Specifically,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (8 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: There has been no expenditure on any consultancy contracts in 2020, 2021 or to date in 2022 either by my Department or by the National Economic and Social Development Office which is the only agency under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: As we continue to live with the COVID-19 pandemic it is important as a people that we pause and reflect, take time to remember those who have lost their lives in this terrible pandemic and to pay tribute to everyone who has contributed to how we have faced and are facing the challenges together. As announced, a Public Holiday is to be held on 18thMarch 2022 in recognition of the efforts of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (8 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: In September 2021 the Government published a ten-year plan for the provision of housing - Housing for All. It is a multi-annual, multi-billion-euro plan which will improve Ireland’s housing system and deliver more homes of all types for people with different housing needs. The Government’s overall objective is that every citizen in the State should have access to sustainable,...

Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022: First Stage: Departmental Meetings (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am sorry. On disability, I agree with the need for a more singular focus on disability. The Government took a decision to move disability out of the Department of Health and over to the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth because it was felt that health was such an enormous area that disability was perhaps not getting a co-ordinated focus. The view was...

Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022: First Stage: Departmental Meetings (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Apart from the fire-fighting on a lot of issues that arise every day, there needs to be a fundamental paradigm shift in health. The Deputy and I can agree or disagree. The approach taken in relation to the HSE was the correct one; likewise with the Garda Commissioner and so on.

Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022: First Stage: Cabinet Committees (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: The fundamental issues are identity. It came across in the meeting yesterday again. It is about identity. We need to accommodate different identities and have parity of esteem between different traditions on the island. That is why we have progressed the shared island initiative very energetically and strongly. It is an important initiative.

Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022: First Stage: Departmental Meetings (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: A Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 20, inclusive, together. The Secretary General of my Department has responsibility for the effective management and functioning of the Department which operates at the centre of Government. The core activities of the Department are set out in the statement of strategy and include delivering the executive functions of the...

Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022: First Stage: Departmental Meetings (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy McDonald raised a number of key issues in terms of memorialisation. There has been considerable engagement with survivors and former residents. Memorialisation is considered a very important part of the healing process for those affected and the State should progress the national memorial records centre. The Secretary General has chaired that group and funding has been secured. I...

Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022: First Stage: Cabinet Committees (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: In the first instance, I take Deputy Richmond's point. We cover the Brexit issue at the EU Cabinet committee as well and we have had meetings with the key Ministers and party leaders in the context of the EU and in respect of key moments for Brexit. I have met the British Prime Minister on the protocol issues specifically and made matters very clear. There was a very energetic engagement...

Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022: First Stage: Cabinet Committees (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy McDonald again raised the issue of Ava Cahill and the orthopaedic situation. Government is responsible overall for the delivery of healthcare. The point I was making earlier was that the funding has been allocated. A figure of €5 million is not an issue. I want to make that clear. Since 2018, which was before I came into office, to be fair, an extra €9 million had...

Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022: First Stage: Cabinet Committees (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I have. On Deputy Calleary's point, the work on the stroke units was an important piece of work. Since stroke units came in well over a decade ago, they have been transformative in terms of the impact on survival from strokes, improvements and prevention. I heard the consultant on “Morning Ireland” this morning in relation to this. We will examine that audit. Those...

Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022: First Stage: Cabinet Committees (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I and many of the NGOs support intervening much earlier. I have dealt with Deputy Paul Murphy’s point in my response to Deputy McDonald. On Deputy Barry’s point, again the investment has been provided. Very often, this depends on how local management and regional management prioritise key services, as well as how they allocate the large funding that has been allocated to them....

Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022: First Stage: Cabinet Committees (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I have a lot of experience in health. I have been a Minister for Health. Regularly, in various Oireachtais down through the years, people raise health issues-----

Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022: First Stage: Cabinet Committees (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: This goes on all the time.

Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022: First Stage: Cabinet Committees (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 15, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland was formally established by Government on 6 July 2020. It had its first meeting on 29 October 2020. The Cabinet committee last met on 4 March 2021. The meeting scheduled for Monday, 29 November 2021 had to be postponed. Relevant issues arising on Brexit and Northern...

Healthcare (Transparent Payments) Bill 2022: First Stage: Cabinet Committees (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions No. 1 to 8, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on health oversees implementation of programme for Government commitments in relation to health, receives detailed reports on identified policy areas and considers the implementation of health reforms, including Sláintecare. The Cabinet committee last met on Thursday, 9 December. It is currently...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: That last assertion is ridiculous. No one is gunning for anybody. The Government does not want to close any airport; it has no interest in closing any airport. The Minister amended the tender requirements for search and rescue to specify that four bases, in Dublin, Shannon, Sligo and Waterford, would be provided for. It depends on the lens through which one looks at things. I think the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (2 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: There are a whole range of constraints that govern aviation policy in terms of airports and so on.