Results 13,581-13,600 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the payment scheme, the Minister did not depend on the commission's reports in respect of framing and establishing that payments scheme. In other words, he went beyond it and beyond the recommendations of the report. That legislation will come through the House and Members will come forward with their amendments and proposals. The Minister will consider those on that Stage...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will come back to that. The Deputy said the Government is not committing.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I have not interfered in the investigation. The Government took the decision to widen it out at the very beginning because in the modern era there has been a lot of leaking and so forth. In terms of the comments I made, I was asked basic questions about whether I would be offering an apology. It was not the first time I was asked that in respect of the Government's response to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: That commission had been established some years ago. The commission of investigation model is the one we have. It may not have been the optimal model for this type of investigation-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: We did separate ones in respect of the industrial schools and others, and perhaps lessons can be learned from that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am not in a position to say yet, but I certainly hope we can bring it to a conclusion as quickly as possible.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Foreign Policy (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to takes Questions Nos. 5 to 7, inclusive, together. The Government continues to implement Global Ireland: Ireland's Global Footprint to 2025. Despite the constraints of the pandemic, considerable progress has continued to be made, as set out in the Global Ireland Progress Report published in May 2021. This includes: a further significant expansion in our network of missions...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. In advance of consideration of the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters by the Government, certain information relating to the report was disclosed in a newspaper report. In that context, I requested that an investigation be carried out. The investigation is...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I join the Deputy and offering sympathy to the Harrington and Clifford families on their loss. With regard to the ongoing nursing home restrictions, the HSE AMRIC, the antimicrobial resistance and infection control, provides extensive guidance on the control of the risk of the spread of Covid-19 in healthcare settings, including extensive guidance on normalising visiting in long-term...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Government recognises the efforts of people throughout society in respect of Covid-19. Originally, in the earlier phase of Covid, when we spoke about the front line, it was very evident in terms of intensive care and the consistent pressure workers in hospitals were under in respect of Covid-19. There are different mechanisms and contractual arrangements with different sectors. For...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to answer the first question.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: Last July, Scariff Community College got approval to proceed to tender for two new mainstream classrooms, one metalwork room and one woodwork room. Tenders have been received and a decision on appointing a contractor is imminent. In respect of Deputy Stanton's question, I will speak to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and Transport Infrastructure Ireland in respect of the road.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I can say to the Deputy that we want to pursue this as quickly as we can for the benefit of the families. The families have been under enormous strain as a result of the mica scandal. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy O'Brien, has brought forward, with the agreement of his Government colleagues, a very comprehensive scheme. We are going to do right by the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has made a very fair point. The right to request remote working is a positive and progressive step forward. As new initiatives are unfolded and develop, they evolve over time. Ireland has a higher level of remote working than most other countries right now and some of that is due to the Covid experience. It is important that we promote that. I know the Minister for Public...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. Discussions and talks are ongoing between the Irish Dental Association and the HSE.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: As I said, the talks are ongoing. It is a contractual issue. It is not just the HSE side of the equation. Deputies should keep that in perspective when negotiations, in terms of prices and contracts and so on, are ongoing. I want a service that is fit for purpose and gives people the service they deserve. Some €10 million has been invested and allocated this year. The Minister of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I cannot comment on the specific case raised by the Deputy. I am not aware of the details and background to it. The Minister has introduced a suite of measures to try to help schools with substitution. I can understand that in some subject areas, such as perhaps chemistry and physics, there may be more challenges in getting replacement or substitute teachers. I suggest that the Deputy...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has provided grant funding to Benefacts since 2015 in the order of €5.7 million. Benefacts was initially co-funded with philanthropy. However, as the Deputy is aware, in recent years, the Department has been providing the majority of funding following the withdrawal from Ireland of a major philanthropic sponsor. Benefacts has also...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I think the pipeline is becoming much stronger, particularly in respect of cost-rental and other affordable housing schemes.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: From my experience as a former Minister for Education and Science, getting a site is the most important step in terms of getting buildings. Many schools do not want to wait for that, as the Deputy will know, and they seek recognition from the Department and want to get ahead. Hence, they might move into temporary accommodation. Then there can be planning issues, objections and all sorts of...