Results 13,601-13,620 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: Everybody knows that what I am saying is what happens. The most important step is to get the site. At least when there is possession of the site, either the patron or the Government, through the Department, ETBs or patrons, can then start design and build and so on. There are wider issues, however, as to how we can start the whole process.

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

Micheál Martin: The insurance Bill on duty of care is getting priority drafting. The PIAB legislation is being worked on as well.

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

Micheál Martin: There has been very significant lifting of restrictions on advice we received from public health authorities. The advice was to maintain the existing protocols on safety in our schools and, in so doing, to protect children while the opportunity for them to get vaccinated continues. We will keep the matter under review.

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

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has asked his questions fairly. I believe there are issues with capacity more generally around the western seaboard, involving the Saolta group, and more specifically in Limerick. This cannot be solved overnight but there have been moves on that front. The Deputy has raised a wider issue that does merit further examination. I will ask the Minister and the HSE to pursue that.

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

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Education is dealing with that as we speak and has engaged over recent days with all the stakeholders and the advisory group on the examinations. We appreciate fully that clarity is required as quickly as we can possibly get it and must be provided to the students, who are going through a lot of anxiety as a result of this. Adjustments have already been made to the written...

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

Micheál Martin: I think the announcement on the Covid recognition payment was made last week. It is extensive. It focuses primarily on those on the front line and within our healthcare system. It has been challenging to arrive at the conclusions that were arrived at. The payment is paralleled with the decision on the bank holiday, which will be a permanent bank holiday on St. Brigid's Day. I hear the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I do not doubt the seriousness of the issue that the Deputy has raised. It is very serious. It has to be dealt with on a Europe-wide basis. The Minister is engaging with the European Commission and his colleagues at the European Agriculture and Fisheries Council to see what can be done. In addition, we have, through the carbon tax revenue, ring-fenced significant funding for a new...

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

Micheál Martin: As I said earlier in reply to Deputy Shortall, this is unacceptable. A full nationwide audit of compliance with CAMHS operational guidelines by all CAMHS teams will happen. Furthermore, a prescribing audit will be conducted in each of the 72 CAMHS teams nationally. The Government is then going to look at any further measure that is required in the overall situation.

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

Micheál Martin: I think we need to get a sense of balance and proportion here as well. It is a very serious matter.

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

Micheál Martin: It is very serious for a number of reasons. It should not happen-----

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

Micheál Martin: -----and the Minister for Foreign Affairs has communicated that to the Russian ambassador very forcefully, making clear that this is unwelcome and should not happen, notwithstanding any technical legality. The impact on the ecosystem in terms of biodiversity, fishing grounds and our whole marine life is a huge concern to our fishers. There is absolutely no necessity for this. It does...

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

Micheál Martin: We will engage with our fishers as well in this respect. Our fundamental priority-----

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

Micheál Martin: Will the Ceann Comhairle hear me out, please?

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

Micheál Martin: I am sorry, but Deputy Kelly is gesticulating at me there. I think that safety is our overall objective. I will discuss the issue with the Deputy further.

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

Micheál Martin: First of all, last year there was not an enormous number of affordable homes completed.

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

Micheál Martin: The target this year will be approximately 4,000. Again, that will be challenging because we had to get a lot of legislation through the House in respect of affordable housing. The Deputy knows that. There was a lot of debate here to give the underpinning to the Land Development Agency, LDA, and other measures. The Deputy talks about affordability. We did extend the help-to-buy scheme...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: What I say is that we are not cutting any wages; wages are increasing. The Deputy asked about inflation.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: The figure I was quoting was 3.8% in the third quarter of 2021 from a year earlier. That was the rise in earnings then. Wages were up 7.6% from their pre-pandemic levels in Q3. The average inflation for that period was about 2.4% and actually was -0.3% throughout 2020. However, the Deputy is correct. We all accept that the CPI prices were up by about 5.5% in December. Electricity prices...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I would point out that close to €10 billion in total between European Union and Exchequer funding will support over 120,000 farm families over the next Common Agricultural Policy period between 2023 and 2027. The Minister, Deputy McConalogue has worked very hard on behalf of Irish farmers to get the best package possible in the context of the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jan 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am open to discussions with the Deputy and others regarding the best way forward here. I have a sense that over the last ten to 15 years there has been investment in child and adult mental health and that certain services developed in certain areas. From just observing, it seems to have never reached the optimum levels that we would all have understood would be the case when we started...