Results 13,621-13,640 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: That should not be done now. We need to concentrate on the war effort in terms of helping people to come out of that and stopping the war. Supporting the people of Ukraine should be our immediate priority, rather than getting, if you like, diverted on a debate around military neutrality and so on. It has not stopped anything we need to do with our European colleagues in respect of helping...

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

Micheál Martin: On the question of the numbers at the Russian embassy, I have not asked about the numbers there. Be under no illusions. We have about six in Moscow, including three diplomats. Any actions mean reciprocal actions on the other side. We judge it necessary to retain diplomatic channels right now in terms of protecting and having channels to help Irish citizens in particular situations. The...

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

Micheál Martin: First, I thank the Deputy for raising this key issue and his comments on a number of issues that spring from it. I mentioned earlier the bravery of journalists. Without journalists in battle, we would not have any picture at all of the atrocities and war crimes that are being committed by an evil regime that has clearly targeted women and children. I mentioned Lynsey Addario's photograph...

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

Micheál Martin: Since the outbreak of war in Ukraine, the Government has been very actively considering the country's response to the unfolding crisis and the consequences of that crisis. That is across a whole range of areas, some of which I outlined in terms of our humanitarian response. Suffice it to say that the impact of the war will be very serious and significant for all nations across the European...

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

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy McDonald for raising this very important issue. I wish everybody a happy International Women's Day. We are all agreed that our thoughts are with the women of Ukraine who more than anybody have demonstrated extraordinary resilience in the face of the most enormous of challenges and the most impossible of choices as they bring their children to safety, leaving their husbands and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I attended a special meeting of the European Council on 24 February, the day the current Russian invasion of Ukraine began. The European Council demanded that Russia immediately cease its military actions, unconditionally withdraw forces and military equipment from the entire territory of Ukraine and fully respect Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence within its...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Protected Disclosures (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: My Department has received no protected disclosures from serving or former staff of the Department during the period in question.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (8 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The table below lists the Cabinet Committee meetings held from June 2020. Cabinet Committee Meetings held from June 2020 Meetings held 2021 Meetings held to date 2022 COVID-19 3 July, 11 August, 10 September, 14 September, 18 September, 5 October, 9 October, 17 October, 19 October, 26 November, 21 December 5 January, 25 January,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (2 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: On Deputy Sherlock's point, I do think that we can reach the 5 GW by 2030. The Government has been in office for about a year and a half or a bit more. In that time, the marine planning framework has been published. The Maritime Area Planning Act has been enacted. There have been very significant developments, particularly in respect of the development of wind energy to give certainty to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (2 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: We have a very ambitious goal to have 80% of renewable electricity by 2020. That is Ireland's goal in the climate action plan. That depends on harnessing offshore wind in particular. It is at approximately 43% of electricity generated now. In that context, the development of a new regulatory consenting regime for the offshore renewable sector in Ireland, including the introduction of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (2 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will work with the Ministers involved in the extension of the nautical limit. The practice the Deputy identified of the dumping of so many fish at sea is shocking. Deputy Boyd Barrett spoke of the privatisation of our resources. I am not clear. Is he saying that the State should collect all the offshore wind itself? Is that what he is basically saying?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (2 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I do not think that the State has the capacity to do that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (2 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: There is a lot of expertise out there. We have to have partnership between the State and the private sector. ScotWind has really moved quickly in harnessing wind energy off Scotland. We want to get to 5 GW before 2030-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (2 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----and we want to become a major exporting nation after that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (2 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I know that. It is being worked on. There is a whole-of-government delivery system being created. The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is developing that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (2 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: Well, I hope it does yield jobs and benefits, the biggest being to climate. I am not clear what the Deputy is proposing as an alternative. I have not heard that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (2 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy got his chance. The same applies to natural gas, which costs 400p per therm today on international markets compared with 40p per therm last March. Gas prices have soared 220p per therm over the past week. We are going to face a very difficult situation. I gave the figures on wages, which have increased over the past while. In terms of the Government's response, we have...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (2 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: In respect of the situation in Aer Lingus, as I said earlier, the Government supported the workers in Aer Lingus through the employment wage subsidy schemeand supported the company, along with other companies in aviation. Many people in the House were calling for that and we did it. The workers should be treated fairly and, in my view, on a par with UK employees in the same overall company.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (2 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: We support the end of mandatory retirement. The Pensions Commission has reported on that and it will come back to Government.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (2 Mar 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 to 25, inclusive, together. I participated in the One Ocean Summit in Brest, France, on Friday, 11 February. Around 20 international leaders attended in person for Friday's high-level segment hosted by President Macron. This event was held in the context of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with the support of the UN and in...