Results 13,681-13,700 of 50,294 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Michael Collins raised the issue of the work of our fisherman in respect of their diplomacy with the Russian ambassador. I understand that one of the key fishermen involved thanked the Minister, Deputy Coveney, for his intervention. Apparently, they were at one regarding the successful outcome of the representations made by the Minister and our fishermen.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is the rationale behind the general policy. We do not want individuals or couples competing with the council all the time to buy a house. That is the balance that has to be achieved here. The primary focus we want from local authorities is to concentrate on getting social houses built directly. We need more housebuilding on all fronts. This includes the private sector, agencies like...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Yes. I will talk to him about what the Deputy has raised as well.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: First, Deputy Doherty has called on me, I think, to instigate an independent investigation into what happened in the Department of Foreign Affairs when we won our seat on the UN Security Council. I am satisfied with the investigation that has taken place and I will not be doing that. While I was not in government at the time, I have been very clear since this event was brought to my...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I have not seen the detail of the particular case but what the Deputy read was that the council told the Minister it did not feel it came within the priorities. There is an issue of why it did not feel that was the case. However, it clearly does now.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I can appreciate that. It is good for the family that it happened. Remember there was a debate here almost a year ago on acquisitions. People in this House wanted ordinary people to be able to buy houses in estates without being outbid by the councils or institutions.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Joan Collins for raising the issue and am glad that the particular family's situation has been resolved, with DCC now facilitating the purchase of the house. I think the Deputy said there were two children with special needs in the house. Commonsense and flexibility should always apply in situations like this. Councils have flexibility. The target this year is for 12,000...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate where the Deputy is coming from. Ability West does exceptional work. It is a broad-based organisation, covering a range of services, including day, respite, residential, outreach and multidisciplinary support services, for both children and adults with intellectual disabilities. That is acknowledged. The challenge facing Government is the difficulty in drawing clear...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: First, I acknowledge the reports of the ombudsman and the special rapporteur in terms of their conclusions and observations in respect of children and students from certain backgrounds without access to technology or other factors. The impact the pandemic had on them was particularly profound. Not all students do the leaving certificate applied but for the cohort doing the leaving...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. As he correctly said, in recognition of the efforts of the general public, volunteers and, indeed, all workers during the Covid-19 pandemic, and in remembrance of people who lost their lives due to Covid-19, the Government announced last week a once-off public holiday that will take place on Friday, 18 March this year, and a new annual public holiday...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: First, it is about that very point of fairness. If one had proceeded on historic profiling to get an accredited grades system, that would have disadvantaged those disadvantaged students even more than is the case now. Students were very concerned about a number of things. One was grade inflation and that there would be a comparison with last year's results and outcomes in terms of grade...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Minister met the students on quite a number of occasions and engaged with them. There were four requests. I have gone through the four. The Minister has been able to respond positively to three of those four requests. On the fourth, which relates to accredited grades, that simply was not possible. I explained to Deputy McDonald, as she knows well, that there is a huge challenge to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy McDonald did not spell them out. I have not heard them from her in three weeks.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy McDonald keeps pointing-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy McDonald keeps pointing to her colleague.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt. The bottom line is I have not got a coherent cogent alternative from Deputy McDonald-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----in the past three weeks in relation to that core point.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I accept what-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I accept what people said-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----when the issue was raised in the House in the past while. The point I am making is that there is a huge issue there. People do not want historic profiling; in other words, that results would be based on those of previous students in schools. Nobody wants that. That was the collective view here.