Results 13,841-13,860 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will come back to Deputy Tóibín, who also used that phrase. It is very important to know what we mean by that here in the House. We can all promise things and say we will do them but if crimes have been committed, and I think the Deputy is saying that crimes were committed, they need to be investigated. In the first instance, they have to be investigated by An Garda...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----without undermining any investigation by the gardaí. That is the problem and the challenge which I think the Minister may be grappling with. I will talk to the Minister again on this but we need to have clear lines of demarcation between different types of reviews. There is no question but that this needs to be addressed as an issue. I would like to think that any crimes should...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: On the Construction Defects Alliance, Deputy Ó Ríordáin has said that the report should be due by the second quarter of 2022. The Minister is very conscious of this issue. We have already had a number of issues in the context of pyrite, mica and so forth. We will be moving on that and responding to the issues that arise out of that report. Deputy Cathal Crowe raised the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Therefore, the Minister cannot sign off on it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister cannot sign off on it if has been legally challenged.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I love the way the Deputy casually throws in that the Minister did not bother to sign it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is not the way it worked.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: In any event, our view is that we support the JLC process and we believe the awards should be followed through and fulfilled by employers in respect of JLC recommendations. On the issue of ventilation raised by Deputy Paul Murphy, the legislation has been passed and very extensive guidance has been issued. To illustrate my point that one cannot have a universal approach, yesterday I was...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Communications (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take the Questions Nos. 7 to 9, inclusive, together. The Government Information Service, GIS co-ordinates cross-Government communications and comprises the Government Press Office and the Merrion Street content team. The GIS co-ordinates communications on cross-Government priority issues such as Housing for All and the State’s response to Brexit and Covid-19. The GIS...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Communications (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I beg the Deputy's pardon?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, and 95 together. My Department's Strategy Statement 2021-2023, published earlier this year, reflects the role of the Department to support me as Taoiseach and the Government to ensure a sustainable economy and a successful society, to pursue Ireland's interests abroad, to implement the Government's programme, and to build a better future...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister of Health and the Department of Health are engaging with the representatives of dentists throughout the country on this issue. There have been ongoing issues, but resources have been provided. These are essentially contractual issues that have to be resolved.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the scheme. It will be given serious consideration by Government. I hope the Deputy will acknowledge the pandemic has not been the most opportune time or the optimal time for dealing with the issue in detail. It is a scheme I am particularly interested in advancing in consultation with my Government colleagues and the Attorney General.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: There certainly will. To be frank, the Deputy prefaced his question with the reply in the sense that, at the moment, the focus is on getting the booster rolled out. We have administered around 1.25 million doses. It would not be fair at this stage of the booster campaign to differentiate in terms of access and so on. It is an issue and there will have to be records. The whole focus of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising in the issue. In devising any strategic framework for older people, consultation will be a prerequisite, and engaging with all of the organisations the Deputy has identified will be something the Minister will be doing in due course.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising a very important issue. Certainly, the cost of disability report will be assessed by every Department and there will be a cross-departmental approach to easing the costs of disability for people. One of the critical areas will be increasing access to work for people with disabilities. That is something that we can do better as a society. The public service...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, I thank Deputy Whitmore for raising the issue of the National Parks and Wildlife Service. We came into government and put into the programme for Government that we were determined to change and enhance substantially the resourcing for the National Parks and Wildlife Service. In opposition, I engaged on this issue with interested groups. The Minister of State at the Department of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for his patience and tolerance. In fairness, he did the wildflowers in Leinster House, which is part of this.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: On Deputy Boyd Barrett's question, in fairness, the issue in terms of Carlow has been raised consistently by Deputy Murnane O'Connor. Three core Departments, namely, the Departments of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Justice, and Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, are involved. The audit has been completed. Resourcing will be provided to cover those areas where...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I pay tribute to the workers in Tesco and indeed workers across the country in the retail sector, who have consistently performed magnificently in the middle of the pandemic in very challenging circumstances, and to all the companies involved for the overall team effort involved. It is important in the retail sector, as in every other sector, that proper pay and conditions apply. The...