Results 14,101-14,120 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am not familiar with the specifics of the case the Deputy has raised, but generally it makes sense that employers would look after their workers. I am not supportive of the outsourcing policy or trend. Ireland is very close to full employment in our economy. In that context, it is crucial that there are quality jobs, and that pay and conditions reflect the talent, commitment and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Progress has been made in getting this issue resolved, in ensuring we build a national maternity hospital because current conditions are unacceptable for women who attend the current facility and, given the State investment, in ensuring the State will control the policy and ethos of the hospital itself. I do not have the full details yet but I hope the Minister will be coming to the Cabinet...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Government has provided a range of supports to local authorities. I commend the work done by the Limerick Treaty Suicide Prevention team. I do not know from the Deputy's comments whether it has been in touch with the council in Limerick.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: The council would be best placed to identify premises that may be available and could be adapted for use by the team there. That is what normally happens across the country.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will engage with the Minister for Health on that. Of course, investment has increased in Letterkenny and in hospitals across the country.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: It has and quite dramatically. Letterkenny is a key hospital in the north west. I am familiar with it from my time in the Department of Health. It is a very important hospital for the north west and it is our desire and objective to provide the requisite resources to the hospital. I will speak with the Minister for Health about that.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: My recollection of my notes from yesterday is that we intend to commence this in April. I believe it will be brought before the Business Committee either this week or next week so we can get agreement in the House on the matter. We are moving fairly quickly on this.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: As I said yesterday, I will not get into the specifics of the package of measures that the Government is considering now but I appreciate the Deputy raising these matters. As I said yesterday, the idea is to do what we can to alleviate the pressures families are experiencing now because of the increased cost of living and the inflation being generated internationally across the globe. It is...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I do not know either. There must be processes to deal with these types of matters. The Parliament cannot investigate every single transgression.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: There should be proper systems in place within the Prison Service or externally to investigate such matters properly and appropriately. I will speak to the Minister for Justice about the point raised.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Again, I thank the Deputy. As I said, we will engage with Eir and the other companies with regard to provision. The world has changed. The Deputy is correct to point out that the late Albert Reynolds was the pioneer in communications-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----and bringing Ireland up to a level of communications capacity that was instrumental in foreign direct investment coming into the country as well.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is very important, therefore, that we get it right with broadband and that we get a high level and high quality of connectivity. That means investment from both the private sector and the State, which is investing very significantly in the intervention areas that are not covered by private sector companies. Those areas are now earmarked in the national broadband plan. The State is...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: In the budget we took a major step forward in providing funding to deal with pay and conditions within the early childcare sector. I agree that career pathways have to be developed in early education and early childcare. The funding has increased dramatically, from approximately €69 million to €207 million through to 2023, to facilitate that. A joint labour committee has been...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue. What she has just raised is very disturbing. The legislation for safe access zones is listed for priority drafting and we have facilitated the Bill the Deputy referred to in terms of its progression.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: As I said yesterday, the agreement of the three parties in the programme for Government was that we would commence a number of citizens' assemblies. Due to Covid-19 we were not in a position to do that. In terms of two of the commitments, one has been established on biodiversity, which is a crisis, and likewise with regard to the Dublin mayor, which had been agreed. As regards drugs...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is correct that Covid-19 has had a very significant impact in terms of delayed diagnoses. Many activities that would have been taking place were suspended, particularly during severe surges of the Omicron, Delta and previous variants. It has had a serious impact with regard to delayed diagnoses and on waiting lists. In response to Covid-19 up to €350 million has been...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: In the first instance, I have told the Deputy what we are doing. I do not agree with the amnesty at all and I do not take it as a likelihood. The Irish Government has entered into discussions with the British Government and all of the parties in Northern Ireland in respect of the proposals that emanated from the British Government last year. We have made it very clear we do not accept any...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: First of all, proposals were made that cannot be accepted. We have opposed them and have made it very clear to the British Government that there can be an amnesty for nobody. State forces and governments have a higher moral order in how they conduct themselves, as does the government in any state. Equally, no paramilitaries should have an amnesty either in respect of heinous crimes and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and suggest that, given his poetic elegance, by the time I sit down, Eir will have heard this has been raised in Leinster House. I appreciate the seriousness of the matter because connectivity is everything today in the modern era for work, education and quality of life. Eir has announced, as part of its €1 billion capital investment...