Results 14,121-14,140 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy that it is commendable that the public have responded to the public health measures of recent weeks in terms of reducing socialisation and general congregation. That does have an impact on certain sectors. About a quarter of employers on the EWSS are in hospitality while about 40% of employees are in companies in the hospitality sector. The EWSS is an economy-wide...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will certainly discuss what the Deputy has just raised with the Minister for Health. Obviously in the course of such legislation there are always exchanges and clarifications and, if necessary, amendments if they are desired to facilitate situations such as the Deputy has referenced with be facilitated. I will discuss this with the Minister.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The school authorities, the Department of Education and the Minister have been guided all along by public health advice. In respect of ventilation, there has been guidance issued to the schools advising that the first and most effective form of ventilation is fresh air. I take the Deputy's point that there can be caveats to that in certain conditions. The Minister is providing for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I do not know the details of the scheme, but the GP did not have to issue the €60 bill immediately. I just want to make that point. The Deputy's overall point is correct, however. There is a huge challenge in respect of the registration of births and deaths and getting certificates. My understanding is there is a major problem in the greater Dublin area especially. One third of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: This relates to the registration issue. We are living in extraordinary times. We are in the middle of a global pandemic and we have had a cybersecurity attack on top of that, which has damaged systems. All round, people need to adopt some degree of flexibility and practicality as well. That is the point I made. Many people will know those coming into them in surgeries, etc. A small bit...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: There is great hope for Louth in the future, in all sports, I have no doubt, if there are more Fitzpatricks coming on the scene.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Will the Deputy hear me out please? Developmentally, children being in school trumps everything. The development needs of children regress or are undermined if they are out of school for any prolonged period. That is the context here. To protect that central objective, the public health advice recommends the wearing of masks. The Chief Medical Officer and the deputy chief medical officer...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The legal framework is obviously that, from a public health perspective, our fundamental obligation is to protect the public from this virus.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am not going to arbitrate on what would transpire should people take challenges and so on.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I dispute that. The Deputy is not a constitutional lawyer.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I accept the point and I can see-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I can see the conflicting arguments that will ultimately transpire. I accept the Deputy's bona fides in saying that this is the right thing to do. I agree with that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the serious issue of rising gas prices and energy prices more generally. This is a problem across Europe and the globe. In anticipation of that, we increased the fuel allowance and brought in a set of social protection measures in the budget that are designed to help people deal with this issue. I said "help" because it does not cover it in its entirety. We...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: We have already taken measures, which the Deputy has dismissed. We have increased the eligibility threshold for the fuel allowance which will be retrospective to budget day. We have also brought in a tax package that will help those who earn more than those income thresholds and who are working. This will make a contribution towards dealing with the current wave of energy costs. We are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Mac Lochlainn is shouting and roaring at me now. He endorsed the last scheme and said it was fine. We will ensure-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----that we get houses started now. I want no more delays. I want no more endless campaigning for the sake of the campaigning and exploiting it for political or electoral interests.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: My only interest now is the homeowners. In February, the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland will update its costs of square footage and so on.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister has said that the square footage rate is indicative. Equally, deep down Deputy Mac Lochlainn knows that the larger the house, the bigger the economies of scale. This is factored in. We do not want a scheme that will disadvantage smaller houses. If the Deputy looks at the local property tax and Central Statistics Office data, he will find houses in and around the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: There have been some very good efforts made here.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I accept what the Deputy has said in that this is a public health measure which he welcomes and accepts. He also said that he accepts it is a requirement and that it is fine. I accept that in good faith. It is a public health measure. The Chief Medical Officer and deputy Chief Medical Officer have expressed to the Government their deep concern about the very rapid increase in the...