Results 14,161-14,180 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I have dealt with antigen tests all day. The important point regarding antigen tests is that up to 130,000 have been given out free through close contacts. I am sorry; I am wrong. Some 100,000 have been given for free to close contacts, 130,000 for food production and the agriculture sector and approximately 22,000 for higher education. They were all freely dispatched. Some 8,000 in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The alternative would cost approximately half a billion euro if we were to make them free over 12 months. We have to allocate and use our resources wisely as well.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I did not get to every question. In response to Deputy Cian O'Callaghan, we are working on apprenticeships. There has been a big change in the new scheme we have introduced. Deputy Brendan Smith made a very good point on further education. There needs to be more structured co-operation and I am working on that through the shared island initiative. We are endeavouring to get the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Boyd Barrett asked about Clonkeen College. I will follow that matter up with the Minister for Education. Some clause in the 1998 Act has probably been invoked, and therefore a manager has to be put in place. That appears to me to be regressive. Let me follow through on that. I do not have the full answer here. I will alert the Minister for Education to the issue. Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Question Nos. 12 to 17, inclusive, together. The Government has been working hard to implement the commitments in the programme for Government across a wide range of issues in all Departments. The ten Cabinet committees established by the Government reflect the full range of policy areas that it will work on during its lifetime, as set out in the programme for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, I noticed references in a lot of contributions to the Government having ended contact tracing or the Government having decided this or that. It was a decision the Government took at the time, on 27 September, following, and in line with, recommendations from NPHET, to cease routine contact tracing. It was public health advice.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Does Deputy Murphy accept it was based on public health advice?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: What I do not accept is the deliberate narrative created by Deputies that it was a decision taken without any reference to public health whatsoever. This is from the very same Deputies who will argue consistently for the need to adhere not only to public health advice but to even more severe public health advice in respect of zero Covid and so on. When it suits them, they turn it all around...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: In terms of HEPA filtrators and ventilation, guidance has been issued to schools and an expert group was formed. The fundamental view of that group, by the way, is that the most important ventilation is fresh air. That is the most basic rule of thumb it has applied. On the costings, people have magically come up with a figure of €12 million. I have been given an estimate that it...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: ----- card, I think, but I will have to check that. That should not be happening. There is a Cabinet social affairs subcommittee which has dealt with disability in the past and it is an opportunity to co-ordinate with other Government Departments. It is an area which demands co-ordination at the same time-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----from transport, to work, to education and right across the board. One of the bigger areas that I am interested in - I am interested in all areas of special needs and disability - is employment. That area needs to be worked on much more pro-actively in getting agencies and Government Departments employing more people more quickly in respect of disabilities. Deputy Mac Lochlainn...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 11, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on education oversees implementation of the programme for Government commitments in the area of education including the management of Covid-19 in schools. This Cabinet committee last met on 13 May. I have regular engagements with Ministers at Cabinet and individually to discuss priority issues relating to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Kelly said that this Government is breaking all records when it comes to advisers. I do not accept that. To be fair, Deputy Kelly's party pioneered the whole idea of special advisers and programme managers.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: When former Deputy Dick Spring became Tánaiste, he insisted on a very strong political advisory capacity behind the Government to implement the programme for Government. I agree with the Deputy that it is an important aspect of modern government, and that was an initiative taken by the Labour Party at the time. This is in line with that. We are a three-party coalition. If Deputy...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am delighted that the walk-in booster clinics are opening there. According to clinical and medical advice from NIAC, there must be a five-month interval between the vaccination and booster vaccination. The EMA has also stated that the optimal time to get the booster is five months after the second mRNA vaccination. For the Janssen vaccine, it is three months after the administration of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: In the first instance, I support the strengthening of the League of Ireland. I believe, under the current leadership within the FAI, that there is a genuine agenda, working with the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Chambers, to develop long-term plans for the strengthening of League of Ireland football. It should be...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has outlined the scheme in great detail. It will cost more than €2.2 billion, over a protracted period admittedly, because not all the houses will come on stream together. The scheme has been expanded in an unprecedented way to cover rental properties as well. There has to be a framework. Decisions have to be taken. All of the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that they are recruiting staff as we speak, but I accept that there is challenge overall in terms of recruitment, notwithstanding that 4,500 staff members were recruited last year. The funding was provided and it is frustrating that staff for key posts such as those referred to by the Deputy are not recruited in a more timely manner. I will take the issue up with the HSE.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: At this stage, an alternative leaving certificate is not being envisaged. The inspectorate will keep under review the marking schemes and the type of leaving certificate papers that are developed, and the State Examinations Commission will take on board the challenges that students have faced this year and indeed, last year, in respect of preparing for the leaving certificate.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The requirement for specialist policy input and advice is a matter for each individual Minister to consider having regard to the area of responsibility and the support in place in the relevant Departments in line with the terms of the Public Service Management Act 1997. As outlined in the programme for Government, a number of reforms have been implemented to ensure openness and...