Results 14,281-14,300 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy herself was not prepared for a surge. The Deputy seemed to be ill-prepared for it because she opposed measures that were required to deal with it. On the PCR testing, I never said it was not challenging. It is now at 210,000 tests per week. There have been 1 million tests in the past month to six weeks.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I remember Deputy McDonald complaining about it not being at 100,000.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is at 210,000 tests per week. Let us be fair about it, and balanced. The HSE is doing everything it possibly can to expand PCR testing. Testing is at a level that we never thought we would need but, because of the Delta variant and how transmissible it is, it has created huge pressures on the system.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should acknowledge the good work that is being done as well.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy in the sense that key to the vaccination programme has to be constant encouragement and persuasion. In some minority groupings, for example, which may culturally have some challenges with vaccination, there has been a reach-out from the HSE and a specific targeted focus that is yielding results in terms of increased numbers. The Deputy is correct in stating that...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Coillte, as the Deputy will be aware, is independent in terms of its operational duties. They have an obligation to report to the Minister in terms of any projects or whatever like that. Apparently, this is in relation to an approach in terms of creating a woodland accommodation and recreational offering. I am assured that existing walking trails in Ballymartle Forest, which are very...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, in the past year and nine months, exceptional public support has been given to health, with over €4 billion in last year's budget, some of which was obviously within the context of Covid. The largest number of beds created in any one year was last year when 900 plus public beds were provided. That will continue to be extended into 2022. Increased capacity will continue....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: There has been ongoing public health support to schools during the pandemic and the Minister for Education and her Department rely on public health supports. In the context of the antigen system that is being introduced, that is on foot of public health advice. It is the HSE's view that it is the parents who should contact the school in terms of their children who test positive.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: They should not be evicted from homeless accommodation.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I have made that statement and that is my strong view. We have a lot more to do but if we want to get rid of the scourge of homelessness, all of us in this House need to give up opposing schemes left, right and centre for the sake of it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Parties in this House have been opposing a project where 850 houses could be provided.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Opposition parties opposed 850 houses being built.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is wrong. That project should not be opposed.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: For how much longer will we stop houses being built in the country?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Some 850 houses would be built there.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has raised an important issue. Other Deputies have raised it in the context of the broad cost of insurance and the need to get it down across the board. The Deputy has specifically raised it in the context of the equine industry, particularly in terms of insurance for equestrian activities. As he pointed out, up to 14,000 jobs are created in the horse sport sector, predominantly...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government is focused on a multifaceted approach, introducing different Acts and reform of PIAB. The personal injury guidelines that were recently introduced are already having a significant impact, as the Deputy and I said, but that has to filter down to the cost of insurance. The insurance companies have an obligation in that respect and they need to step up to the plate because the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, I would say that, yes, we have to support people and we are, right across the board, in terms of Covid-19 and in terms of very significant expansion of the PCR testing, for example, with 210,000 tests in the last week.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is all part of it. There is no silver bullet, and that is the point I am making.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: There tends to be every week, and that is the point I would make. As I said, there has been a significant expansion of the use of antigen tests, given out freely by the Government. At the end of Friday, 19 November, for example, about 61,000 fully vaccinated asymptomatic close contacts were registered for the delivery of free antigen kits, 100,000 were used by the Department of Agriculture,...