Results 14,401-14,420 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 to 11, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on health oversees implementation of programme for Government commitments on health, receives detailed reports on identified policy areas and considers the implementation of health reforms, including Sláintecare. The Cabinet committee last met on Monday, 8 November. It is intended that it will meet...

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

Micheál Martin: I responded yesterday to the issue raised by Deputy Farrell. We are confident of fulfilling the Government commitment to this, especially by providing more refuges, accommodation, supports and capacity. In respect of Deputy Ó Muineacháin's point, I understand a number of retained firefighters in Ballincollig have been successful in securing whole-time positions with Cork city...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Climate Change Negotiations (24 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. I participated in the world leaders' summit at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties, COP26, in Glasgow on 1 and 2 November. At the action and solidarity round-table discussion for leaders on 1 November, I expressed Ireland's strong commitment to global action to deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement and...

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

Micheál Martin: Fundamentally, as we have said there has been a significant increase in inflation across the world and it is driving pricing. Through taxation measures the Deputy opposed in the budget, we have made an effort to give some assistance to people, especially working people, in meeting costs. We did so also through social protection increases.

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

Micheál Martin: That said, we are looking at other measures to get electricity bills down for households. We also want to build more houses because the best way for people to have affordable housing and reduced energy prices is for properly A-rated housing to be built, including public housing and so on.

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

Micheál Martin: We need to allow that to happen. Every day we oppose big housing projects, we stop ordinary people-----

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

Micheál Martin: -----from getting access to housing-----

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

Micheál Martin: -----where they could live with a decent quality of life and with reduced costs. I have, of late, been in some of the local authority houses and approved social housing body houses that have been built-----

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

Micheál Martin: -----and from an energy point of view, they are working and costs are way down.

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

Micheál Martin: I will indeed. We have expanded neurological services. They need to be further expanded and I will work with the Minister for Health and the HSE to advance that.

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

Micheál Martin: There are two points there. As I said yesterday and today, we are monitoring this very closely and working out how best we can help to reduce household bills for people in terms of electricity. We are conscious also of the huge pressures on hauliers that have arisen due the general global increase in pricing caused by the economic rebound resulting from the relaxation of Covid measures...

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

Micheál Martin: We are very conscious of the pressures on University Hospital Limerick. Surge plans remain in place and are being activated as needed with the HSE's critical care major surge working group providing support to all hospitals. Very significant funding of €52 million was provided by the Government in budget 2021 to add an additional 66 beds in Limerick and the HSE has advised 42 of...

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

Micheál Martin: There is no doubt but that cybersecurity threats are ongoing and serious for all countries across Europe. Europe tends to work collaboratively in response to such threats. One needs to be alert that the potential for a whole range of actors out there to intercept or attempt to intercept communications is always there. We must be very vigilant in relation to it.

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

Micheál Martin: Again, that is far easier said than done and may have wider implications that could also be negative, in terms of a sustained approach to deal with an energy crisis. There are other mechanisms the Government can avail of that we have availed of, such as the rebate scheme.

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

Micheál Martin: As I said already, I accept there is globally a massive increase in energy and fuel prices. It is across Europe and across the world. We do not have much room for manoeuvre on that at all, as has been suggested. Factually, that is the position. We all need to deal in facts on that.

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

Micheál Martin: I take the Deputy's point on the rebate scheme. There is always potential around the rebate scheme. It has already been increased, as the Deputy knows, and that increase was maintained for 2022. There are other issues pertaining to the industry that we, and the Department in particular, are engaging with the industry and its official representatives on those issues.

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

Micheál Martin: On balance, it has to be acknowledged that very significant progress has been made on home support.

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

Micheál Martin: It is estimated that at the end of September 2021, some 15 million hours had been provided to over-----

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

Micheál Martin: I refer to care that has been provided to 53,000 people. You get the impression sometimes coming in here that nothing at all is being done in any area.

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

Micheál Martin: This entails 2.2 million more hours compared to the same period last year. The waiting lists have come down from 7,800 in January 2020 to just over 400 in 2021. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, has made a lot of progress on this and wants to make more progress on this and wants to make more. The Deputy is correct in that because we have made so much progress, there is now pressure on...