Results 14,421-14,440 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)
Micheál Martin: I did not realise that the Deputy was writing down everything I was saying in an informal capacity.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)
Micheál Martin: I always admire the innovation of hospital managers who, as we open one facility, hurriedly move you on to the next facility that they want to develop. I do take the point. I spoke to the Minister for Health and have spoken to the HSE chief executive officer on that project. It is a ready-made project that would provide 33 extra beds with a degree of investment. It makes sense to me and...
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)
Micheál Martin: The HSE and the Government have consistently used online platforms across the board on public health messaging generally and on information on Covid 19. There have been specific programmes for online platforms for quite some time. I will take up the matter on antigen testing but that is the next phase.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)
Micheál Martin: We have to increase the capacity of existing schools or build new schools with population growth. In the public school programme, priority has always been given to areas of high development potential and growth.
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)
Micheál Martin: I have noted of late Deputy Durkan's tenacity and persistence on the issue of the lottery and the need for somebody to win the prize. It could be taken up by the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach. I think the Deputy is a member. It should invite the regulator which governs the licensing of the lotto. We all have high estimations of ourselves but my...
- Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (24 Nov 2021)
Micheál Martin: I felt it would be a difficult winter. Deputy McDonald obviously did not feel it would be a difficult winter because she opposed the extension of the emergency powers and opposed the vaccination certificates.
- 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?