Results 14,501-14,520 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: This was all agreed at the Business Committee and the Government is standing by what was agreed there. Deputy Whitmore made a fair point. During Leaders' Questions, I referenced the fact that about 1,900 people turned up for their first dose of a vaccine at the weekend and the majority of those would have been from migrant communities.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is testament to the efforts of the HSE to reach out to minority communities and those communities that may not have enjoyed the same confidence in the vaccine in the beginning that they are starting to turn up because of those efforts.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, in wrapping up, I want to send our best wishes to the Ceann Comhairle and to wish him the very best in his recovery from Covid-19. I believe in flexibility at moments like this. This is not related but I will make the point. I remember many years ago, when I was the Minister for Education, the idea of introducing a qualified Montessori teacher to primary schools was something...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I agree with Deputy Harkin that given the once-in-a-century nature of the global pandemic we need to take measures now in respect of teacher substitution which would we not take in ordinary "peace" time. I will put it that way to the Deputy. That does mean that all stakeholders, be they regulatory or unions, must show some degree of flexibility as well. Today's meeting with the higher...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, in terms of rural Ireland, a major and unprecedented initiative was taken to increase the allocation of resources for a rural transport scheme. The only city that has Luas and DART services is Dublin. The other cities do not have those services although we are trying to develop a more expanded bus network. That is acknowledged. We are one of only a few EU countries that by way of a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy used the phrase, "the Government takes". Who is the Government?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: This is a very simplistic kind of presentation, which goes on all the time. It is the social contract, to varying degrees. We might disagree as to where the balance of the social contract is but the social contract is society raising revenue through the elected government of the day and rebalancing that revenue out in education services, childcare services, health services, mental health...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is not the case that the booster vaccination infrastructure is just focused on the primary doses, which are dose one and two. It is important that we continue to do the vaccinations. Some 1,900 people came forward over the weekend for their first dose. That is good news. Those were people who may not have been easily accessed by the system, but they came forward to vaccination centres....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: We have planned and we are planning accordingly. The number of ICU beds at the end of this year will be 301, give or take. Resources were provided for 321 beds. There have been challenges as regards recruitment but about 11,000 people have been recruited in two years and the aim is to get to 340 beds, minimum, by the end of 2022. I would like to go further if we could and progress it and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: As I said earlier, the intention now is to go, at a minimum, to 340 by the end of 2022. We are at close to 300 or 301 at the end of this year and we need to expand it even further. Recruitment and training of staff will be the key ingredient there; it will not be an absence of resources. Currently, we have 130 people in ICU, as of today, and 638 in hospital. These are large numbers which,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Caithfidh mé a rá go bhfuil méadú tar éis teacht ar an méid leapacha atá againn agus go háirithe na leapacha ICU. Tá i bhfad níos mó díobh againn anois ná mar a bhí againn i dtosach na bliana seo caite agus níos mó leapacha i gcoitinne sna hospidéil chomh maith. Ta níos mó tástálacha ar...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Engagements (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 16 and 17 together. I participated in the World Leaders Summit at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 1-2 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...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet Committee on Health oversees implementation of Programme for Government commitments in relation to health, receives detailed reports on identified policy areas and considers the implementation of health reforms, including Sláintecare. The Cabinet Committee last met on Monday 8th November. It is intended that it will meet again shortly.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Programme for Government (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together. 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 this Government reflect the full range of policy areas that it will work on during its lifetime as set out in the Programme for Government. Cabinet...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality oversees implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy, equality and public services. This Cabinet Committee last met on 30 November 2020 and is scheduled to meet again on 25 November 2021. I have regular engagement with Ministers at cabinet and individually to discuss priority issues relating to their...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Ar dtús báire, gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis na Seanadóirí as an gcuireadh labhairt leo tráthnóna inniu. Is mór an t-áthas orm agus an phribhléid dom a bheith sa Seanad chun labhairt leo. Ar ndóigh is ócáid thráthúil í mar go bhfuil muintir na hÉireann faoi láthair ag dul trí...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: That will be fine.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank all the Senators for their varied contributions. I may not be able to get through every contribution in my reply but there are common thematic elements to the debate to which I can respond. Quite a number of Senators spoke about the broader issue of this island and its future. I think Senator Doherty started off in that vein when she referred to the shared island initiative and the...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----but also understanding the pressures they are under. The resolution of the protocol issue is about that same exercise. To be fair to Commissioner Šefovi, I asked him to go to the North and he did, as did the Minister, Deputy Coveney. Commissioner Šefovi went to the North, listened to the people on the ground, came away with a different perspective, to be fair to him,...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will turn to antigen testing and Covid-19. We are going through different phases of Covid-19 and learning all along the way. The vaccination programme has been very successful and it is because of that that the country is still open. The majority of those who end up in ICU are unvaccinated, and most of those who are vaccinated have underlying conditions. Consequently, making sure that...