Results 14,521-14,540 of 50,213 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I would appreciate it if the Deputy would allow me to answer the questions without being interrupted, which is again a further tactical parliamentary device that he is prone to use.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is where our booster campaign stands and we will drive it forward, just as we drove the primary vaccination programme forward. What is crucial now is that we have to reduce socialisation. I did not do anything with a switch. Deputy McDonald talked about planning, but two weeks ago her party’s spokesperson on health was saying that the time had come when the powers under the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Equally, Sinn Féin did not support vaccination certificates. The party opposed them as well. It has been so behind the curve on Covid-19, and the only reason it has been behind the curve is that it has suited it to be so politically, because it has only sought to exploit it at each and every turn.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: They do not. We are ahead of many other countries on the booster programme, and quite significantly.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: They are and have been supported, and the Deputy knows that well.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Office of the Attorney General (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Attorney General was appointed in June 2020 in accordance with provisions of Article 30 of the Constitution. There were no special or exceptional arrangements applying in this regard. While I have responsibility for answering questions on administrative matters connected with the Office of the Attorney General, I have no function in respect of the detail of the Attorney...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The establishment of a Citizen’s Assembly on all-island issues is not envisaged at this time. As part of the Government’s Shared Island initiative, I launched the Shared Island Dialogue series in October 2021, to foster inclusive, constructive civic dialogue on key issues for a shared future on the island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. There have been seven...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: My apologies; I am coming to that. There are several Deputies to answer. In terms of the homeless, preparations are in place for the homeless coming into winter. The Government has worked with local authorities so that the cold weather arrangements are in place in time. They allow for additional temporary beds to be brought into use across a range of existing services and facilities for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: On the Garda vetting, that is a more recent ask, if you like, in terms of recent developments. I will come back to the Deputy in respect of any timelines in that regard. The Dublin Region Homeless Executive, in partnership with the Dublin Simon Community, continues to implement the outreach programme. There is a stepping up of activity and engagement in respect of the homeless during this...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will conclude.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank all the Deputies for their commentary. Deputy Ó Murchú raised the issue of Moore Street. Again, I regret the endless partisan politicisation of this issue by the Sinn Féin Party given that there has been considerable and very significant cross-party engagement involving Dublin City Council and many in the Oireachtas for many years on the preservation of the site of...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: We have discussed this with relatives as well, and the Deputy knows that. I do not want to have an engagement that is too partisan but I believe what is going on is regrettable. I believe there is an electoral and definitely a political agenda associated with what is going on. There has been cross-party engagement on this matter for a long time. I can go back five, six or seven years in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Policing Reform (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Speaking generally, this is a long-term programme of policing reform, which the House, to varying degrees, bought into in terms of the establishment of an independent Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. I was in opposition at the time and we were properly consulted by the commission itself, along with many others. I have noted there seems to be a lot of dissatisfaction now...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Policing Reform (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I know that. I am not just talking about the issue as it pertains to a policing authority, I am talking more generally. The Deputy is now calling the Garda divisions "insane".

Ceisteanna - Questions: Policing Reform (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am not saying the Deputy is wrong, I am referring to the language used.. The point I want to get across is that there is now a huge gap between what I heard previously and what I am hearing now. That invariably happens when geography comes into the question around the reform of organisations.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Policing Reform (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I take the Deputy's point. I am not answerable on specific operational decisions as to where a headquarters is located. I take the Deputy's point about Tipperary, as opposed to the west of the mid-west, as the Deputy has described it, and the organisation of divisions, headquarters and so forth on the ground. I will follow up on that. A unit in my Department oversees policing reform and I...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 19, inclusive, together. The economic division in my Department supports me and the Government in developing and implementing policy across relevant areas to support sustainable economic development and these include policies in the areas of job creation, infrastructure, housing, climate action, digital, social dialogue, quality of life and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: It does include an enhanced medical card.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: We will have to get this reconciled-----