Results 14,601-14,620 of 50,213 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Even as we speak, about 50% have returned. Huge efforts have been made in respect of workplaces to make them safe-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: In respect of ventilation in schools, I have said that 35,000 carbon dioxide monitors were distributed to schools up and down the country to monitor air quality and ensure that it was okay.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Our public health advice has been consistent from the get-go that our schools are safe places in respect of the management of Covid-19. A total of 35,000 CO2monitors have been issued to our schools and they are in use. As I have said, the advice is that if children are symptomatic, in terms of colds or whatever, they should not be sent to school. The biggest issue facing children is the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: In fairness, I just outlined the timelines the Deputy asked me for in respect of the booster programme. If you add it all up, including those four in seven and all people aged 50 to 59, there are now between 1.97 million and 2.2 million eligible under the NIAC advice. Those figures come from the HSE. There are timelines to consider with regard to when people got their second doses. That...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I disagree with the Deputy's analysis of the country and the Government's performance in relation to Covid-19 since the onset of the pandemic. For instance, one key aspect has been the vaccination programme, which has been one of the most successful across the world in terms of speed, efficiency and effectiveness. About 90% of those over 12-year-olds are now fully vaccinated. That is no...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Since I became Taoiseach we have had record recruitment to the health service and record capital funding and beds provided. That is not enough and I am not resting on that. I want to do more. I want to accelerate capital programmes. In some cases, proposals have not come from certain hospital groups.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I met Cork consultants, who were taken aback when we said funding was available if they wanted to increase bed capacity in the short term. We are there to respond as quickly as possible.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I made my point and instanced Cork. What tends to happen is working parties are set up and various consultants can have different views as to where particular elective facilities are to be located. They all have preferred options and there is too much analysis, which leads to a degree of paralysis. That is before it ever gets to the Department. That is something I want to cut through and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: If we add this recruitment to what was recruited for the vaccination and testing programmes, the figure is enormous, to be fair to the HSE.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: We should give them credit.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Ní aontaím leis an Teachta ó thaobh an plean atá foilsithe ag an Aire, An Teachta Donnelly, mar is léir gur plean cuimsitheach é. Caithfear é a chur i gcomhthéacs an plean a bhí againn anuraidh ina raibh an-chuid áiseanna agus airgid curtha ar fáil do na hospidéil ach go háirithe agus na seirbhísí sláinte go...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Strategies (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Ireland’s Well-being Framework is the result of a Programme for Government commitment to develop a set of well-being indices to create a well-rounded, holistic view of how Irish society is faring. A , including a dashboard of indicators, was approved by Government in June of this year and published in July. It was informed involving stakeholders and experts in the area. The...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Risk Assessment (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The National Risk Assessment provides an opportunity to identify and discuss significant risks that may arise for Ireland. Since it was first published in 2014, it has provided an overview of strategic risks and highlighted risks, such as Brexit, housing and pandemics. The process is designed to ensure a broad-based and inclusive debate on risks facing the country. This includes...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I participated in the World Leaders Summit at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow on 1-2 November. I can confirm, as I did previously in the House, that I travelled to Edinburgh and back commercially. My outbound journey was with Aer Lingus and my return journey to Dublin was with Ryanair. In keeping with Government policy and practice, my Department...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: There were a number of questions there. Deputies Kelly and Cahill raised the issue of afforestation and issues with the licensing of forestry operations because of changes to the appropriate assessment procedure, due to European Court of Justice and Irish law rulings relating to environmental regulation. We are addressing these issues robustly. I am not happy with the low level of planting...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Coillte also has a strong agenda in terms of biodiversity and we will be engaging with Coillte in that respect. There is a legitimate argument about the nature of the trees that have been grown over the years but we have to follow through on commitments made. One of the difficulties is that many involved in farming have lost confidence in the programme because of the series of objections...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Are you against the carbon tax?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is my point. About €723 million has been allocated-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----which will help us deal more effectively, and with capacity, with the agenda around climate change. There is a lot of either delusional thinking or just pure politics at play-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----in people's attitudes to this agenda because we cannot do it without this. First, the science tells us we should do it. The scientists say it is the right way to go but we also need that funding to change direction in areas like forestry, agri-environment schemes and so on.