Results 14,641-14,660 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I know that. The intervals of five or six months are as recommended so far.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I take the points raised by the Deputy. The hospital currently employs staff of approximately 1,280.6 whole-time equivalents, with more than 200 additional contracted services staff. A significant overseas nursing recruitment campaign is being actively progressed by the Saolta University Health Care Group with the intention of having significant additional nursing resources coming into the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is correct in saying Brexit is the fundamental cause of many challenges and remains problematic in causing supply chain disruption, increased costs and charges if products come from third countries outside the European Union via Great Britain, for example. People may not be aware of those costs initially. I have no difficulty with the Deputy's points and perhaps the relevant...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy's comments on the length of time it is taking to get planning decisions and major infrastructural works done in the country. To that end there is a major review under way and over the next 12 months something that would ordinarily take three or four years will be done in one year. That will be led by the Attorney General and take in the entire planning code in order...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: We are both agreed that throughout the pandemic we wanted to keep the schools open, basically for the health and well-being of children. Children are healthiest and it is best for their self-development when they are in a school setting with their friends. The public health advice is that schools are safe for children. On the wider issue of substitution, there is a very good reason for...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: There are challenges, and I am not denying that for one moment.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Earlier I outlined the programme for the boosters. NIAC advises the Chief Medical Officer, CMO, who in turn advises the Minister in respect of who is eligible for a booster. It is an age cohort plus those with underlying conditions and those who are immunosuppressed. As of yesterday, those aged 50 and older are now eligible.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I see the need for the greater availability of maternity leave and paternity leave for public representatives more generally. In fairness, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, adopted a pioneering approach to that and the Government managed to facilitate it. Recently the Minister, Deputy Harris, took paternity leave, which is the correct and proper thing to do. I have not yet seen the Deputy's Bill.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: We will give the Bill due consideration and will look at it in a constructive light. I would have thought that at local level there should be more flexibility to facilitate maternity leave for councillors.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The decisions we will be announcing will not be very impactful on employment. Working from home, as a practice, has been demonstrated in earlier parts of the pandemic to be achievable with minimal impact on the economic performance and productivity. I acknowledge it will be challenging for some employers and SMEs in particular. I do not believe there will be reduced employment as a result...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: On 19 October, we discussed the cardiac programme in Waterford. I received information from the Department of Health and the HSE which I related to the Deputy on that occasion. The funding has been provided. The policy decisions have been taken. I will check on what the Deputy has said today and will come back to him on it. The policy decision has been taken in respect of the expansion...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am just telling the Deputy what the case is. More than 4,500 people have been recruited this year alone and 6,000 in the previous year

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will check that. They should be.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I have said we will go back to the-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I do not know whether the Deputy has spoken to Coillte about this. I will certainly take it up. I do not believe we should be selling woodlands. I do not know the background to this or the circumstances. I will certainly follow it up with Coillte and will revert to the Deputy.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is accepted there is a significant global supply chain issue with microchips, impacting car manufacturing and the supply of cars in the marketplace. We do not intervene in every sector in respect of what transpires in given market situations. When the Deputy talks of a scheme to protect jobs, is he saying it should be for the salespeople of a dealership or what is he proposing?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: If he forwards his ideas to me, we will look at them.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government has a comprehensive programme relating to insurance reform, with the key objective of getting premiums lowered. I accept that the industry must do more to meet the needs of consumers and to get prices down. The Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, has outlined a range of initiatives that he is undertaking in respect of insurance reform and legislation. The Deputy will know...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is the process, by the way. The Government is entitled to make decisions in respect of appointing people to very important-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is why governments are elected in the first instance. I genuinely think that what the Deputy is really about is-----