Results 14,981-15,000 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: This is the final set of questions.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The ideal way forward is more bespoke models. I am not responsible for headlines. The only briefings we get relate to the numbers on EWSS. We certainly did not get a headline saying hundreds of thousands of people could be laid off. In fact, what seems to be emerging - this is not a fact but rather it is suggested by trends - is there has been less scarring of the economy than we might...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I did not say that. I have answered the questions. Come on, now. The Deputy is trying to put words in my mouth, as she has done previously.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I said the memorandum was got did not relate to the headlines. I am not responsible for headlines. There was no memorandum predicting that 300,000 jobs would be lost.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Communications (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: More broadly, without doubt the Omicron variant has created a very strong sense of urgency. There is no question about that. It is vital that we vaccinate as many people as possible as quickly as possible. To be fair, every effort is being made. We are working with GPs and pharmacies and the Defence Forces are helping by providing additionality with logistics support for the booster...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Communications (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister with responsibility for tourism has been given additional funding by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for performers. We want performers to perform and venues to stay open as much as possible. There is the Omicron variant threat but we have supports put in place because we acknowledge such people have been hit by the Delta variant threat and guidance we have...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I do not know what language he does not like because I have not answered yet. Was his comment anticipatory?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 14, inclusive, together. The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council published its annual Competitiveness Challenge report in September. This makes recommendations to the Government across a range of policy areas. On 30 November, the Government published a formal response to the council's recommendations. This response was co-ordinated...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Communications (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I have to stand back and reflect on some of the commentary that is emerging. Deputy Tóibín stated that this reminds him of the confusion at the start of the vaccination programme. We have a great capacity to knock ourselves as a country. I will go to the European Council meeting tomorrow. When I have gone to such meetings recently, the refrain has always been about the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Communications (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Through the Chair, just to make the point-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Government Communications (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am just reflecting on it. It says a lot about the lack of balance and perspective in terms of his commentary in respect of what has been achieved by those involved in the vaccination programme. In terms of GPs, for example, stocks can be supplied to a GP within two days now. Those are the logistical operations the HSE has established with GPs. I have heard that GPs have said they are...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy knows the answer.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy does know the answer.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Deputy McDonald raised the question of Women of Honour group. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, met with the group’s members. My understanding is that he was very taken by their presentation and was anxious to do the right thing for and by them. When the Deputy talks about an external investigation to compel witnesses, what does she have in mind? She needs to spell that out. Is she...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will come back to Deputy Tóibín, who also used that phrase. It is very important to know what we mean by that here in the House. We can all promise things and say we will do them but if crimes have been committed, and I think the Deputy is saying that crimes were committed, they need to be investigated. In the first instance, they have to be investigated by An Garda...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----without undermining any investigation by the gardaí. That is the problem and the challenge which I think the Minister may be grappling with. I will talk to the Minister again on this but we need to have clear lines of demarcation between different types of reviews. There is no question but that this needs to be addressed as an issue. I would like to think that any crimes should...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: On the Construction Defects Alliance, Deputy Ó Ríordáin has said that the report should be due by the second quarter of 2022. The Minister is very conscious of this issue. We have already had a number of issues in the context of pyrite, mica and so forth. We will be moving on that and responding to the issues that arise out of that report. Deputy Cathal Crowe raised the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Therefore, the Minister cannot sign off on it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister cannot sign off on it if has been legally challenged.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (14 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I love the way the Deputy casually throws in that the Minister did not bother to sign it.