Results 15,081-15,100 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Sometimes the manner in which the questions are being put suggests we are in lockdown. We are not. Our economy is the fastest growing economy in quarter 3 in the entirety of Europe. Large sectors of the economy are at full throttle. The point I am making is that things are not at a standstill. That makes it more challenging.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: It has not entirely dried up. Obviously, there has been an impact on hospitality in terms of all the cancellations.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: That affects taxi drivers and, therefore, they can apply for cover.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Children in school is a priority, as everybody agrees. In terms of the development of the child, that development is optimal when he or she has the capacity to go to school. The overriding objective of the Government is to keep our schools open and have children enjoying education in school. Obviously, Covid has impacted on children and created anxieties and pressures. The manifestation...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: On the vaccination front, the HSE will be producing a comprehensive plan.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should remember there are close to 3,800 schools in the country. There will be logistical issues if we have to do it in every single school.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the over-70s group, GPs have largely been responsible for the provision of the vaccines and they have done an excellent job.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: To be fair, they have done an excellent job.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I did not say that. Will you calm it, Deputy? I am saying that, overall, they did a good job.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: For the first, second and current dose, the ambulance service teams did a lot of work. We are in the middle of a very difficult situation in the acute services as well, so there have been challenges in that respect. If Deputy Carey gives me the details, I will follow it up.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Will the Deputy repeat the start of her question?

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Parents of children in such situations should first contact their local school. Is the Deputy suggesting that anybody who is a close contact and who is staying at home should be provided with homeschooling?

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is what they are going to do. I think they will take on board what the Deputy says.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has already committed in that regard, particularly in terms of students and so forth. He is very actively considering that and, I think, he already has proposals developed in regard to helping people, in the first instance, not to have commit too much in advance and to get their deposits back.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Again, as has been announced, the rate of payment of the PUP will be linked to prior earnings. All individuals, including the self-employed and students, who lose their employment on or after Tuesday, 7 December because of the effects of the new public health restrictions are eligible. The PUP will be available for self-employed workers, such as taxi drivers, if they lose their jobs as a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Real progress has been made on resourcing home care hours. As the Deputy will know, about 5 million additional hours were provided in 2021-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----and these will be maintained in 2022. There is an issue with securing workers. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is working on this with the sector. In the medium term, the issue is improving conditions and so forth but, in the immediate term, it is how we can make it more amenable for people to come into the sector. It is not an issue of resources any more; it is about securing...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, does have a moral compass. I do not think the Deputy should suggest anything to the contrary. The number of people waiting for home support across different categories has reduced from over 9,000 at the start of 2020 to approximately 5,300 at the end of September 2021. The issue is recruitment of additional home support workers. That is the issue....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: There is no lack of urgency and no lack of empathy in terms of the situation that certain sectors of our economy find themselves in because of the restrictions relating to Covid-19 and the impact of Covid-19 on their particular sectors. It makes a lot of sense, however, as we move from wave to wave and different phases of this pandemic, to adjust the mechanisms we have at our disposal to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: We talk about spin and we all have our own perceptions of spin. The Deputy just did a bit of spinning when she said I was putting more responsibility on children. I did nothing of the sort. I acknowledged the challenges that faced children, what they have done to date and how difficult it has been for them.