Results 15,101-15,120 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: ------through all the deliberations that we have been through. University Hospital Waterford is commencing the recruitment of the required staff right now for the second catheterisation lab in the coming months. That is a massive improvement. The Deputy knows the arrangement for intervention cardiology and diagnostic elective procedures between UHW and UPMC in Waterford and the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is talking about and creating a narrative of partisan investment in different parts of the country. There is huge investment committed to, announced and allocated to Waterford in terms of the physical infrastructure of the North Quays, investment in the hospital and the new technological university, which will be very beneficial to the region.

Death of Sir Davis Amess MP: Expressions of Sympathy (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: On behalf of the Government, and particularly my colleagues Deputies Varadkar and Eamon Ryan who cannot be here and have asked me to speak on their behalf, I join with the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and all Members of the House in expressing our deepest sympathies at the untimely and tragic death of Sir David Amess. Sir David was so needlessly murdered while meeting with and serving his own...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: When I was a history student, the first thing I was told was that one should always endeavour to be objective in terms of one's historical narrative, to try to see all sides of the story and the equation and not to view things through the prism of one's own narrow perspective or partisan view of things. I recall that when I was the Minister for Education and Science, many of the institutes...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: We are going to dramatically expand cardiac provision as Deputy Shanahan knows. It is provided for and-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: We need to get the second cath lab built and staffed. That is how to progress it and get a 24-hour service. You have to progress it. The Deputy knows that at this stage-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: NAMA represents the taxpayer. It had a responsibility, with regard to the loans it took over, to yield a return for the taxpayer, whom this Oireachtas represents. As I said earlier, NAMA has offered housing stock to local authorities already. As I said, in the coming period, the utilisation of NAMA's activities in respect of further housing provision is something that is under ongoing...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: We are providing social housing.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: We are not doing it at €500,000. The State is going to build-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: The State is going to build social housing. We will provide 11,000 social homes in 2022. That is what we are going to do. We are going to do an average build of about 9,000 every year. In addition the State is going to build and help to facilitate the building of a whole range of affordable houses, and cost rental ones also.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: That instruction cannot be issued in the manner articulated by the Deputy and he knows that well. The legislation underpinning NAMA is very specific. That Act sets specific objectives and functions for NAMA, which are well established. NAMA has facilitated the construction of housing. There is an issue in terms of how, going forward, we interact with NAMA in regard to the provision of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has made a very true statement there, in that we cannot put all of the eggs in the vaccination basket alone. In fact, that is what the Chief Medical Officer, CMO, said to us last evening. He made that very point. Vaccination is a game changer, of course, but we need additional non-pharmaceutical protections to be in play as well to keep the virus at bay, particularly during the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: Every debate we have when restrictions come in or go out is the same. I recall a debate in the Dáil before the summer on the measure that enabled us to open hospitality, namely, the vaccination service. It was a heated debate with Members opposite saying it was the worst thing we could possibly do, yet it enabled the reopening of hospitality, including restaurants and pubs. Has...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: An increase in the number of ICU beds from 255 to 321 by the end of this year is not a drop in the ocean. If the Deputy knows anything at all about ICU beds, it is not about the beds themselves but the entire staffing team that goes behind them.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: The number will be up to 340 by the end of 2022. That is an enormous increase in ICU beds over a very short period of time. In addition, as I said earlier, well over 900 beds will be provided.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: What we did last year - in the funding we provided for the winter initiative, which got us through last winter - was we provided two-year funding to enable the staff to be recruited and the beds to be provided, so we would not have the annual struggle that went on between Departments in respect of getting annual allocations. That has been very effective.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: However, other measures have to take place, of course, in respect of diagnostics and other measures in terms of home care and so on to make sure, as far as we possibly can, that there is a very good, efficient flow through our hospitals.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: I want to make a final point. The issue about the increasing numbers is not about hospital beds alone, although that is important. It is about individuals. We want to protect individuals and that is why protective measures are needed from severe illness and so on.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I also join the House in expressing our sympathies to the families of the late Máire Mhac an tSaoi - b'fhile den scoth í a rinne an-chuid ar son ár dteanga dhúchais - Brendan Kennelly, Paddy Moloney and Tony MacMahon, artists and musicians who enriched our lives in a wonderful way. I think the fundamental premise of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet Committee on COVID-19 last met on Monday, 30 August 2021.