Results 15,281-15,300 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Will the Deputy hear me out please? Developmentally, children being in school trumps everything. The development needs of children regress or are undermined if they are out of school for any prolonged period. That is the context here. To protect that central objective, the public health advice recommends the wearing of masks. The Chief Medical Officer and the deputy chief medical officer...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The legal framework is obviously that, from a public health perspective, our fundamental obligation is to protect the public from this virus.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am not going to arbitrate on what would transpire should people take challenges and so on.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I dispute that. The Deputy is not a constitutional lawyer.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I accept the point and I can see-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I can see the conflicting arguments that will ultimately transpire. I accept the Deputy's bona fides in saying that this is the right thing to do. I agree with that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the serious issue of rising gas prices and energy prices more generally. This is a problem across Europe and the globe. In anticipation of that, we increased the fuel allowance and brought in a set of social protection measures in the budget that are designed to help people deal with this issue. I said "help" because it does not cover it in its entirety. We...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: We have already taken measures, which the Deputy has dismissed. We have increased the eligibility threshold for the fuel allowance which will be retrospective to budget day. We have also brought in a tax package that will help those who earn more than those income thresholds and who are working. This will make a contribution towards dealing with the current wave of energy costs. We are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Mac Lochlainn is shouting and roaring at me now. He endorsed the last scheme and said it was fine. We will ensure-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----that we get houses started now. I want no more delays. I want no more endless campaigning for the sake of the campaigning and exploiting it for political or electoral interests.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: My only interest now is the homeowners. In February, the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland will update its costs of square footage and so on.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister has said that the square footage rate is indicative. Equally, deep down Deputy Mac Lochlainn knows that the larger the house, the bigger the economies of scale. This is factored in. We do not want a scheme that will disadvantage smaller houses. If the Deputy looks at the local property tax and Central Statistics Office data, he will find houses in and around the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: There have been some very good efforts made here.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I accept what the Deputy has said in that this is a public health measure which he welcomes and accepts. He also said that he accepts it is a requirement and that it is fine. I accept that in good faith. It is a public health measure. The Chief Medical Officer and deputy Chief Medical Officer have expressed to the Government their deep concern about the very rapid increase in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Principals and teachers administrating public health policy in the middle of a global pandemic will be protected. I will just make the point that this is a policy position in the middle of a global pandemic. School principals and management will be protected in applying public health policy. I pay tribute to principals and teachers across the length and breadth of the country who...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: I dtús báire, ní aontaím leis an Teachta. Is léir gur pacáiste den scoth atá ann faoi láthair. Is léir gur dhein an tAire, an Teachta Darragh O’Brien, an-chuid oibre chun scéim i bhfad níos fearr agus níos fairsinge a chur i bhfeidhm. I mo thuairim tá dul chun cinn an-mhór le feiscint agus is fiú é sin a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: Hear me out. I did not interrupt. It is indicative and we said it would be updated. The Minister said that yesterday and Deputy Doherty ignored that today.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The SCSI calculator will be updated only next April and annually thereafter. We have said that consistently. Additionally, we have got rid of the upfront cost; the 10% contribution is gone and there is certification for remedial work. If that does not work, the Government will give the people the option of a second response. There have been huge advances and Deputy Doherty should...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: The data does not exist.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2021)

Micheál Martin: We are not asking families to come with €45,000 or €60,000. We have an upfront grant of €20,000 to cover rent and storage. We have got rid of upfront costs and the 10% contribution. We are bringing in the Housing Agency to play a central role in all of this. Our fundamental objective is to facilitate families to get their homes rebuilt. We will do that and spare them...