Results 15,321-15,340 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Does Deputy Murphy accept it was based on public health advice?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: What I do not accept is the deliberate narrative created by Deputies that it was a decision taken without any reference to public health whatsoever. This is from the very same Deputies who will argue consistently for the need to adhere not only to public health advice but to even more severe public health advice in respect of zero Covid and so on. When it suits them, they turn it all around...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: In terms of HEPA filtrators and ventilation, guidance has been issued to schools and an expert group was formed. The fundamental view of that group, by the way, is that the most important ventilation is fresh air. That is the most basic rule of thumb it has applied. On the costings, people have magically come up with a figure of €12 million. I have been given an estimate that it...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: ----- card, I think, but I will have to check that. That should not be happening. There is a Cabinet social affairs subcommittee which has dealt with disability in the past and it is an opportunity to co-ordinate with other Government Departments. It is an area which demands co-ordination at the same time-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----from transport, to work, to education and right across the board. One of the bigger areas that I am interested in - I am interested in all areas of special needs and disability - is employment. That area needs to be worked on much more pro-actively in getting agencies and Government Departments employing more people more quickly in respect of disabilities. Deputy Mac Lochlainn...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 11, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on education oversees implementation of the programme for Government commitments in the area of education including the management of Covid-19 in schools. This Cabinet committee last met on 13 May. I have regular engagements with Ministers at Cabinet and individually to discuss priority issues relating to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Kelly said that this Government is breaking all records when it comes to advisers. I do not accept that. To be fair, Deputy Kelly's party pioneered the whole idea of special advisers and programme managers.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: When former Deputy Dick Spring became Tánaiste, he insisted on a very strong political advisory capacity behind the Government to implement the programme for Government. I agree with the Deputy that it is an important aspect of modern government, and that was an initiative taken by the Labour Party at the time. This is in line with that. We are a three-party coalition. If Deputy...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am delighted that the walk-in booster clinics are opening there. According to clinical and medical advice from NIAC, there must be a five-month interval between the vaccination and booster vaccination. The EMA has also stated that the optimal time to get the booster is five months after the second mRNA vaccination. For the Janssen vaccine, it is three months after the administration of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: In the first instance, I support the strengthening of the League of Ireland. I believe, under the current leadership within the FAI, that there is a genuine agenda, working with the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Deputy Chambers, to develop long-term plans for the strengthening of League of Ireland football. It should be...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has outlined the scheme in great detail. It will cost more than €2.2 billion, over a protracted period admittedly, because not all the houses will come on stream together. The scheme has been expanded in an unprecedented way to cover rental properties as well. There has to be a framework. Decisions have to be taken. All of the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that they are recruiting staff as we speak, but I accept that there is challenge overall in terms of recruitment, notwithstanding that 4,500 staff members were recruited last year. The funding was provided and it is frustrating that staff for key posts such as those referred to by the Deputy are not recruited in a more timely manner. I will take the issue up with the HSE.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: At this stage, an alternative leaving certificate is not being envisaged. The inspectorate will keep under review the marking schemes and the type of leaving certificate papers that are developed, and the State Examinations Commission will take on board the challenges that students have faced this year and indeed, last year, in respect of preparing for the leaving certificate.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The requirement for specialist policy input and advice is a matter for each individual Minister to consider having regard to the area of responsibility and the support in place in the relevant Departments in line with the terms of the Public Service Management Act 1997. As outlined in the programme for Government, a number of reforms have been implemented to ensure openness and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I do not think TRIPS is as neat a solution as people put forward.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: A whole range of measures have been taken to restrain investor funds from buying whole estates of housing, for example. It cannot be done-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----through planning regulations that have been introduced. Housing for All and the investment we have put in provides for very substantial social housing to be bought, affordable housing to enable people to afford to buy a house and cost-rental to enable people to get housing at an affordable rent. Through the Land Development Agency and other initiatives, a full range of measures has...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy always puts ideology before the practical business of getting vaccines into the arms of people. That is the bottom line. A TRIPS waiver does not put extra vaccines into people's arms-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----but licensing arrangements and agreements and manufacturing capacity can. The European Union is working progressively with South Africa, Senegal and others in Africa to give them, first of all, long-standing sustainable capacity to manufacture but also, through licensing arrangements and agreements, the ability to get the vaccines.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The bottom line is that it is always the same with certain Opposition Deputies.