Results 15,321-15,340 of 50,294 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: State Bodies (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: My Department has no offices which are usually open to the public to access services and neither does the National Economic and Social Development Office, which is the only body under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Communications (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is not my practice to delete text messages or email correspondence related to Government or official communications.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: As we continue to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemicit will be important as a people that we pause and reflect, take time to remember and pay tribute both to those who have lost their lives in this terrible pandemic and to everyone who has contributed to how we have faced and are facing the challenges together. The loss of a loved one is always a painful and traumatic event but the pandemic...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Confidentiality (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: Cabinet confidentiality is provided for at Article 28.4.3 of the Constitution. It provides that the confidentiality of discussions that take place at the Government’s meetings shall be respected in all circumstances save where it is decided otherwise by the High Court. The Article provides that the High Court may determine that disclosure may be made in a particular matter in the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Flexible Work Practices (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 192 and 193 together. Like all Government Departments and Offices, my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), the only body under the aegis of my Department, are currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for a gradual return to the office for staff from the 20th September having regard...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cybersecurity Policy (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: In common with other Government Departments, my Department has in place comprehensive arrangements to support ICT security and receives regular advice on these matters from the relevant authorities including the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer and the National Cyber Security Centre. The Deputy will understand that it is not the practice, for sound operational and security...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: My Department has a comprehensive learning and development programme to ensure that staff at all levels have the required skills and knowledge to perform their individual roles and deliver the strategic objectives of the Department. In addition to training provided by One Learning, the Civil Service Shared Learning and Development Centre, staff are encouraged to avail of the Refund of...

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I move: "That Dáil Éireann has confidence in the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Simon Coveney T.D.” A motion seeking the removal of a member of Government is a serious matter. Since the foundation of the State, Dáil Éireann has held that these motions are the most serious that can be tabled. They are supposed to mark an important statement on...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputies Haughey and Richmond for raising these issues. I thank Deputies Tóibín and McDonald for their questions. Deputy Haughey asked about my meeting with the new DUP leader and the issue of the Executive in the North. The DUP leader took the opportunity to highlight his concerns. He left me in no doubt that there is unionist concern over the protocol. Whether you...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (15 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I have not interfered with the investigation. It was undertaken by an official in my Department. I am not in a position to say who did what, or to give the Deputy any confirmation of that, nor indeed on the conclusion of it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together. I spoke with Paul Givan, First Minister, at the British-Irish Association conference in Oxford on 3 September. My most recent detailed engagement with him and with the deputy First Minister was on 30 July when I chaired the latest plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council via videoconference. This wide-ranging discussion...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Community Development Projects (15 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: There were two items there. I will take up the issue of the childcare question. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to engage with the Deputy on that and I will follow up with the Minister. I cannot agree to any form of new inquiry today. I will make the general point that, ultimately, we have to get to a position where our existing mechanisms are ones in which we trust and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (15 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: Following the disclosure in a newspaper report earlier this year of certain information relating to the final report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes in advance of consideration of the report by the Government, I requested that an investigation be carried out. A senior official in my Department is carrying out the investigation in the context of a broader...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (15 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: The general point the Deputies have made is valid, in regard to the protection of documentation and information. The storage and dissemination of such information has to be protected. I have asked for new mechanisms to be brought into play to ensure the protection of material that comes before the Government. The entire response of the Government to the Commission of Investigation into...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Community Development Projects (15 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for raising these issues. To respond to Deputy McDonald's basic point about a review of probity, yes, we should do that. I will talk to my Secretary General about that and about the broader interest in terms of just reviewing the progress that has been made, the remaining issues and perhaps lessons learnt from the model. As I said earlier, maybe during Leaders'...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Community Development Projects (15 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I understand.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Community Development Projects (15 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The Mulvey report, Dublin North East Inner City - Creating a Brighter Future, which was commissioned by the Government and published in February 2017, contained recommendations for the social and economic regeneration of Dublin's north inner city. This report has been further supplemented by the publishing of the north-east inner city...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies. Deputy Ryan raised a question about the women in "Women of Honour" and their search for justice and for the truth to be told. The Government has made no decision in respect of this. As I said earlier to Deputy Tóibín, the Minister for Defence, Deputy Coveney, will be meeting the group. I will be also meeting them on foot of an email I received yesterday...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I understand the importance in respect of Longford and the major frozen food facilities there. I will talk to Gas Networks Ireland and engage with it. Obviously, in the first instance, the routing of natural gas pipelines or the connections to towns is its responsibility and that of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities, but the Deputy has...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has been engaging with the working group in respect of developing a scheme. As that group has been meeting, other areas of the country have also signalled potential issues. As the Deputy will be aware, a submission from Clare County Council arrived in the Department at the end of July. That...