Results 15,441-15,460 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: We will give the Bill due consideration and will look at it in a constructive light. I would have thought that at local level there should be more flexibility to facilitate maternity leave for councillors.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The decisions we will be announcing will not be very impactful on employment. Working from home, as a practice, has been demonstrated in earlier parts of the pandemic to be achievable with minimal impact on the economic performance and productivity. I acknowledge it will be challenging for some employers and SMEs in particular. I do not believe there will be reduced employment as a result...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: On 19 October, we discussed the cardiac programme in Waterford. I received information from the Department of Health and the HSE which I related to the Deputy on that occasion. The funding has been provided. The policy decisions have been taken. I will check on what the Deputy has said today and will come back to him on it. The policy decision has been taken in respect of the expansion...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am just telling the Deputy what the case is. More than 4,500 people have been recruited this year alone and 6,000 in the previous year

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will check that. They should be.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I have said we will go back to the-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I do not know whether the Deputy has spoken to Coillte about this. I will certainly take it up. I do not believe we should be selling woodlands. I do not know the background to this or the circumstances. I will certainly follow it up with Coillte and will revert to the Deputy.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is accepted there is a significant global supply chain issue with microchips, impacting car manufacturing and the supply of cars in the marketplace. We do not intervene in every sector in respect of what transpires in given market situations. When the Deputy talks of a scheme to protect jobs, is he saying it should be for the salespeople of a dealership or what is he proposing?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: If he forwards his ideas to me, we will look at them.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government has a comprehensive programme relating to insurance reform, with the key objective of getting premiums lowered. I accept that the industry must do more to meet the needs of consumers and to get prices down. The Minister of State, Deputy Fleming, has outlined a range of initiatives that he is undertaking in respect of insurance reform and legislation. The Deputy will know...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is the process, by the way. The Government is entitled to make decisions in respect of appointing people to very important-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is why governments are elected in the first instance. I genuinely think that what the Deputy is really about is-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----undermining the Government every chance he can get and he is endeavouring to undermine the individuals. He said to ignore their qualifications, but their qualifications are important because they give the rationale for their appointment to the climate change council. That is why I itemised them last week for the Deputy.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: He obviously did not like being told how qualified they are.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: In terms of Deputy Healy-Rae-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Sure I did of course.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The cat is an essential part of the family farm, as the Deputy knows. In any event-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister, Deputy McConalogue, has travelled to almost every mart in the country. He has met farmers straight up - those who might agree with him and those who might disagree with him. The feedback we have received is that people have admired his honesty, his forthrightness and his ability to be accessible to farmers the length and breadth of the country. He is not going to shout out...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----but he is sincere about the issue of making sure we have sustainable farming into the future. That is the correct approach to take. In terms of the next decade and how we position food production in this country in a way that manages to reduce the carbon emissions, I think we have created a roadmap now for climate change and for sustainable farming that makes sense. I am not clear on...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: They do not believe in the climate change view.