Results 15,521-15,540 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet Committee on Health oversees implementation of Programme for Government commitments in relation to health, receives detailed reports on identified policy areas and considers the implementation of health reforms, including Sláintecare. The Cabinet Committee last met on Monday 8th November. It is intended that it will meet again shortly.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Programme for Government (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 39 together. Government has been working hard to implement the commitments in the Programme for Government across a wide range of issues in all Departments. The ten Cabinet Committees established by this Government reflect the full range of policy areas that it will work on during its lifetime as set out in the Programme for Government. Cabinet...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (23 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality oversees implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy, equality and public services. This Cabinet Committee last met on 30 November 2020 and is scheduled to meet again on 25 November 2021. I have regular engagement with Ministers at cabinet and individually to discuss priority issues relating to their...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Ar dtús báire, gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus leis na Seanadóirí as an gcuireadh labhairt leo tráthnóna inniu. Is mór an t-áthas orm agus an phribhléid dom a bheith sa Seanad chun labhairt leo. Ar ndóigh is ócáid thráthúil í mar go bhfuil muintir na hÉireann faoi láthair ag dul trí...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: That will be fine.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank all the Senators for their varied contributions. I may not be able to get through every contribution in my reply but there are common thematic elements to the debate to which I can respond. Quite a number of Senators spoke about the broader issue of this island and its future. I think Senator Doherty started off in that vein when she referred to the shared island initiative and the...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----but also understanding the pressures they are under. The resolution of the protocol issue is about that same exercise. To be fair to Commissioner Šefovi, I asked him to go to the North and he did, as did the Minister, Deputy Coveney. Commissioner Šefovi went to the North, listened to the people on the ground, came away with a different perspective, to be fair to him,...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will turn to antigen testing and Covid-19. We are going through different phases of Covid-19 and learning all along the way. The vaccination programme has been very successful and it is because of that that the country is still open. The majority of those who end up in ICU are unvaccinated, and most of those who are vaccinated have underlying conditions. Consequently, making sure that...

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----and schools in Duleek. In respect of Galway and the west, we want to economically redress the regional imbalance in economic development. The whole national development plan is about regional cities growing, as well as about getting higher population growth on that western seaboard and so forth. I apologise that I cannot get to every topic.

Seanad: Address to Seanad Éireann by An Taoiseach (18 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: And just transition. Take care and thank you very much.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for raising these questions. I take the point made by Deputy Paul Murphy. I would like to think that the National Women's Council has formed an all-island women's forum that could become a good forum and channel for discussion and debate of the issues identified by the Deputy. I cannot comment on Sinn Féin having a dual approach. It is not new.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Sinn Féin has a different approach on a lot of issues North and South, but we do not have time to go into it here.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: Sinn Féin could have ended it a long time ago with Covid certificates, but it chose not to. Sinn Féin might have changed that last night after a long period. The point has been well made by Deputy Paul Murphy. I refer to Deputy Ó Murchú's point on the citizens' assembly. I have said that 1,000 people have already met in the shared dialogue, covering subjects from...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is why we need to be careful about presenting it as a cause célèbreand suggesting that it is the most important thing, because it is not. The most important thing is to get people engaged with each other. I have experience from many years as a public representative and I have learned a lot throughout that journey. I do not go into the sloganeering anymore. When I was...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: On the ESRI and National Economic and Social Council, NESC, reports, the research programme with the ESRI is focusing on aspects of health, education, enterprise and an all-island economy post Brexit, which NESC has worked on. Scoping papers for each research topic were published on 17 May. Final reports will be published in December and early 2022. They will be important reports....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: On the questions raised by Deputy Paul Murphy, we always provide consular support to Irish citizens in any sort of difficulty. I will check to see that the embassy will be represented in the courts tomorrow. Greece is a member of the European Union and we do not, ordinarily, interfere in the judicial process in countries but we will keep a very close eye on this. We support humanitarian...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: There was a discussion. Again, the bulk of discussion concerned whether there could be pan-European measures on pricing.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: I launched the shared island dialogue series to foster inclusive, constructive civic dialogue on key issues for a shared future on the island underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. Over the past year, there have been seven dialogue events and two round-table discussions. I participated in the first dialogue event last November, hearing from young people on their perspectives for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: National Risk Assessment (17 Nov 2021)

Micheál Martin: It should be clear who was there. Deputy Brendan Smith made a very fair point on the all-island approach to the pandemic. There should be an all-island approach. For example, it would have been far better if Covid certs were part of an all-island approach. The party opposite, Sinn Féin, opposed the Covid certs here and have opposed them in the North. A cross-Border approach to...