Results 15,861-15,880 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: A citizens' assembly does not achieve that. On the British-Irish Association, I do not know if Deputy Carthy has ever attended it, but I have done so, on and off, for 30 years. I missed ten years of it because as I was in government and I did not get the opportunity to attend. During that time, even one weekend in Oxford, I would have met more people and professionals who had different...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 to 24, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on Europe oversees implementation of programme for Government commitments in relation to the European Union and related issues. It generally meets in advance of a meeting of the European Council. It last met on 14 October 2021 in advance of this week's meeting of the European Council on 21 and 22...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for the many issues raised. Deputy Haughey raised a range of issues in respect of the strategic compass, Afghanistan, cybersecurity and Slovenia and the western Balkans, which reflects his deep interest in European affairs. On the strategic compass, security and defence issues are still under consideration. Deputy Haughey is correct to identify those issues as having...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 14, inclusive, together. I attended the British-Irish Association conference held in Pembroke College, Oxford, on Friday, 3 September. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Finance also attended. I delivered the opening address, the text of which is available on the merrionstreet.iewebsite. This was followed by a questions and answers...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, I thank the Deputies again for their interest and for raising these issues. In respect of Deputy Haughey's points, every political party and movement has its aspirations in terms of the constitutional future of the island, including Northern Ireland, and that is as it should be. I have no issue at all in articulating that. Our party, which is the party that I lead, has a clear view...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank all the Deputies for their questions. The first question from Deputy Brendan Smith was on the central Border area and the need for the shared island fund to focus on that area. The Deputy has spoken to me about the geopark and I have asked my officials to investigate that and to engage with him. We are open to projects in the area of climate change and biodiversity and this project...

Property Services (Land Price Register) Bill 2021: First Stage (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: No.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cross-Border Co-operation (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 11, inclusive, together. The Government's shared island initiative is working to harness the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement to enhance co-operation, connection and mutual understanding on our island, engaging with all communities and traditions to build consensus around a shared future. The shared island unit in my Department acts as a...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: Is that the Bill dealing with the hedges and ditches?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: I just want clarity so I can give an answer.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: I just want to give an informed response to the Deputy. I will pursue that and get the up-to-date position for him in regard to publication and whether it has fallen foul of the syndrome he has identified, very helpfully, today in the House.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: I met with Roscommon Fianna Fáil councillors yesterday and they were making that very point to me, including Councillor John Keogh and others. I have sympathy with the issue. I think the review should be brought to completion and the thresholds should be increased somewhat.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: I do not have information in regard to the specific issue with me and I am not in a position, obviously, as the Deputy said, to dictate the timelines of the court. Certainly, I will inquire as to where this is at the moment and I will see if I can get further information.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: I understand there is legislation in train in respect of the mandatory reporting issue under the patient safety Bill. I will come back to the Deputy in terms of the timelines around that. It is beyond comprehension what has occurred here, from what I have read. My understanding is the Garda is still pursuing the matter, and that takes precedence over decisions that Ministers or the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is very difficult to answer both in 30 seconds. It is a fairly complex lacuna that Deputy Kenny was outlining. I will certainly pursue the issue between the two Departments and talk to both Ministers in respect of the legislative requirement. There is an issue that needs to be developed and explored to see if we can do this in a proper, regulated way. With regard to Deputy...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, responded by providing the scheme following Brexit as, unfortunately, the decision on Brexit invalidated the cross-border directive. That was outside of our control. We are very anxious to ensure that the €350 million available under the waiting list initiative is being spent and every effort will be made to procure treatments for people in...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will raise the concerns of the Deputy with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and will revert back to her with respect to the Department's assessment of the situation.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Education is dealing with this issue in terms of recruitment, retention and substitution. We do not want to disadvantage children with special needs either in terms of losing their provision to substitute teachers and the banking of hours. This is something that must be worked out and worked through. There is a reduction in the pupil-teacher ratio due to the increase of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: I support the Deputy's motivation on the protection of citizens' rights and the proper application of GDPR. The Office of the Data Protection Commissioner has emerged as a strong enough institution. The additional resources will help to resource the office. It does need to be consistently resourced over time and to build up its capacity to enable it to deal with the wide range of issues...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (19 Oct 2021)

Micheál Martin: The decisions today facilitate a change in direction. The Minister for Education will want to consult with the education partners on the operationalisation of that, and what is in the best interests of the young people involved. Given the high vaccination rates for the over-12s, the Minister will take all of that into consideration and she will inform the education partners shortly in that...