Results 15,861-15,880 of 50,294 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Tánaiste's speech was to the Fine Gael Ard-Fheis and, as leader of that party, the Tánaiste is quite entitled to address and present the Fine Gael perspective on a variety of issues. The Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform last evening presented us with an overview and presentation of the summer economic statement. It may be characterised as a more sober...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I did not get a chance to watch all the Fine Gael Ard-Fheis but I picked up some aspects of it from the extensive media coverage. I can report that the Minister for Health is in good form over the last 48 hours in terms of the underpinning of the substantial health budget which will be required. He might optimistically think that his bilaterals with the Minister for Public Expenditure and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The young people I have met and continue to meet want to be able to buy a house at an affordable price, yet the Deputy opposes every measure, not just the one mentioned in terms of equity. The help to buy scheme helped 22,000 people to buy homes, yet the Deputy opposed it and continues to oppose it. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has also introduced a new affordable...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----opposes project after project-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----for whatever reason and her fundamental position seems to be that her objective is to exploit the housing situation for her own electoral gain.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is party before the country all the time with Sinn Féin. That is, unfortunately, true in terms of the Deputy's political operation.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I ask the Deputy where she stands. I listened to her soundbite after soundbite, slogan after slogan, which is really all about electioneering, is it not? The reference to Ringsend is no accident, obviously. We have all been out and about. I am very conscious of the significant issue that housing is. I have said repeatedly in the House that housing is a crisis. The Government is just...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: A tabular breakdown of the figures requested by the Deputy is below. Social Media advertising has been a central part of the public information campaigns for Covid-19, and since March 2020 my Department has co-ordinated the communications strategy for the whole-of-government response to the pandemic that ensures maximum clarity for citizens, businesses and our wider community. The strategy...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: A tabular breakdown of the figures requested by the Deputy is below. Social Media advertising has been a central part of the public information campaigns for Covid-19 and since March 2020, my Department has co-ordinated the communications strategy for the whole-of-government response to the pandemic that ensures maximum clarity for citizens, businesses and our wider community. The strategy...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: There has been no expenditure by my Department or by the National Economic and Social Development Office, which is an agency under the aegis of my Department, on public relations consultancy costs since January 2021. The Citizens’ Assembly, which is staffed by my Department, has engaged Q4 Public Relations to provide media liaison and communication services incurring costs of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Appointments (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: My Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) - the only body under my Department's aegis - actively support diversity and inclusion in the workplace and recognise the importance of a workforce that is inclusive of persons from diverse backgrounds and reflective of Irish society. Recruitment to my Department and NESDO is, in the main, undertaken through the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Policies (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Since 27 June 2020, ten new Cabinet Committees have been established with specific responsibility for a range of issues to advance the Government's Programme. Through the work of the Committees supported by my Department, a range of policy work has been advanced, including: - Management of the whole of Government Response to COVID-19 including vaccine roll-out; - Recent publication of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Climate Action Plan (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Interim Climate Action Plan 2021 was published in March of this year. Its primary purpose is to maintain a whole-of-government focus on implementation, and continue to progress new climate actions this year, while the Climate Action Plan 2021 is developed. It is a continuation of the Climate Action Plan 2019 which recognised the importance of governance and transparency in the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government has established the following ten Cabinet Committees: COVID-19; Economic Recovery and Investment; Housing; Health; Environment and Climate Change; Social Affairs and Equality; Education; Europe; Brexit and Northern Ireland, and Government Co-ordination. As Taoiseach, I am briefed regularly by the Garda Commissioner and by relevant officials on the national and international...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: State Bodies (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) and the Central Statistics Office (CSO) are both independent offices operating under the aegis of the Department. NESDO have not been charged interest for savings in their deposit account. The CSO do not have a deposit account and charges to the CSO bank account are applied as with all other Government Departments under the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The suggested living wage at €12.30 per hour based on the Civil Service 37 hour standard net working week equates to an annual salary of €23,747. Those currently on an annual salary of less than €23,747 may be receiving remuneration in excess of the suggested living wage through additional premium payments in respect of shift or atypical working hours or are on salary...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (16 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Kelly raised issues in respect of Belarus. There was great anger at the meeting of the European Council regarding the hijacking of the Ryanair aeroplane and the subsequent treatment of Roman Protasevich and his partner. There was a sense at that meeting that a line had been crossed by the Lukashenko regime and that it was unacceptable. A move was made immediately to initiate strong...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (16 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Regarding the Covid-19 certificate, the Deputy's point concerning interoperability with the United States is a good one. We are on target. It is challenging. The Covid-19 certificate is fine and we have PCR tests from different providers etc.. Work is progressing to meet the 19 July target. The idea of Europe and the United States having an interoperable certificate is very important and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (16 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I just want to make the point, if I may, that unilateral behaviour in respect of international agreements is not acceptable and it is not the course of travel for any country that has signed up to international agreements. A mechanism exists to resolve this issue and it can be resolved with some goodwill and common sense.

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (16 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 12, inclusive, together. I joined European Union leaders in Brussels on 24 and 25 May for a special meeting of the European Council. We discussed Covid-19, including ongoing developments on vaccination across Europe, and the roll-out of the EU digital Covid certificate this summer. We reaffirmed our commitment to accelerating vaccine sharing with...