Results 15,981-16,000 of 50,294 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will have the matter of the Janssen vaccines and its administration in pharmacies looked at. The HSE has already announced that it will move from the current 12-week interval for AstraZeneca vaccine doses down to eight weeks. It has said that within five weeks, we will achieve that eight-week interval. I can double-check that with the HSE for the Deputy but that is the target....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: It was announced publicly.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am always glad to help or oblige the Deputy on this. It is good news and important. The big issue all along has been supply and the mRNA vaccines in particular have played an outstanding role. AstraZeneca has increased its supply and we are getting greater visibility over that supply, which is positive. Again, we hope the manufacturers and the global supply chain can improve their...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Kelly readily acknowledged that he is not an immunologist or an expert in this field.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Most people who say they are not experts then go back to the age-old notion of common sense as a back-up. The point is that the vaccination programme is going well and that it is going well through the age cohort approach and through the vaccination centres. One of the most pleasing aspects of it is the very high level of participation by people as we go down through the age cohorts. Our...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy needs to be fully up front-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----about what he is proposing. In terms of AstraZeneca-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: In the context of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the announcement has already been made that the second dose is being brought forward. What was to have taken nine weeks, namely, the administering of the second dose, will now take five. That is happening as we speak and the HSE is engaged with that plan. Basically, we will be finishing the second dose of AstraZeneca three to four weeks earlier...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am just making that point. Generally speaking, we want to do the right thing by those who were let down by the provision of these defective blocks, which have rendered their homes, in many instances, unliveable and have created great anxiety.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: We want to help them and we are going to do that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, as I said earlier, motions and slogans will not solve this. I had a very good meeting with the Mica Action Group last Thursday. As a result of that, I contacted the Minister again and said, "Let us put in place a process here." The Deputy talks about 100%, but 100% of what? It is not as simple as asserted. That came up in the conversation. There is a whole range of issues we have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is why the Minister has corresponded with the group and spoken to it. He is anxious to get this up and running as quickly as possible. We will also consult the Mica Action Group on its issues and so on.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I make the point that the scheme was entered into in good faith. The Deputy's party colleague welcomed it at the time, as did everybody else.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government is absolutely committed to doing the right thing and is going to provide-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----exceptional resources to make sure we can make these houses liveable again for the families involved in a way that ensures the kinds of impacts that have been suggested are addressed. Obviously, the working through of the scheme has created a lot of issues, as people have raised. The submission was made to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, at the end of April and he is responding...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I answered the question, in fairness.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: With respect, a Cheann Comhairle, this kind of intervention is unprecedented during Leaders' Questions. I will just make the point that I am not exploiting this for political reasons. The Deputy seems to want to exploit every issue for political advancement.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I want to get this issue resolved on behalf of the residents and owners.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, what has happened to the homeowners in County Donegal, and indeed in counties Mayo, Clare and elsewhere but particularly the vast majority in Donegal, is scandalous. It is devastating for those homeowners. I visited one such home last week owned by the Murtagh family in Raphoe. Last year, I saw the outsides of other houses. What has happened is appalling. We all know the impact...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Websites (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: My Department incurred expenditure of €215,940.31 on travel and subsistence in 2020 and €26,405.88 to the end of May 2021. These figures include expenditure on items such as flights, hotel accommodation, rail tickets, bus and taxi fares, and subsistence payments. Detailed information on foreign travel costs for myself, my Advisers and senior officials are published on a monthly...