Results 16,041-16,060 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: These are very difficult situations for the families concerned. I do not accept the Deputy's assertion that GSOC is not independent. It is chaired by an independent chairperson, a judge. One of the difficulties we have, it seems to me, is that if, say, GSOC or HIQA carries out an investigation and its report is not deemed satisfactory or does not find what people want to be found or what...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am not just talking about deaths in custody.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am speaking generally, across the board. We have a number of inquiries under way. Every month someone in here wants a public inquiry into something but they are extraordinarily long and enormously expensive-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----and their results are never satisfactory anyway to those who seek the inquiries.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: There is a challenge here. I am trying to be fair. We need to engage on this. Otherwise, it is the easiest thing in the world for people to come in and call for a public inquiry. GSOC is independent, or does the Deputy think it is not?

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Should we abolish it then?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Harkin for raising this issue. We have provided substantial resources to An Garda Síochána. Some of the issues she has raised are operational issues. Garda management, I am told, keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends to ensure their optimum use. As the Deputy knows, the Garda Commissioner...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, I accept the Deputy's commitment to this issue. As I said, I will discuss it with the Minister. Fundamentally, Garda management is responsible for the deployment of resources and it may have a particular perspective on the facilities. I will seek a report on this matter and the background to it from the Minister. As I indicated, very substantial resources of close to €2...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The legislation is being allowed to proceed to Committee Stage, but the Government will bring forward an approach to the insertion of a right to housing in the Constitution. It may be different from the construct suggested by Deputy Murphy, but Government parties are committed to a right to housing in the Constitution and will set about preparing for that in a proper, comprehensive and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----because it does not fit one's particular ideological type of approach. We need a collective consensus approach to getting projects built. Until we get more houses built, we are not going to solve this problem.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Berry for the questions. First, the €915 million is a grant, not a loan, although the facility exists for Ireland to submit an application for loan facilities as well from the European Union's recovery and resilience facility. I actively supported the creation of a new European Union initiative, the recovery and resilience facility, at the European Council meeting last...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the Deputy's point, but we will not be able to get a similar amount in the second round. It will not be of that scale because the metrics, in terms of the application of the GDP measurement, is going to make it challenging for us. We will keep open the idea and possibility of borrowing from the facility but, given the fact we can borrow quite cheaply, or I might say at low...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I challenge the Deputy's assertion that Government did nothing to help renters during the pandemic. That is the assertion I challenge. I also challenge the Deputy's sincerity and accuse her of a lack of honesty in this regard. Just last week, she opposed plans for 1,200 houses in Donabate. What about renters there who could have got affordable housing or those who could have got social...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: As I said earlier, the Residential Tenancies and Valuation Act 2020 provided that rent increases were not permitted to take place during an emergency period from August 2020 to 10 January 2021 for tenants with rent arrears due to Covid who were at risk of losing their tenancies and who made the necessary declaration. The Government made legislative provision to protect tenants during the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: First of all, I do not accept the Deputy's assertions in respect of the Government's position during the past year and a half, in particular in respect of tenants more generally and protecting tenants. We are doing everything we possibly can to help tenants who need enhanced protection from the State during Covid-19 and we have been doing that. Rental protections remain in place for those...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The general assertions.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together. I met with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Chequers on Friday 14th May. We had constructive engagement across a number of issues. Our discussions focused on ways our two Governments can continue to work together to support all the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and promote peace and prosperity on both a North/South and East/West...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Strategies (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: My Department's new Statement of Strategy, published earlier this year, reflects the role of the Department to support me as Taoiseach and the Government to develop a sustainable economy and a successful society, to pursue Ireland’s interests abroad, to implement the Government’s Programme, and to build a better future for Ireland and all her citizens. The Statement of Strategy...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet Committee on Education oversees implementation of the Programme for Government commitments in the area of Education, including preparing for post-Covid Education. This Cabinet Committee last met on 13 May and will meet again shortly.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Policies (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The development of new measures of well-being and progress was a commitment in the Programme for Government, in recognition that in order to achieve a well-rounded policy-making system there is a pressing need to move beyond uniquely economic measures. In early February, the Government agreed to an approach to developing an overarching Well-being Framework for Ireland utilising the OECD...