Results 16,081-16,100 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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...

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

Micheál Martin: Additional funding of €10 million has been provided in the budget on top of the existing level of service provision of €56 million. The additional allocation should enable progress to be made in addressing issues concerning service provision for medical card patients in 2022. The national oral health policy, Smile agus Sláinte, was published in 2019. The future...

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

Micheál Martin: I do not have time to go into further detail.

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

Micheál Martin: I accept the basic premise that we do not want children waiting for operations, surgery and assessments unduly. We want surgery to happen in a timely matter, particularly for scoliosis and other conditions. There has been an increase in capacity, an extra surgeon in Temple Street and so forth, but we need to do more. Children's Health Ireland is in discussions with the HSE and the Minister...

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

Micheál Martin: The Government decision was to implement the decisions with immediate effect on budget night. The two key decisions were the amount of €5, which was to be implemented immediately, and the increase in the threshold. I will review that and talk to the Minister. It could be an administrative issue. I will pursue it.