Results 16,101-16,120 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I agree 100% with what the Deputy said. We always have to watch out for the vulnerabilities in others and be alert and aware. As he said earlier, we should be open in talking about mental health and about suicide but also in letting people know, which I consistently say to young people, that they should be kinder to each other. In life, people should be kinder to each other than is often...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: First of all, I thank the Deputy for the question and for the very constructive and non-partisan manner in which he has raised the issue. This is an extremely important issue that always has to command the full attention of the House across all political persuasions. Families and communities the length and breadth of the country have been affected by suicide. It is important to continue to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The supports have been very extensive. That needs to be said because very quickly they get read into the narrative and taken for granted. They have been exceptional supports because the pandemic has created a need for exceptional supports. As we get situations under control, however, the same level of supports will not be sustainable in many areas. We can work to support nursing homes in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The vaccination programme has had a very significant impact in bringing the situation within nursing homes under control. This does mean that we have to reconsider both the level and scale of supports if the situation comes under control in any given environment or situation. The more important point is the medium-term relationship between the State and the private nursing home sector, how...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. We will have to agree to disagree in terms of the issue around the imposition of restrictions in society. The measures we have taken overall have resulted in fewer deaths in Ireland and less severe illness than in other countries that took a different approach. Ultimately, the role of Government is to protect lives and public health to the very...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I disagree fundamentally with the Deputy. We have not introduced a cliff edge. The opposite is the case. We have extended the PUP to September, following which there will be a phasing out of it out to next February, which will be second anniversary of the introduction of the payment. By then the payment will have been in place for two years. It was originally introduced for 12 weeks....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: By the Deputy's own admission, hundreds of thousands of people came off the PUP last year and so I think she is overstating the case. The same will happen this year. I do not accept that people currently on the PUP will not be able to get a job in the economy in the coming months. I think there will be a significant recovery. Sustaining it for the medium term is what the plan is about....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: As I said earlier, hotels, bed and breakfast accommodation and guesthouses will open again tomorrow. This will create jobs and get people back to work. Next week, restaurants, pubs and other facilities will open. All of that will help. Last February, approximately 481,000 people were on the pandemic unemployment payment. This figure has already decreased to 334,000 and it will continue...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy and her party's spokespeople agreed that it would have to be phased out. Deputy Doherty is on the record as saying that. No one expected emergency pandemic payments to remain forever. We now want to allocate resources elsewhere. We will help everybody who has difficulty getting a job as we move into the latter half of 2021. Very substantial resources are being put into...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: First of all, I agree with the Deputy in terms of the good news in recent weeks that people are returning to work in considerable numbers. We have been in a position to do this through our management of the pandemic and though a successful and efficiently run vaccination programme which is having a dramatic impact on the severity of illness in society from the virus and on reducing death and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Commemorative Events (1 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: This year the National Day of Commemoration will take place in the National Museum of Ireland, Decorative Arts and History, Collins Barracks on Sunday, 11thJuly. The Ceremony ‘in honour of all those Irishmen and Irishwomen who died in past wars or on service with the United Nations’ will be broadcast live by RTE and will include a multi-faith service of prayer, military...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Data Protection (1 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: There were no data breaches identified within my Department since the GDPR took effect in 2018.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Protected Disclosures (1 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: My Department has received no protected disclosures from serving or former staff of the Department during the period in question.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (26 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----from sound technicians to those who are acting, dancing and performing. That should apply. I will ask the various authorities and the Minister to investigate that, assess it and make their own analysis of what has happened here. On the matter raised by Deputy Bríd Smith, I am not familiar with the specific service and the HSE decision to withdraw funding. Again, I am unsure...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (26 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will. I will ask my officials to contact the HSE immediately about it and I will talk to the Minister about it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (26 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Barry also raised the 66 children living in appalling conditions at a halting site. That must come to an end. All parties to this must agree to the decisions the council takes on this. All parties to this must agree to the various proposals that have been put forward in the past and we now need cohesion and unity of approach to get this issue properly resolved, from a human rights...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (26 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Cian O'Callaghan made the first point regarding the No End in Site report. First, the report is a shocking indictment of all concerned in terms of the failure to develop plans for both the halting site itself and the housing that will be needed to deal with all of the residents. The site is far too overcrowded and there have been many issues with it for a long time. In my view, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (26 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 14, inclusive, together. Matters relating to arts, culture and equality are dealt with by the Cabinet committee on social affairs and equality. This Cabinet committee last met on 30 November and will meet again shortly. I have regular engagement with Ministers, at Cabinet and individually, to discuss priority issues relating to their Departments. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Programmes (26 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Richmond asked about the specific number of in-person dialogues that have taken place. I do not have a specific number with me but I can refer him to the shared island unit which can give an update and briefing on the matter. We have been pressing for, and insisting on, full adherence with meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council. We are being told that there is no...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Programmes (26 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The same point applies to the Stormont House Agreement. There can be no unilateral action under the Stormont House Agreement. There must be full engagement with all of the parties and, indeed, the two Governments. That is the approach of the Irish Government to that matter. Deputy Tóibín asked about justice for the families of the victims of the Ballymurphy massacre. That is...