Results 16,701-16,720 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is a fair point in the context of the beginning of the next academic year. The target is to administer the first dose of the vaccine to 80% of adults by the end of June and that 70% will be fully vaccinated by the end of July. By July and August, therefore, we will be dealing with the latter end of the vaccination programme. With the supplies coming in we are in a good position to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: To be fair to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy O'Brien, the protection of tenants has been a cornerstone of his policies so far. He has brought in very strong protective legislation, obviously, within the bounds of what the constitutional framework permits. We are obliged to operate within constitutional parameters in the context of what we do. The Minister...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: I ask Deputy Tóibín to withdraw the statement he just made to the effect that the HSE is in combat with patients.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: Let us get a sense of perspective here. The HSE and the many people who work for it day in and day out are working to protect the lives of people. That needs to be acknowledged. It is outrageous that a Deputy would say that. The Deputy made a general statement that the HSE is in combat with patients. That is an outrageous statement.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: It lacks perspective. It lacks any balance. We are talking about people who are on the front line, working every day to protect people.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: I think that should be withdrawn.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: Agreed.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government has laid the order before the House. This is apportioning blame in advance. There is an Oireachtas committee that can examine everything, and there is no issue there. Again, in the context of the assertions that have been made, I stated earlier that I never authorised anything. Innuendo, of course, is Deputy Barry's favourite pastime - to damn people by innuendo and by...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is outrageous carry-on but it is nothing new from the Deputy. I say again for the record what I said earlier, namely, under no circumstances would I ever authorise any breach of patient-client confidentiality or the collection of dossiers on people or children in terms of their rights. The opposite is the case in terms of my political record. I fought for children's rights from the very...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: No one can justify in any way the breaching of patient-client confidentiality.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: There will be statements tomorrow on the "RTÉ Investigates" programme and the issues raised in it. There will be 100 minutes provided for the debate tomorrow, in accordance with the wishes of the Business Committee and the House. Again, I say to the House in respect of Deputy Barry and others, and I am very clear on this, the role of government is to act as advocates for children. In...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: I would welcome the Oireachtas Committee on Health assessing it. This is an important point with regard to examining this issue in its entirety and bringing forward witnesses. I want the full truth on this out there. I have no issue with that happening.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Department itself is preparing an urgent brief that will facilitate Deputies also. This is an important point because assertions are being made. I welcome the fact that objectivity is being brought to this also. I take what Deputy Naughten has said, that this is a broader issue with regard to other litigation relating to vaccines and other issues. The debate will be held tomorrow, with...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: On COVAX and what Dr. Mike Ryan has said more generally, Ireland and indeed the European Union is the strongest contributor to COVAX and, as we know, given the EU’s strong manufacturing capacity with manufacturing sites across Europe, it is one of the biggest contributors globally to the distribution of vaccines which are paid for by other countries but are manufactured within the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: I always defer to the clinical advice on this. The Deputy is aware of reports from Brazil on massive reinfection in parts of-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is mainly massive reinfection-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: ----- from people who had felt that they would be protected-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----from antibodies. We cannot ignore that reality. I prefer the cautious approach and when we said we wanted to vaccinate healthcare workers, it was, incidentally, warmly received in hospitals and the relief there and in nursing homes was overwhelming and could be seen when people were vaccinated. I am not sure we are talking about a huge cohort of people here in any event. There are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: I reject what the Deputy has said. He accused the Government and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue, of not negotiating or engaging on the issue of fisheries during the Brexit negotiations. I consulted with fisheries representatives and so did the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, who had ongoing engagement with Michel Barnier. The Minister...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: Everybody knew that a no-deal Brexit would have been the ultimate disaster for fisheries because of the historic catch we have in British waters. Everybody knew from the moment Brexit was announced and was later passed by referendum, that we were in difficulty as regards fisheries. Deep down, the fishing industry realised that. I recall meetings four years ago at which the consequences of...