Results 16,801-16,820 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should stop the blackguarding on this issue. I want to make the point that there are a number of strands of thought that have emerged. I will come back to Deputy Ó Murchú's question because he has made a valid point in the global sense. A total of 95% of everything that comes into the country is being injected into people within the week. That is a fact. In terms...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: We have asked the German Government whether it has reserves of AstraZeneca to give, because there were articles written saying that it was not using those vaccines. We got a very quick response from the German Government saying that it will be using all of its AstraZeneca supplies. The key to this, going back to Deputy Ó Murchú's point, is the global situation. If we do not...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: The European Union has been very committed in this regard and has provided very substantive funding to COVAX and other initiatives on that front.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I know the Deputy and his county colleagues were extremely disappointed in 2017, when no primary school in Tipperary town attained DEIS status, which on the face of it is difficult to comprehend at one level. The concerns have been made clear in this Chamber regarding the necessity for this provision, given significant levels of social...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, extraordinary efforts were made last year in recruiting way above and beyond in respect of interns and non-consultant hospital doctors. It was never envisaged that those levels would be sustained across the country. However, I will ask the HSE about the hospital at Clonmel and the issues there because I accept the Deputy's point that the hospital is under pressure. I have not had...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: I ask the Deputy to forward me the details of the case in order that I can get a detailed response in respect of the issues she has raised on that individual case.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will pursue that issue. I have no doubt but that the Minister for Education will also be dealing with this. I am not clear on the importance of that HSE piece of land. However, I am familiar with cases across the country where the HSE has provided pieces of land to enable school extensions and so on. We would be very happy to see if we can help the national school at Rathmore in respect...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for raising the issue. Louth County Council did have a successful €7.5 million application in Dundalk for the St. Nicholas Quarter and Backlands regeneration project under the latest funding announcement for the URDF and that should be acknowledged. The Government is committed to Drogheda, and we understand the disappointment with the application which was not...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: Does Deputy O'Callaghan want time for this or-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that the Business Committee organised the schedule for today and tomorrow, and I do not propose to deviate from that. Deputy O'Callaghan has probably read that the Dublin Region Homeless Executive has confirmed that all the issues identified in the inspections - and this is in the context of the recent release by the DRHE of inspection reports - were followed up and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am certainly not in favour of the removal of speech and language therapy services from schools for the deaf on the Navan Road, in Cork or anywhere else. I suspect this is part of the progressing disability strategy, which is nearly ten years old now and which had a different approach to providing speech and language services to children with special needs. My view is that we should move...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: We have pursued alternative supplies. We got some additional supply. I have spoken to Pfizer and we have made it clear that anything we could do here to support or aid vaccine manufacturing capacity would be done. Pfizer, however, is satisfied that its planned configuration and capacity in Belgium and latterly in Germany in terms of BioNTech and in the United States are sufficient for it...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: I can deal with that later.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: The first major point I will make is that public health advice is what dictates and determines the approach within hospitals, and clinical guidance has been uppermost in influencing decisions. We have made representations to the HSE. We have made the point that many Deputies have articulated recently in respect of this issue. We understand the trauma involved for mothers and partners in...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: The legislation is very necessary because it will continue, as the Deputy says, enhanced protections for many tenants and has proven to be effective. That protection needs to be extended, and I will engage with the Minister in respect of his capacity to deal with issues Deputy Boyd Barrett has articulated, bearing in mind what is and is not legally possible. We want to get these protections...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: As a lifelong member of the credit union movement, I am strongly supportive of any measures we can put in place to support credit unions and the role they play in communities across the country. The credit union movement has made a distinctive and outstanding contribution to Irish society and has enabled many working families to progress in life because of the service that credit unions have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, it is a valid point to make and to pose the question whether we have the balance right in respect of the relationship between the credit union movement and the regulator and the range of services that credit unions are permitted and not permitted to provide. It is a fair point and one that requires continued focus and reflection, and some action taken on it also. I accept that point...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: We should also acknowledge that the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has secured with the social partners a public service agreement in the past few weeks that further reflects our acknowledgement of those working in the public service and the commitments that have been made. Very significant resources have been made available to the health service by the Government in the budget....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Since the Government was formed, the programme for Government contains a very clear commitment for the introduction of this fair deal legislation, particularly insofar as it impacts on family farms and small businesses. The Government is disposed to bringing in this legislation. It is on the legislative priority list for drafting. The...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Mar 2021)

Micheál Martin: I accept the basic principle the Deputy articulates on the need to bring in this legislation and especially how the ongoing situation has a negative impact on family farms. Farming is under pressure because of Brexit and Covid, as is the general economy. The Government has introduced unprecedented interventions in the economy to support incomes and to support business across the board. ...