Results 16,841-16,860 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will pursue the issue with the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, and try to get this sorted once and for all.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising what is a most important issue. We were all shocked at the scenes and we were absolutely delighted that Christian Eriksen came through. The events illustrated both the fragility of life itself and the importance of first aid, first responders, defibrillators and how what can be perceived to be one of the most difficult of circumstances can be retrieved. I...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I have spoken to the Minister on the matter. I understand that they are being prepared and finalised. The Minister stated that he expects to have them-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I know well. That is why I asked the Minister and checked up on where they were. He said they are being finalised.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: In fairness, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is a very sincere, genuine, diligent and hard-working Minister, who, generally speaking, does everything she possibly can to help Deputies across the House with issues. She travels the length and breadth of the country to try to resolve issues of this kind.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Her commitment cannot be questioned in that regard and nor can her desire to seek a reasonable and effective solution that can be executed and actioned. As I said before, I will meet with Councillor Kieran Bourke and his team. I do not have an issue with that and I will check with my office in terms of the logistics of it. I know Deputy Cahill and others have been in touch about it as well.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is a relationship that we, as a country, have to rethink in terms of the European Union. Deputies would have complained about the penalty points. Europe has held back €25 million from our seafood funding. I am making the point that it has held it back because we are the last country to sign up to basic frameworks.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: We cannot just keep going on the attack-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----without more constructive and, in my view, strategic thinking around how we position the Irish fishing industry for the future. That is my point and it is why I want an ongoing dialogue with the industry.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: We can all stay in our particular positions and keep firing out the same sorts of assertions and so on while not achieving a whole lot. The issue around the control plan is a further example of that. It is easy to blame the Department and the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority. I acknowledge that the authority needs reform and its members know that themselves. However, that in itself will...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: We need to discuss the issues with the Deputy and others.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Let us be fair here. The Deputy should not put words into my mouth. The Minister for Health has inherited this situation and is dealing with it. First of all, there has to be stronger public interest on the board. The current structure in terms of the membership of the board is not satisfactory. Second, in my view, when the State is investing, the State should own. Third, I am simply...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: There is an ownership issue in terms of when the State is investing such substantial sums of money. It will own the hospital but it will not, as it currently stands, own the site itself and that is a problem.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I certainly cannot recall giving the Deputy any assurance about anything because the Government has not signed off on anything in relation to this. It is a pity that the issue was not raised on Leaders' Questions because the shortness of time to reply on the Order of Business does not allow one to give a more comprehensive account. As far as I am concerned, there is one very significant...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: It should not be. It should be out of the question.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: We are clear that will be the case.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Previous Ministers have given that assurance, to be fair. The previous Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, gave that assurance to the House on repeated occasions. The Minister, Deputy Stephen Donnelly is giving that assurance.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: We are clear on that aspect of it. There are certainly issues around the ownership of it and the representation of the State on the board. Those are issues that have to be addressed because of the level of State investment involved and the consequences for accountability as a result of that investment.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy very much indeed for that thoughtful presentation. We will initiate and ensure the State does formally recognise the work of Covid volunteers. I have met many of them in the vaccination centres. The vaccination programme has been unprecedented and very professionally operated, with more than 3.5 million doses now administered. It is an extraordinary achievement so far...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I cannot confirm that right now. This has been a long saga, as the Deputy knows. It was first announced in 2013 that the new national maternity hospital was to co-locate with St. Vincent's University Hospital. Since then, there seems to have been a protracted dispute between the two voluntary hospitals. Kieran Mulvey facilitated mediation in 2016. That mediation agreement was published....