Results 16,981-17,000 of 51,299 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is the intention. This has gone on too long. I have looked at the timeline as well. I was not in government for the past ten years but this thing has gone on too long. Homeowners have raised legitimate issues. They have got to be dealt with. I referenced the Attorney General last week. I have an issue with certain people walking away from this. That is my issue. Who supplied...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is a separate question, which is more general to the health service. I have consistently said the Government wishes to recognise not only front-line healthcare workers but front-line workers, and is continuing to examine the optimal way of doing this. However, we are not out of the pandemic yet and all our attention and focus are on making sure we continue with progress on the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: No, I did not say that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I never said that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Naughten for raising the issue. As society begins to reopen we will be able to reduce our reliance on many different supports that the Government has provided throughout the pandemic. The Covid-19 temporary assistance payment scheme was established as part of a comprehensive package of support measures for nursing homes at the start of the pandemic. It was originally...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will have the matter of the Janssen vaccines and its administration in pharmacies looked at. The HSE has already announced that it will move from the current 12-week interval for AstraZeneca vaccine doses down to eight weeks. It has said that within five weeks, we will achieve that eight-week interval. I can double-check that with the HSE for the Deputy but that is the target....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: It was announced publicly.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am always glad to help or oblige the Deputy on this. It is good news and important. The big issue all along has been supply and the mRNA vaccines in particular have played an outstanding role. AstraZeneca has increased its supply and we are getting greater visibility over that supply, which is positive. Again, we hope the manufacturers and the global supply chain can improve their...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Kelly readily acknowledged that he is not an immunologist or an expert in this field.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: Most people who say they are not experts then go back to the age-old notion of common sense as a back-up. The point is that the vaccination programme is going well and that it is going well through the age cohort approach and through the vaccination centres. One of the most pleasing aspects of it is the very high level of participation by people as we go down through the age cohorts. Our...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy needs to be fully up front-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----about what he is proposing. In terms of AstraZeneca-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: In the context of the AstraZeneca vaccine, the announcement has already been made that the second dose is being brought forward. What was to have taken nine weeks, namely, the administering of the second dose, will now take five. That is happening as we speak and the HSE is engaged with that plan. Basically, we will be finishing the second dose of AstraZeneca three to four weeks earlier...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am just making that point. Generally speaking, we want to do the right thing by those who were let down by the provision of these defective blocks, which have rendered their homes, in many instances, unliveable and have created great anxiety.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: We want to help them and we are going to do that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, as I said earlier, motions and slogans will not solve this. I had a very good meeting with the Mica Action Group last Thursday. As a result of that, I contacted the Minister again and said, "Let us put in place a process here." The Deputy talks about 100%, but 100% of what? It is not as simple as asserted. That came up in the conversation. There is a whole range of issues we have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is why the Minister has corresponded with the group and spoken to it. He is anxious to get this up and running as quickly as possible. We will also consult the Mica Action Group on its issues and so on.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I make the point that the scheme was entered into in good faith. The Deputy's party colleague welcomed it at the time, as did everybody else.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government is absolutely committed to doing the right thing and is going to provide-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----exceptional resources to make sure we can make these houses liveable again for the families involved in a way that ensures the kinds of impacts that have been suggested are addressed. Obviously, the working through of the scheme has created a lot of issues, as people have raised. The submission was made to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, at the end of April and he is responding...