Results 17,001-17,020 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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...

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

Micheál Martin: I answered the question, in fairness.

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

Micheál Martin: With respect, a Cheann Comhairle, this kind of intervention is unprecedented during Leaders' Questions. I will just make the point that I am not exploiting this for political reasons. The Deputy seems to want to exploit every issue for political advancement.

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

Micheál Martin: I want to get this issue resolved on behalf of the residents and owners.

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

Micheál Martin: First, what has happened to the homeowners in County Donegal, and indeed in counties Mayo, Clare and elsewhere but particularly the vast majority in Donegal, is scandalous. It is devastating for those homeowners. I visited one such home last week owned by the Murtagh family in Raphoe. Last year, I saw the outsides of other houses. What has happened is appalling. We all know the impact...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Websites (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: My Department incurred expenditure of €215,940.31 on travel and subsistence in 2020 and €26,405.88 to the end of May 2021. These figures include expenditure on items such as flights, hotel accommodation, rail tickets, bus and taxi fares, and subsistence payments. Detailed information on foreign travel costs for myself, my Advisers and senior officials are published on a monthly...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Reviews (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: My Department has not conducted, nor incurred any expenditure, on value for money and policy reviews from 1 January 2019 to date.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Websites (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: My Department’s website www.taoiseach.gov.ie is hosted on the gov.ie central platform managed by the Office of the Government Chief Information Office ( OGCIO ). This is the main government site with over 122 million pageviews in 2020 and it partially complies with the double-A WCAG 2.1 standards and the 4 principles of accessibility in that it is perceivable, operable, understandable...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Websites (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: My Department’s website (www.taoiseach.gov.ie) has a compliant accessibility statement which details the commitments, compliance, and testing details of the website. It contains a commitment to achieve the AA standard under WCAG 2.1 guidelines. The website uses the WCAG level AA guidelines to test how accessible it is. The website Accessibility Conformance Evaluation Methodology...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Planning Issues (15 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government supports initiatives and projects that promote the sustainable and balanced development of the economic, social and cultural infrastructures of the country. Such development must happen in accordance with all relevant planning legislation, guidelines and processes as determined by the relevant statutory authority who are independent in their decision-making. I and my...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will just conclude on this quickly. We raised the matter at an international stage at the UN Human Rights Council on 15 March. Likewise, the EU has made a number of very clear statements on the situation in Hong Kong, including most recently on 11 March. Again, it is a matter of regret that fundamental freedoms, democratic principles and political pluralism that are essential to Hong...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: In regard to the range of questions on the Middle East, Deputy McDonald correctly raised the issue of the appalling violations of human rights in Gaza and East Jerusalem. The Irish Government has been very consistent and very strong in regard to this issue, both at the UN Security Council and in terms of our engagement at European level. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, has...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy does actually. He says nothing is being done and he ignores the very substantive allocation of resources to protect jobs and to create jobs. I must put that on the record. There is a variety of support schemes. The Minister will continue to work with all those involved in the arts and music industry because we realise it has been severely hit and needs help and support. We are...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: That is something we should work on.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (2 Jun 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Exchequer will provide funding for the equalisation fund, but we believe that providing 100% to each local authority is the right thing to do.