Results 17,181-17,200 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Guerin Report: Statements (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: There has been ongoing correspondence with the former Minister, Mr. Shatter, on this issue and this is the culmination of that correspondence.

Post-European Council: Statements (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I attended a meeting of the European Council in Brussels last Thursday and Friday, 10 and 11 December. I also attended a meeting of the Euro summit. We began as usual on Thursday with an exchange of views with the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli. In his contribution, President Sassoli stressed the urgency of having the recovery plan and multi-annual financial framework,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: In response to Deputy Carthy, I was a member of the Government that negotiated the Good Friday Agreement and I know well the extraordinary work that went into it from the then Fianna Fáil-led Government and the then Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, with Tony Blair and the late Albert Reynolds with John Major before that. I know how the agreement can evolve. It has always been a regret that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: This is about the future.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: If we want to convince people that we should share this island, Sinn Féin needs to stop glorifying past atrocities.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Stanley raised the issue of Narrow Water, the terrible atrocity there and the British establishment needing to learn lessons. He was, in my view, referring to what happened to Louis Mountbatten and two young boys who were murdered at Mullaghmore and to others. I understand that Sinn Féin will never condemn that atrocity. I ask Deputy Carthy to do so. That would be a step to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I heard the mother of Paul Maxwell on Joe Duffy's "Liveline" two weeks ago talking about what happened. The people who detonated that bomb could see who was on the boat. I cannot get that image out of my mind. They pressed the detonator and killed young people in a merciless way.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: What would really advance reconciliation and understanding would be if Sinn Féin, in an unequivocal manner, condemned that atrocity. I think Sinn Féin should do so. The endless attempt by it and others to glorify terrible atrocities in the past is holding back reconciliation in this country. Sinn Féin has a one-sided approach to history and a one-sided narrative. It is Sinn...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is my answer. Sinn Féin needs to face up to that and deal with it. I do not know whether it is that Deputy Carthy knew people who were involved in that atrocity that he is reluctant to condemn it. I ask him to condemn it. It is a very serious issue.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: We have had too much in recent times of Sinn Féin spokespeople saying different things to suit different agendas at different times. The overarching narrative has been that what Sinn Féin and the Provisional IRA did in all circumstances was justifiable and so on. There is a lack of a candid approach in terms of having the guts to condemn an atrocity committed by the Provisional...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of the all-island approach to Covid-19 as did Deputy McDonald. As far as Covid-19 in the North is concerned, I have left politics outside the door in all my dealings with the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. I respect the two jurisdictions and I respect there are two chief medical officers. I am not sure Deputy McDonald has always left politics...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----which underpins the importance of such social provision, both in terms of our legislation and funding.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The additional €3 million is again provided because we cannot just top up statutory redundancy for one case. There has to be consistency in its deployment across the entire system. The Deputy knows that of course, but that does not interest him in terms of how he pursues these issues.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am coming to that issue, but many Deputies have raised issues. I think I have dealt with the case of Shane O'Farrell, which was raised by Deputy Carthy. I have dealt with the issue of the student nurses on a number of occasions now. There is a review, which we want, and there is engagement between the Minister and the unions on this matter regarding the allowances. Fourth-year students...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: There is also an unprecedented ambition to recruit thousands of extra staff. This year alone, 1,400 extra whole-time equivalent nurses have been recruited-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----to the service and the entire graduate output of our colleges this year will be offered a job in our health service.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Shared Island Unit (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 11, inclusive, together. On 22 October last, I set out the Government's vision and priorities on shared island during an online event at Dublin Castle. More than 800 people participated online, comprising a broad range of civil society, community, sectoral and political representatives from across the island of Ireland and in Britain. In budget...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: We will constructively engage with the Labour Party legislation which is designed to deal with the issue of dual pricing. I pay tribute to the Central Bank for its report which did not pull any punches. It is not acceptable for the insurance companies to conduct their affairs in this manner. We will constructively engage with the Labour Party on its legislation and on the customer service...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputies raised quite a number of questions there. Deputy Kelly, who put the original question, raised the issue of the deaths of people availing of homelessness services. That is a deep concern which is being taken very seriously by Government. It is important to note and respect the work of those in the homelessness services who have cared for these individuals and who were their...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 7, inclusive, together. The role of the social policy and public service reform division is to assist me, as Taoiseach, and the Government in delivering programme for Government objectives and public policies and services which help create a socially inclusive and fair society. Specifically, the division assists the work of the Cabinet committee on...