Results 17,241-17,260 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I reassure him that there is no tactic or strategy here to try to claw back revenue or anything like that. That is not motivating any actions on the part of the Revenue Commissioners at all. As the Deputy will be aware, between March and August 66,500 firms received payments under the TWSS. This amounts to approximately one third of all employers...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is just empty rhetoric and nonsense. Housing construction is not being led by developers. I have said repeatedly that 18,000 houses will be built this year if we can get there. Covid-19 has had a negative impact. More than half of those houses will be built by public initiative. Next year, 12,750 houses will be socially delivered. Some 9,500 of those houses will be built by local...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy that the situation in Northern Ireland, and indeed throughout Europe, is very worrying and concerning. Yesterday the Netherlands closed down before Christmas. Germany has done the same. The positivity rate in Northern Ireland is about 9%. It is not clear that testing there is at the same level as here. The numbers have been worrying for quite some time. There are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: If I may, a Cheann Comhairle, I would like to take the opportunity briefly to wish Deputy McDonald and all Deputies in the House a very happy festive season and a safe one. This might be my last opportunity to speak. I wish a happy Christmas to the Ceann Comhairle and his team, the superintendent, the head ushers and the entire team here who have kept our national Parliament operational...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Communications (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I spoke by phone with Prime Minister Johnson on 27 November. I raised the Finucane case with the Prime Minister and I restated the Government’s position on the establishment of a public inquiry. Previously, I met with Geraldine and John Finucane on Monday, 23 November to discuss their case and reaffirm the Government’s support. Following this meeting I wrote to the British...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Economic and Social Council (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 15 together. I have read the reports and as is the usual practice, they were considered and approved by Government prior to publication. Both of these reports were published by NESC in November, 2020. The National Economic and Social Council is an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of my Department. The Terms of Reference and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Younger people have been among the groups most affected by Covid-19. They have missed out on many of the formative experiences, and rites of passage that so many of us have experienced - from the final year in school, to the Leaving Cert, to starting college, starting work and all that goes with that and much more. Their social lives and their social networks, which are so important to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council Meetings (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I attended a meeting of the European Council on 10/11 December, which was followed by a meeting of the Euro Summit on 11 December. At the European Council, we discussed Covid-19, in particular the authorisation and roll out of vaccines. We reached agreement on the conditions in which Rule of Law measures in the MFF and recovery package can be invoked, enabling the Council and the European...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Reform Programme (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The National Reform Programme is an important element of the European Semester, the annual cycle of economic and fiscal policy coordination which takes place amongst EU Member States. As part of the Semester, Ireland, along with all other Member States, prepares and submits a National Reform Programme to the European Commission each April. This provides an overview of reforms and policy...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 to 27, inclusive, together. Tá roinnt gealltanas tugtha i Scéim Teanga 2019-2022 mo Roinne chun a chinntiú go gcuirtear seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge ar fáil sa Roinn lena n-áirítear sonraí i dtaobh dhá phost atá sannta ag an Roinn mar phoist ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge de dhíth. Tá ceangail ag an...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Budgets (16 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The 2021 communication budget for my Department is currently being planned. My Department will participate in all appropriate initiatives and public information campaigns as required, in light of events such as, for example, developments on Covid-19 and Brexit.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Murphy raised the issue of the decision to exit level 5. The people of Ireland were under level 5 for six weeks and, I think, adhered to it very well, to such an extent that Ireland has the lowest incidence of Covid-19 cases in Europe. That never gets acknowledged, but that happens to be a fact. On balance, I do not think we could have kept people under that level of restrictions...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the impact of the second wave, our mortality rates compare favourably and are one of the best, if not the best, in Europe, and that is because of decisions taken by Government and by the people. There is a balance here and personal responsibility is extremely important as we move into the Christmas period. This is very difficult all round for people. It is difficult for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Livelihoods. Livelihoods matter as well as people's mental well-being.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: A lot of people are very worried, stressed and anxious about their future because of Covid-19. We are trying to protect both lives and livelihoods. It is not a question of balancing the two. Protecting both is the objective.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have said repeatedly "protect both". In any event, the social distancing will be required. If we can get the vaccine into nursing homes initially and to healthcare front-line staff, that in itself will make a significant difference. We can then move on to the various sequencing. I am, again, very disappointed in Deputy McDonald's comments and the very bitter and partisan political...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have answered it. It is not fair to be making assertions of that kind across the floor of the House.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Government does not go out of its way to deny anyone vaccination, least of all people with disabilities.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: It does not do that and the Deputy should not suggest that it does, or assert that it does. That is what the Deputy said. I have no doubt that the public health expertise will engage with disability organisations in terms of the roll-out of the vaccine. In the first instance, it is being rolled out to the elderly and residents in nursing homes because they are the most vulnerable. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I dealt with the student nurses earlier. I say again that, in my view, a first-year student on a nine-week placement should not have to work a 13-hour roster. The clinical placement cannot be protected if a person is working flat out.