Results 17,341-17,360 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Advisers (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Of course, the Deputy pretends that this is a deliberate and premeditated act to look after the high rollers, and he knows damn well it is not. He knows it is not. If he had his way, he would have been doing this in 2016, given that is what he proposed at that time. That is the reality.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Advisers (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Taxation is the way to deal with that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Advisers (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: We have. We have one of the most progressive taxation systems in Europe. The higher that people earn in this country, the more they should be taxed, and that is the reality. That is the fairest way to deal with this, not the approach the Deputy takes, which is just short-term political opportunism, deliberately distorting the truth and deliberately giving false narratives in terms of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 9, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment first met on 8 July. It has met on a total of eight occasions, most recently on 4 December. The next meeting has not yet been scheduled. Membership of the committee is comprised of the Taoiseach; the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Employment and Trade; the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the Deputy raising the issue. She is correct in identifying mental health as a key issue and a key priority for society and for the Government. There is, and has been, an issue with the recruitment of psychiatrists, particularly in child and adolescent psychiatry and particularly in the south east. It is something the Minister of State, Deputy Mary Butler, is very possessed...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is referring to 2005 legislation. With regard to assessments of need, we have provided additional funding in the budget. My view is we should do everything we possibly can to get timely assessments of need for children and meet our obligations in this regard. I have no difficulty supporting this.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Advisers (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. Under the terms of the Public Service Management Act 1997, special advisers may be appointed to Ministers and Ministers of State. The requirement for specialist policy input and advice is a matter for each individual Minister to consider having regard to the area of responsibility and the support in place in the relevant Departments. ...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I do not have the details of the case. Is the Deputy saying that the family has heard nothing from the new school or the special education needs organiser? The family should be informed as to progress relating to their child in terms of the placement in the school in the first instance and the allocation of an SNA. That should happen. I do not have the details but if the Deputy forwards...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: There should be review of the thresholds. We have long waiting lists as matters stand. In those cases identified by Deputy Paul Donnelly, in the first instance the people involved should appeal. It is difficult for those families and it is unfair, given that they were 11 and 12 years on the list. Due cognisance should be taken of the fact that they are so long on the list and that the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: These guidelines have come from NPHET and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. Music, particularly singing, unfortunately, can, as a result of droplets and so on, act as a vector in the spread of the virus. It is a cautious guidance that was issued in respect of weddings. As with many other areas, our view all along in terms of the onset of the virus has been to adhere as close as we...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Back in March, admissions to St. Brigid's hospital were suspended and it was designated as a Covid-19 step-down facility. It is proposed to utilise the existing premises as a base for a newly created community healthcare network in south Tipperary, along with it serving as a base for members of a chronic disease management team with a focus on...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----a senior dietician, a staff dietician, administrative staff and a podiatrist. These individuals will provide enhanced services at St. Brigid's. This is a unique opportunity to change our approach to the prevention and management of chronic disease in the south east. I am happy to work with the Deputy if he has further ideas for the utilisation of the building.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: This Government did not cause Brexit and is not responsible for it. We need less of the language about weak hands and all of that kind of nonsense. Brexit resulted from a decision taken by the British people. It was recommended to them by British politicians. In my view, it was the wrong move. Historically, it was the wrong move. It has implications for our fishing. If we had no deal,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have met and engaged with the fishing organisations. There should be no doubt that we want to preserve and support our fishing industry in the strongest possible manner and as effectively as we can.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I do not know whether the Deputy has written formally to the HSE senior management in respect of this matter. I will engage with the CEO and relay the Deputy's comments to him. These areas are audited and evaluated. I will certainly engage with the CEO on the points the Deputy has raised with me.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Finally, we are committed to reviewing the allowances, and increasing the allowances, and in terms of the pay student nurses get in fourth year, to increasing that as well.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is aware of the Government's commitments and plans in regard to expanding the cardiology service at Waterford University Hospital in terms of a second catheterisation laboratory, expanding the hours as the Deputy outlined and, critically, the recruitment of key personnel. This is not a funding issue. Predominantly, it has been an issue determined by the various colleges in terms...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I would love to open up the whole of society again. There is nothing I would love more dearly to do. However, we cannot because of the Covid-9 virus. We are holding it at bay. We have the lowest incidence of Covid-19 in Europe. There is a reason why we have the lowest incidence: it is because of the balance of restrictions we have introduced. Yoga is extremely important-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: In terms of yoga I agree with the Deputy that it is very good for mental and physical health. However, where does one draw the line in terms of opening up various disciplines and areas across society? It is very difficult to draw the line, sector by sector. As I said, I would love nothing more than to be in a position to open up all the various sectors. We want to get to Christmas and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The HSE and the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET, have been in discussions regarding the application of antigen testing in the context of healthcare settings initially. The plan is to test it in those settings, not just in the case of mass outbreaks but more generally. There have been various reports on the issue by HIQA and others and the European Commission has provided very...