Results 17,441-17,460 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----or create schemes and frameworks due to subjective analysis of a particular case. CervicalCheck screening has never been, under the older technology, the most precise of screening programmes. I think most people would acknowledge that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Anything beyond the margin of error obviously needs to be pursued and dealt with and compensation should be paid.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: First, I am not privy to the meeting the Deputy had. Was it with the head of CervicalCheck?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am not aware of what was said because, obviously, I was not at the meeting. I will check the position immediately because we must all uphold the decisions of the Supreme Court and of the courts in general. On the previous Government's decision, those who work for the State can have their views in terms of Government decisions but they must facilitate the execution of those decisions...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: First, I think we should point out that about 2 million people receive the flu vaccine. We are not strangers to national immunisation programmes, although this will be of a far greater scale than we have had so far. There has been a very significant roll-out of the flu vaccination programme in itself. That worked very well, notwithstanding all of the complaints and criticisms. Clearly,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of the vaccine. It is a historic day and a vindication of science as the ultimate route to follow in dealing with this terrible virus that has wreaked such havoc across the world in terms of lives lost, of people becoming ill with long-term consequences and of economic and social upheaval. It has changed our way of living. I applaud the Deputy's...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy and everyone else knows that there have been ongoing discussions about this issue between the INMO and the Minister over the past number of weeks. Those discussions are continuing and will result in a review before the end of December on the allowances applying to student nurses. I am trying to say to the Deputy that the days are over for saying it is all right for student...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Twenty years ago, we moved from an apprenticeship model of nurse education to a degree model. It was a fundamental shift and transformation in nurse education, sought by the nursing profession, particularly the nurses' unions. I introduced it myself as Minister for Health and Children. It was important in giving a higher degree of respect to the nursing profession within the overall health...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 78 and 80 together. My Department has not engaged any consultancy firms or other external service providers for advice on COVID-19 restrictions and there is no spend on consultancy firms advising on COVID-19-related matters. My Department, working with the HSE and their contractors EY, the CSO, and a number of other Departments, have been drawing together...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Data Protection (8 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: My Department has been subject to one investigation by the Data Protection Commission since 2016, which was on foot of a complaint by an individual. On 20 June 2017, the DPC informed the Department of the complaint and the commencement of an investigation. The complaint concerned an allegation that a breach of the Acts had occurred by way of the unauthorised disclosure by the Department to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (8 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The percentage of staff working with a disability within my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) in 2018 and 2019 is as follows: - Department of the Taoiseach NESDO 2018 5.36% 5.88% 2019 4.33% 6.25% Returns for 2020 under the Disability Act are due to be reported...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (2 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Government will publish a national economic plan that will deal the broader issues on the economic landscape. Housing will be a key part of it, particularly the provision of sustainable sources of social and affordable housing. In response to Deputy Kelly's question, I note that there will be key developments in the areas of digital transformation and the green economy. Those are two...

Pre-European Council: Statements (2 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Tá áthas orm labhairt leis an Dáil maidir leis an gcruinniú den Chomhairle Eorpach a bheidh ar siúl Déardaoin agus Dé hAoine an seachtain seo chugainn. The agenda at the European Council meeting on Thursday, 10 December and Friday, 11 December has yet to be finalised, but is expected to include Covid-19, Brexit, climate change, security and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategy Statements (2 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 10, inclusive, together. In accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Management Act 1997, my Department is currently developing its new statement of strategy for the next three years. The strategy will reflect the role of my Department to deliver the executive functions of the Taoiseach and Government and to support me as Head of Government...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (2 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Kelly is correct about the difficulty of visiting and recognising our Army, which has done some fantastic work in the Golan Heights and elsewhere across the world and continues to do so, because of Covid-19. We will do everything we can to show our Defence Forces again that we recognise the contribution they are making to international peace. The European Union has moved on...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (2 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will address question on the tourism sector first. Deputy Kelly correctly identified that the area will need a significant reboot after Covid-19. In the interim we are doing everything we possibly can to keep the edifice of our tourism sector intact through the variety of schemes we have introduced, including the employment wage subsidy scheme, the Covid restrictions support scheme, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (2 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take questions Nos. 3 to 7, inclusive, together. Matters relating to international policy and foreign affairs are discussed by the full Cabinet as and when appropriate, mostly on foot of memoranda to Government brought by the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I also engage bilaterally with the Minister on such matters, as appropriate. International matters also arise in the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Yes, we will have a look at that again. These are good and important programmes, and we want to expand participation in them. I do not, therefore, believe that the money will run out in June 2021.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic (2 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. Last Friday, the Government agreed the approach for easing restrictions, including a phased move to level 3 nationally, with several exemptions in place for the Christmas period. These exemptions are designed to support people in having a meaningful Christmas, albeit different from other years. The main objective is to stay safe and to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (2 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Again, I have to say that I am not anti-rural, anti-village or anti-pub. There is nothing I would like better right now than a pint in some rural pub in an idyllic village in the west of Ireland - I can assure the Deputies of that.