Results 17,461-17,480 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----which will give a more coherent planning legislative process and mechanisms that will both protect biodiversity and the environment but also enable-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----opportunities such as the development based on offshore wind, for example, which is an important part of our renewable strategies. On the wider issue, Coilte and Bord na Móna are two important State agencies along with the ESB in meeting our climate change agenda.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: They will stay as State enterprises. They are not being privatised. Their privatisation is not on the agenda at all. That equally applies to Deputy Barry.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: To Deputy Tóibín, looking at the planning framework in Ireland, there is no evidence that citizens lack any capacity to take on big projects. Individuals object to a whole range of projects. There is a balance here. I will engage with the Deputy further on the points he has raised.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 10, inclusive, together. The Government co-ordination committee generally meets in advance of Government meetings to: 1. review the activity of Cabinet committees; 2. review the agenda for that week's Government meeting; 3. discuss political priorities; and 4. review implementation of a specified element of the programme for Government. I am a member...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Question Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on the environment and climate change last met on 1 April 2021 and is scheduled to meet again on 10 May 2021. It is chaired by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The committee oversees the implementation of the ambitious programme for Government commitments on...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: As I said earlier, I agree with the Deputy. I will continue to engage with the HSE on this. These are clinical decisions that have been taken from the outset of the pandemic but, given the success to date within the hospital environment in suppressing the virus and the success of the vaccination programme, greater facility should now exist for expectant mothers to be accompanied by their...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Government has been supportive of the hospice movement, particularly in recent months, and has provided substantial funding to underpin the hospices, given the huge challenges they have faced in terms of various fundraising projects being undermined by Covid-19. I am not aware of the specifics of this case but we will engage with the HSE. I have no doubt we will do everything we can to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Is the Deputy referring to rehabilitation more generally or is it specific rehabilitation?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Is this in the area of addiction, physical rehabilitation or-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Addiction services. I certainly was not aware of 109 beds being lost in the wider service. I will have to examine the figure presented by the Deputy. I do not believe any Minister stated there was nothing he or she could do about it because there is a general policy in relation to addiction services. As the Deputy is aware, the HSE historically has been negative towards...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his comments. The fact that the Kildare County Council and two approved housing bodies were outbid is certainly very damaging or bad news as well. I have spoken to the Ministers for Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform and Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Collectively, we will examine this issue because it is unacceptable and runs counter to Government...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. I was very taken aback by the illustration on social media of the incident to which he referred involving a woman being pushed onto the tracks in a shocking manner which endangered her life. In addition, we learn of continuing assaults on individuals going about their routine daily lives and also an increased degree of attacks...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I have been in regular contact with Ava's mother, Vera, for quite a long time now and have been very supportive in the various stages of the campaign, including, in the first instance, securing Bedrocan for Ava via the Dutch authorities. I have gone the hard miles on this one and I do not really need any hashtag sort of momentum to push me in any direction on this. I have been supportive...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: First of all, there are two issues here. The primary medical certificate, PMC, assessments fell behind as a result of Covid but the assessment process resumed on 1 January 2021. There are still some delays in the processing of assessments due to the involvement of medical officers in the national Covid-19 response as well as the ongoing public restrictions and those delays are causing undue...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his question. It is anticipated that a memo for Government will be brought to the Cabinet in the next week or two. It is a Government priority that this important legislation, which brings long-awaited rights and protections to farmers and small business owners, is brought forward and passed without delay. It was agreed that the Departments of Health and Housing,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, the Government and I are very supportive of rural pubs and those which do not sell food. In our view, they have provided a very important social network across the length and breadth of the country. The virus has wreaked havoc on the hospitality sector, including on pubs.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The virus has done this. The Deputy wishes to create a political polemic and rhetoric which is untrue.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is unfortunate that he has gone down that particular road-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----and used language that was inappropriate and wrong.