Results 17,521-17,540 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I do not think that we can make up the rules as we go along. We have a Dáil reform committee. It has met on quite a number of occasions. It has laid out the Standing Orders of the House. It is a long standing precedent that the Ceann Comhairle, following advice and so forth, adjudicates on issues. Sometimes that adjudication does not find favour with some in the House, but that does...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I take issue with the Deputy. The Government has not rejected any advice, and he is wrong to assert that in respect of NPHET. We engaged with NPHET, and obviously I had discussions with the Chief Medical Officer. We took a more conservative stance on the restriction of visitors to households. NPHET would have-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: We have not opened the pubs. That is the point.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am sorry but Deputy Murphy is not even in the Chamber. What is going on is outrageous. I am not answering Deputy Murphy; I am answering Deputy Boyd Barrett. There should not be people in corridors heckling during Leader's Questions. That is not acceptable behaviour. I want to make the point that we did not open wet pubs because of a range of advice from EY and others, tracking what...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is wrong in his various assertions. In the first instance, I do not believe in the Deputy's zero-Covid approach. It is not viable in terms of our membership of the European Union, our relationship with the United Kingdom and the seamless interaction of people. We also have the Border between North and South and the fact we are not in charge of the jurisdiction public health wise...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: There is an issue around antigen and rapid testing. The European Commission has reported on that and the HSE is looking at that in the context of specific settings such as the healthcare settings the Deputy identified.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Minister is looking at that as a matter of urgency.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: As a country, we are particularly dependent on international travel connectivity, but the numbers travelling have dropped significantly on an annual basis. I think it is down 96% or 97% annually. We know from the airports how desolate they are. That said, we are conscious coming into the Christmas period that we need to be particularly vigilant. As a Government, we decided on the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy raised a number of issues. The current epidemiological status is relatively good from a European perspective. We now have the lowest 14-day incidence rate in the 27 European Union member states at 89 per 100,000 people. That is a result of the people of Ireland working with level 5 over six weeks. The people deserve considerable credit for adhering to the guidelines. It is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy and I appreciate the point he is making. I established the task force for a reason, namely, to bring a varied range of disciplines, both public sector and private sector, to the table to deal with the various work streams that will be required to deliver the vaccine. There is a work stream currently operating in regard to information technology, for example, because IT...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Government, ultimately, has to deliver this.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his question. The Government is absolutely and wholly committed to the timely implementation of a Covid-19 immunisation programme once the vaccines are approved for use, particularly the vaccines that are in the European Union portfolio. In this regard, I have established a cross-Government high-level task force to oversee the development and implementation of a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I think that, collectively, we as an Oireachtas can with one voice articulate to the British Government again the view that a full public inquiry should be held. We can continue to work at both European and international level and with international opinion. We have support in the United States from people such as Richie Neal and others, and we can of course enlist the engagement of the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue this afternoon. It is deeply disappointing and very annoying that the British Government has not committed to holding a proper public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane. I know the disappointment is keenly and painfully felt by the Finucane family, by Geraldine, the late Pat Finucane's wife, and his sons and daughter. I utterly concur with the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Last Friday, the Government agreed the approach for easing restrictions, including a phased move to Level 3 nationally, with a number of exceptions in place for the Christmas period. The exceptions for the Christmas period are designed to support people to have a meaningful Christmas, albeit different to other years. The main objective is to stay safe and keep the Covid numbers down so that...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Matters relating to international policy and foreign affairs are discussed by the 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 context of the context of the Common Foreign and Security Policy and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Global Footprint Initiative (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Under the Programme for Government, the Government is committed to seeking to continue to implement Global Ireland 2025, and its ambition to double our global footprint in the period to 2025, having regard to available resources. Despite the pandemic, which has placed severe constraints on travel and other international engagement, considerable progress on implementation by Departments and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Judicial Appointments (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The only correspondence my Department has in relation to this matter is the necessary administrative correspondence associated with the Government's meeting and decision. In accordance with the constitutional arrangements regarding Cabinet confidentiality and the Government's relationship with the President, I do not propose to release this correspondence.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Economic and Social Council (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: The National Economic and Social Council is an independent statutory agency operating under the aegis of my Department. The Terms of Reference and composition of the NESC are set out in legislation - the National Economic and Social Development Act, 2006, and in the National Economic and Social Council (Alteration of Composition) Order, 2010. The role of the Council is to analyse and report...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Dec 2020)

Micheál Martin: Further to my answer provided on 11 November 2020, the Government’s travel advice and approach to implementation of the EU ‘traffic light’ system is published on the Government website . (see ) This approach includes office holders and officials who undertake essential travel to represent Ireland.