Results 17,561-17,580 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I do not actually believe the statistics that Deputy O'Donoghue provided. We can park that because I do not believe that is the important point. International and nationally, where there is congregation and so on, the infection rate relating to the virus rises. The challenge really will be to try to control it. As we move from level 5 to level 3, the issue will be one of risk. No one in...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I do not know whether Deputy Kenny has spoken to the HSE regionally or the save-the-hospital group in terms of what their plans are for the recruitment of the cardiologist and the cath lab. That is the level at which these decisions are being taken. Significant resources were made available by the Minister for Health in the budget. The amount involved is €4 billion in total:...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: This is an important issue. The Minister of State with responsibility for law reform, Deputy James Browne, is prioritising it. Obviously, he will be consulting with the Minister of State, Deputy Feighan, and others. We will be progressing this as quickly and effectively as possible.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Transport has answered the question on these issues in terms of the decisions of Bus Éireann relating to Expressway services. The company was of a view that there was a sufficiency of capacity on those particular routes. I will engage with the Minister, Deputy Ryan, on the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The only person acting on a wing and a prayer is the Deputy. He has been acting on a wing and a prayer for a long time, as far as I can see.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: We have informed the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: He has met NPHET but he has consistently been in the denial camp regarding the deadly impact of Covid-19 on people's lives and health.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: It has a terrible impact on people's lives and health, and the Deputy should accept that. That said, we will provide guidance. Throughout every level, we have provided guidance. I am aware of the severity of the virus in terms of the impact-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----it has had on people's incomes and livelihoods. Covid-19 has been a terrible virus that has upended societies across the world. Given its low level of incidence, Ireland is at least in a much better position relative to its European partners and other EU member states. That is never said by the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is correct in that I met representatives from Mandate and the shop stewards last week. I did say that we were going to activate a third-party intervention. We want the basis of that third-party intervention to be effective and, hopefully, achieve a resolution. I appeal to all parties concerned to give space to facilitate the intervention of a third party that might - I am not...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: On the first matter, I will talk to the Minister for Agriculture, Food at the Marine about the delay in payments because of a software update. I take the Deputy's point that there should not be delays of this kind in respect of payments to farmers who need the income. On the question raised by Deputy Danny-Healy Rae, Brexit is not good news. It has created many challenges. The issue...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: This has indeed been a long-running saga. I have worked with Vera Twomey and others on an ongoing basis in regard to this matter. To be fair to all concerned, including the Minister for Foreign Affairs and others, an arrangement had been made to facilitate the distribution of medicinal cannabis, from Holland to Ireland, during the Covid-19 pandemic. That has been facilitated by the State....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have taken a personal interest in the Marine Planning and Development Management Bill. I have been working with the Minister concerned and the Attorney General to get that complex legislation, which has been around for a bit, published and on the Statute Book because it is central to realising the economic potential of our seas and so forth. The Deputy is correct that the State will...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is not too late to brief party leaders on level 5-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----and I have no issue in talking to them, as I have consistently in the past. What I said earlier stands. I cannot stress enough that the Minister, Deputy McEntee, is anxious to come in and deal with the issues that Deputies want dealt with.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am not responsible for the various media commentary and reports. I always admire the capacity of good hard-working journalists to secure information from various sources, which continues apace. I stated at the commencement of level 5 that the landing zone for the Government was in and around level 3, and I have been saying that consistently. If the Deputy looks at what is allowed for at...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is the objective. It is my view that there should be a separate dedicated workforce for swabbing and contact tracing. That is what the HSE has been undertaking. That means redeployment back to the front line and to key services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and other services. Those personnel are best deployed in those scenarios to look...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have said what our aim and objective is. There are people who will build up experience over the first and second phase. We do not want to throw all of the experience out immediately. Some people who know how to operate and manage the system will, I imagine and surmise, be required but our objective is to have therapists back providing therapy services.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: To be fair, the threshold was set much higher, at €175, and the Minister for Finance brought in amendments to bring it down to €75. There will be a need for a threshold from an administrative perspective. This is informed by Revenue and its assessment of the volume, data and so on. I have no doubt the Minister will keep this under review but he has brought the threshold down...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (25 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am going to answer the Deputy's questions.