Results 17,741-17,760 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising the issue. As I said earlier, the Government is engaging with Dublin Zoo and with Fota Wildlife Park. It will intervene to support the sector, particularly to keep those facilities open. I take the Deputy's wider point on board.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I agree that the Ability programme has been very effective and is an important programme. Programmes of this nature are evaluated by the line Department and the line agencies with a view to improvements and refinements. I will come back to the Deputy on the Department's position. Funding is available for disability services across the board and I have no doubt that this programme is key to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Both cases illustrate the damage that Covid-19 can do. That is why we have restrictions. It is worth reflecting on the impact Covid-19 can have on hospital services. Hospitals have had to postpone non-essential services because of the spread of Covid-19 among hospital staff. That is an unfortunate reality. We will do everything we possibly can to provide every possible resource to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The extension of the pandemic unemployment payment to students has been a very welcome benefit to thousands of students throughout the country, understandably, because they would have lost the work opportunities which would have helped them to fund their way through college. There have been some improvements to the SUSI scheme under this year's budget. There will also be a once-off...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Of that number, 9,000 will be public housing. Next year, there will be up to 12,500 social houses out of a potential 25,000.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: We have a long way to go. We need to get master plans and developments off the ground to get the houses built.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Maybe the Deputy can deal with it a bit better as well in terms of process.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have helped people who were on the imminent deportation list. Why? Because people contacted me and gave me the cases personally. I would have seen to it and engaged with INIS and with the relevant Minister of the day, even when I was in Opposition. I did not make a song and dance about it. I just dealt with it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I take the Deputy's point and will follow that up. Coming in out of the blue raising cases is fine. The Deputy is entitled to do that and it creates profile for the issue. I am not so sure, however, it actually advances the case of the individual concerned. I do not think-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have the floor. I did say genuinely to Deputy Gannon that I do not think anyone should be deported to any red zone country during the Covid pandemic. Equally, if people are working in our health service, we need to ascertain their status in our health service and see if we can retain them.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Again, I am uncomfortable dealing with procurement issues generally on the floor of the House. Procurement processes should be independent of the House. I take the Deputy's more general point on the State investing more in its own capacity in air rescue, the Coast Guard, our Defence Forces and the Air Corps. Some progress is being made in terms of recruitment to the Air Corps. I would...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: To be fair, wolves have not been reintroduced yet in the country.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am only jesting. I will follow it up with the Minister, Deputy McConalogue.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will follow it up with the Minister.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will talk to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine about the sheep welfare inspectors. I am not aware of the potential for drones to monitor sheep on the headlands. Maybe the Department can explore that as well.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the peat slide near Meenbog wind farm, Barnesmore Gap, south of Ballybofey, County Donegal, which is under construction. The matter is being actively investigated by several statutory agencies, led by Donegal County Council. It involves the Environmental Protection Agency, Irish Water, the Loughs Agency, the National Parks and Wildlife Service, as well as the Northern Ireland...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----we will. Over time, the potential of offshore wind energy will outstrip onshore wind energy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will undertake to get a comprehensive report from my Department and the Department of Foreign Affairs on what happened. I am not in a position to make any judgment this morning on what the Deputy has asserted. People in all European Union countries are and should be entitled to protest. That said, Covid-19 places very significant restrictions on that right because it conflicts with the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: There are clearly a number of issues that must be considered by the Department following the judgment. The Department clearly has to assess the implications for other trawlers and fishermen moving forward.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: As I said, I will engage with the Minister and will come back to the Deputy on the policy position the Department will adopt in response to the court decision and how it intends to proceed into the future.