Results 18,641-18,660 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is an option and some people avail of it. The third option is some other model to be developed which has to be fleshed out.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: It has to be fleshed out. It is not as simple as just calling for it. It has to be developed-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----and worked through. In terms of mental health supports, additional psychologists have been recruited under the roadmap to the National Educational Psychological Service, NEPS. In addition, there is full provision for school guidance counsellors. That is something to which I committed during the confidence and supply arrangement and it is now 100% restored because of my commitment...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Yes. Everything that has been done so far in the reopening of schools has been done in partnership. It is important that the inspections take place and that they are done as a way of ensuring improvement and constructive compliance. I surmise, and I will seek further information on this from the Department, that it wants to bring schools with it and that it does not wish to be naming and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The planning for that starts now. The chief inspector was adamant that this is the plan and the commitment. In terms of higher education and the enhanced protection measures that NPHET has asked the universities and institutes of technology to take, each college is adapting various measures suitable to the campus and location. A number of them are online for many courses. One is...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is why NPHET has advised. The Minister with responsibility for higher and further education is engaging with the various institutes and universities with a view to enhancing their measures further.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The programme for Government sets out the Government's commitment to working with all communities and traditions on the island to build consensus on a shared future. This work will be underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement and respect for the principle of consent. I wish to see a renewed push to use the potential of the Good Friday Agreement to deliver sustained progress for all...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 to 4, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on education was established by Government decision on 6 July last and the first meeting will take place in the coming weeks. It will oversee implementation of programme for Government commitments in the area of education. In addition to the meetings of full Cabinet and Cabinet committees, I meet with...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I dealt with that earlier.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: No.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: On the national alcohol and drugs strategy and the issue of community participation, I will discuss the matter again with the HSE. On the ground, the HSE clearly has a view and the Deputy is saying that there is a divergence of opinion between the executive and the Department of Health. My own view is that programmes work best when they have strong engagement with the community on the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: On its formation the Government established the following Cabinet committees: the Cabinet committee on Covid-19; the Cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment; the Cabinet committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland; the Cabinet committee on environment and climate change; the Cabinet committee on housing; the Cabinet committee on health; the Cabinet committee on social affairs and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Government has made a clear decision on that in terms of parental leave and will be bringing in measures as per the Government decision.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Successive Irish Governments have been very committed to legacy issues in successive agreements that arose out of the Good Friday Agreement. There have been ongoing issues in terms of getting agreement and clarity on those legacy agreements and getting them progressed. Unfortunately those issues continue, notwithstanding the new arrangements and new commitments that were made on all fronts...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will have to discuss that with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I will ask him to make contact with the Deputy. I am not aware whether he sanctioned that or whether it emerged prior to his arrival as Minister. The Deputy is referring to the TB plan, which suggests a very operational plan developed at operational level. I will engage with the Minister for Agriculture,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Irish Water has taken a decision in terms of its procurement policy and tendering out to one per county. I hear what the Deputy is saying. It has been an ongoing issue with the centralisation of procurement. Even nationally, the centralisation of procurement has actually disadvantaged smaller operators in the regions. I do not interfere in the operations of Irish Water, and nor can I, but...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The €600 million that has been allocated to health is designed to try to alleviate the pressures which Deputy Cahill has outlined, which I acknowledge, especially in Limerick. He has raised issues regarding funding for Nenagh hospital. I will engage with the Minister for Health about this and with the Department and HSE with a view to what can be done in the short term to alleviate...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that it will be in the later part of this session. I have asked for this Bill to be progressed. It has been committed to for quite a number of years. There seem to be some issues regarding the content and extent of the Bill. I am determined to deal with those issues and get the Bill published and to get it through the House.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I understand the very difficult situation for individual students, in having a desire to secure a certain course and a target to get the results to secure it. It is heartbreaking when a student does not get the course. This year in particular, due to Covid-19, there was a unique situation with no physical examinations and a calculated grades programme had to be introduced. As part of that...