Results 18,701-18,720 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I facilitated a briefing with the HSE on testing and the Deputy was presented with the figures from the HSE chief executive officer. The Deputy is doing a disservice to the work of the HSE in this.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I genuinely believe the Deputy is. The Deputy's entire approach to this is not to seek clarity but to undermine; it is not to amplify public health measures but rather to undermine them.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: On the first point, I took the phone call from Deputy Kelly.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I fully appreciate his concerns, which I believe are genuine. The Dáil was adjourned for two hours.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should calm down. He is very excitable. He is interrupting non-stop.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: When news emerged that the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, was to be tested, the Secretary General of the Department contacted the acting Chief Medical Officer and he, to use his own language, in an "over-abundance of caution", said that Ministers should restrict their movements. The Secretary General was anxious that the Chief Whip would get the message and communicate it to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Correct. I am just making the point that everybody acted in good faith. The motivation was precaution in trying to prevent risk. There is no big mystery to it. The next question concerned the plan itself. The plan is fundamentally about protecting lives and livelihoods. That is its ultimate test of its sustainability. It is there for the long haul, that is, the next six to nine...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I express my deepest sympathies to Pat Smullen's wife, Frances, and his family. He was an iconic figure in the racing world who is deeply mourned by his family and friends. I salute his absolute courage and commitment to cancer care and in taking on what was the greatest challenge in his life. Just because Deputy McDonald says things does not mean they are true. The Deputy has a habit...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (16 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet Committee on Housing was established by the Government on 6 July 2020 to oversee effective implementation of the Programme for Government commitments in relation to housing. The Committee last met on July 30thand is scheduled to next meet on Monday, September 28th.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (15 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Boyd Barrett was first with his query on taxi drivers, the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment and the temporary Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme. I have spoken to the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection. Certain social protection measures allow her to help out people in certain sectors such as the arts, and she has been in contact with them. As I said to the Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (15 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----in relation to the M20. It is committed to and it will be going ahead. In response to Deputy Whitmore I repeat my answer to Deputy Kelly. NPHET has advised that people in Dublin should not travel outside of Dublin if possible. Obviously people who commute for work will continue to do so. The full value of the temporary Covid-19 wage subsidy scheme should be paid to employees, and I...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (15 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy stated "interests of private profit are allowed to interfere" but that would be the antithesis of what is envisaged. The oversight committee is to be headed by the Secretary General of the Department and it involves other Departments. This is to ensure the process is practical. I will give an example. There was a furore in the House when NPHET advised we should enforce a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (15 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 12, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on economic recovery and investment has been established and first met on 8 July. It has met on a total of four occasions, most recently on 2 September. The Cabinet committee will meet regularly but the date of the next meeting has not yet been confirmed. The membership of the committee comprises the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (15 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: On face masks, let us give the people of Ireland credit. Everybody in here talks about confusion. There was no confusion among the people when we brought in regulations to make mandatory the wearing of masks on public transport and in shops. As Taoiseach, I pushed hard to make that happen. The compliance rate is 90%. Last April, only 16% of people were wearing masks. That is the answer...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Advisers (15 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: It is extraordinary the degree to which Deputies will come to the House and take whatever they read in the newspaper as fact, as the Deputy has just done. I thought she was paying attention to the press conference this morning, but she clearly was not because that question was asked. There are no separate briefings for the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste. As the Tánaiste stated, he...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Advisers (15 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy did not.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Advisers (15 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: She does not ask questions; she deliberately makes assertions to create a propaganda spin, and she is good at it. Moreover, the Sinn Féin Party is no stranger to special advisers. It invented the whole concept to an extraordinary degree in the Northern Ireland Executive, where it has SPADs, as the Deputy calls them, all over the place. We saw the trouble they got the party into in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Advisers (15 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have answered the questions. To respond to Deputy Kelly, the concept of special advisers is not new. We have three parties, and an office has been established for the leader of each party within that to ensure that the Government can get the programme for Government implemented. That is the origin of special advisers, which the Labour Party, to its credit, brought in when Dick Spring...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Advisers (15 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: He was the first to bring in a special office of the Tánaiste, which is what is happening on this occasion. I think it is important and it will happen into the future, of that I have no doubt. It happened in the previous Government, where Independent Ministers had special advisers. The concept and the numbers of special advisers are not new. As a three-party Government, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ministerial Advisers (15 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I think the Deputy fought hard for one eventually, particularly as a Minister. There will not be a school and advisers will be appointed to some Ministers of State.