Results 18,941-18,960 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am not talking about NASRA in that context. I am just speaking generally. That is why ICTU's position has validity. The reason I respect ICTU's position on this is because ultimately it has resulted in significant advances in society as well, through a whole range of its own activities and how it has pursued pay and pension issues but also wider social justice issues. That has to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: First, I am a strong believer in social dialogue and I am working with our social partners on the challenges facing society in areas such as housing, climate, education and health services. That is something that I want to strengthen during my time as Taoiseach. These issues concerning how we could strengthen social partnership in the future were explored in the recent meeting we had with...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: In the past decade or so, the State has opened up in an unprecedented way on many issues. I initiated the inquiry into the industrial schools as Minister for Education. Many people did not expect that would happen. I was the first to do it despite many survivors having gone to successive Governments before that without any satisfaction. Likewise, we introduced and started inquiries into...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I want to finally say that I want to work with Members of the House on this. I am committed to having a centre which will tell the story and give people access. The Government is on the side of giving as much access as we possibly can and applying GDPR to the optimal extent to vindicate the rights of access to information of survivors of these institutions. I accept people to accept our...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Government recognises the importance of regular and open engagement with all sectors of society. This is particularly important as we steer our way out of the pandemic, rebuild our economy, and support communities that have been severely impacted by Covid-19. As committed to in the programme for Government, a social dialogue unit has been established within the economic division of my...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Following discussion of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes on 28 October last, the Government issued a statement on the matters of recent public concern and the next steps proposed by the Government. The statement sets out that the Government acknowledges and regrets the genuine hurt felt by many people across Irish society. It is determined to take the necessary...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: On the issues raised by the Deputies, in the budget, unprecedented levels of resources are being targeted at the homelessness issue. My sympathies do go out to the families and all those connected to those who have died, and especially the people who were homeless who passed away in recent times and over recent weeks. Our focus and priority is homelessness and the prevention of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue on behalf of that young girl. I will certainly do what I can on this matter. I will engage with the HSE and the Minister for Health. I know the Deputy has sent the details to the Minister for Health, so I will pursue this issue with him. This concerns the procurement of medicinal cannabis and the associated cost, and I will pursue this issue.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Governments are constrained by the law and by the courts. This Government has taken urgent action and we have passed an Act in this regard. We know there have been serial objections to every felling licence application. I think that is wrong and inappropriate, and also, in its own way, brings the planning processes into disrepute. The forestry industry is an important one which creates...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I was at a meeting during the week of the Cabinet subcommittee on social affairs and equality which dealt with the area of mental health. The Minister for State, Deputy Butler, give a comprehensive presentation. One of the issues discussed was the need to continue to strengthen CAMHS, which has been improving in the area of dealing with waiting lists. The south east, in particular,...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government waived commercial rates on such businesses for all of this year, and we have also introduced an unprecedented set of measures to support businesses during this global pandemic. These are difficult circumstances indeed for such businesses, particularly when we are in level 5. I refer to the high level of restrictions in place as a result of moving...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. The housing, infrastructure and digital unit is part of the broader economic division of my Department. The unit assists me and the Government in developing and implementing policy across relevant areas. This work is focused in particular on delivering commitments in the programme for Government, co-ordinating issues which cut...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The first obligation of a Government, the health services and public health authorities is to protect people's lives and health. That is why the very difficult measures that apply to nursing homes, and particularly visits to such homes, have been introduced. That said, there have been various innovative mechanisms found to try to deal with the isolation described by the Deputy. In...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Substantial additional funding was provided in the budget to deal with approval of new medicines, but there are procedures through which those medicines must be approved. That is enshrined in legislation that was passed by these Houses. Those procedures must be followed. We will keep a very close eye on this and ensure these matters are...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Level 5 does not ban trade in any particular commodity but it places restrictions on where the trade can occur. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter for an important sector, and it is a significant industry over the Christmas period. The objective is to get to the end of November and leave level 5, and that would give us greater flexibility for the remainder of December with respect to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will engage with the HSE and see what the updated position is on the facility.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy and have a particular interest in the topic. Animal welfare is a priority of the Government. The legislation needs strengthening and the Government has committed to doing this to ensure best practice, particularly in ensuring the very best welfare for animals. We will keep an eye on that.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the word "shortly"-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am of the view that the general data protection regulation, GDPR, applies to requests for access to personal data. This is also the view of the Attorney General. I was involved in the establishment of the Ryan commission, which was then the Laffoy commission. As Minister for Education and Science at the time, I opened all of the files to historians at the time and gave them access.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I know. I am going to come to that. I have no interest in any records being put into a vault to which no one has access and left there for a long time. As a Government, we have decided to establish a national centre in which the archives of the industrial schools, Magdalen laundries and mother and baby homes will be held. It will not only be an archive. We will try to be creative. This...