Results 19,001-19,020 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: To start with Deputy Kelly's questions, the Department of the Taoiseach has not brought in additional staff to deal with Covid-19, as I stated in my reply. It has reprioritised and reallocated work within the Department, as senior members of the Department have been dealing with it on a consistent basis since the outbreak of the pandemic early in the year. The judgment call was that it was...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I last reported to the House on this matter on 23 September 2020 and since then I have continued to be in regular contact with First Minister Arlene Foster and deputy First Minister Michelle O'Neill. I spoke to the First Minister and deputy First Minister on the evening of Friday, 16 October, when we discussed the evolving Covid-19 position. Prior to that I had a videoconference with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I should have included the North-South Ministerial Council and my visit to the North on two occasions when I formally met with the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. My Department continues to play a central role in co-ordinating the State's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. To date this work has been carried out from within my existing staff cohort, although this has involved significant reallocation and re-prioritisation of work within the Department. This work is co-ordinated through...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Staff (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: We have answered that question.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I do not think that is the basis on which I should respond.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I would like to make a final point, if I may. We all enjoy, and engage in, the cut and thrust of parliamentary debate. There was nothing untoward or unparliamentary in what I said. I made a debating point and it was an important point from a policy perspective.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: People say things about me and I accept them in the full spirit in which they are given in parliamentary exchange and debate. What I said was not a slur, smear or aspersion on anybody's character. My comment was about policy. I was speaking to the policy of this issue.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I do not think the Deputy's overly melodramatic response is sincere.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I do not have the specific details of the particular cases. If the Deputy sends them to me and to my office, we will see what we can do to engage with the Minister on that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: The entire issue is around moving to level 5. That means reducing congregation and travelling outside 5 km for anything.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: How does the Deputy know they are staying within 5 km?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: You made your point. You made a very pertinent comment.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Through the Chair, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae made a very pertinent comment. He said that if I am to go on making myself unpopular with all these groups, I should continue. This is not a perpetual popularity contest that I am engaged in.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: Covid is not popular and Covid-19 restrictions are not popular but Deputy Healy-Rae has been against every restriction from the get go.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: You have.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: You have and you are not playing your fair share on this. You stand up here every week objecting to this, that and the other. NPHET advised that we go to level 5.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: I understand the challenges that people face-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----in relation to level 5.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (3 Nov 2020)

Micheál Martin: We are advised by NPHET on level 5. The restrictions apply to a range of sectors and groups. It is difficult for people but if one concedes one thing, then one concedes two, three, four, five or six things and then there is no level 5 and we do not reduce the case numbers down to where we would like. It is not something we want to do-----