Results 19,221-19,240 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Government has established ten Cabinet Committees with membership as set out in the table below. The Cabinet Committees on COVID-19; Economic Recovery and Investment; Housing; Health; Environment and Climate Change; Europe; and Government Co-ordination have all held meetings. The Committees on Social Affairs and Equality; Education; and Brexit and Northern Ireland are expected to hold...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Regional Aid (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: No grants were made under the EU Regional Aid Guidelines by my Department, or agencies under the remit of my Department, in the years in question.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Appointments to State Boards (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Future of Media Commission has been constituted as an independent body whose members have been appointed on the basis of their expertise in broadcast, print and online media. The composition of the Commission represents a balanced mix of experts in public service media, independent journalism, social media, new technology platforms, media economics, culture, language, creative content,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Offices (20 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: My Department takes active steps to support staff returning to the workplace from maternity leave. In line with Circular 31/06 Implementation of the Regulations of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004, staff returning to my Department from maternity leave who are breastfeeding are entitled to paid breaks from work (one hour per day), or reduced daily working time (one hour per...

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Financial Resolution No. 7: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: The statistics are there.

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Financial Resolution No. 7: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: They are independently done.

Financial Resolutions 2020 - Financial Resolution No. 7: General (Resumed) (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: Three and a half months ago, the new Government was formed at a unique moment in our history. The general election in February delivered the most diverse Dáil ever. It also demonstrated clearly the urgency of a range of critical social and economic issues. Little more than a month later, a pandemic began which has so far led to the deaths of 2,425 people on this island. The impact of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy agus aontaím léi. Níl aon amhras ach gurb í géarchéim na tithíochta an ghéarchéim is mó atá againn lasmuigh den choróinvíreas, mar gheall ar an easpa tithíochta do ghnáthmhuintir na tíre, agus go háirithe na daoine nach bhfuil aon tithe acu in aon chor. Bhí béim sa...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: Just because Deputy Connolly says we did not does not mean we did not. We did. I do not use language lightly. I have not been in Government for ten years. The housing assistance payment has been in place for about that length of time, maybe less. Dismantling HAP now, as the Deputy seems to be advocating, would immediately create homelessness. The housing assistance payment is a very...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his question and raising the matters relating to Waterford in particular. Any previous Government with which I was involved put much investment into Waterford. As a former Minister with responsibility for education, I know the land we purchased for Waterford Institute of Technology was essential to its growth. It has developed into a very fine institute of technology...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: Fairness is a valid ask. The programme for Government identifies and recognises Waterford as a regional city and investment must follow that designation. The recovery fund in the budget of €3.4 billion is over and above the Covid-19 contingency fund and it will provide opportunities for infrastructural development, reskilling and retraining, as well as supporting investment in jobs....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am interested in a resolution of this and I am not going to pretend that there will be an optimal solution. I do not want to take people up a hill and bring them back down again empty-handed. My assessment of this is that of course the workers have been treated very badly by the company. The company has gone into liquidation. It is in difficulty in the UK. As the Deputy knows, the UK...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: Mandate is the union that has been working on this. The Government will continue to engage with it-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I presume the shop stewards are part of the union. I do not know why the Deputy is making that demarcation. I will also engage with ICTU because this has wider implications. The Deputy is not correct in saying that because €1 million emerged from the process that €10 million can emerge from it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is wonderfully said, but it is not entirely grounded in reality. Certain people, the Deputy included, have created the idea that this can be solved easily knowing full well that it cannot, unfortunately. There has been much interaction on how to get this resolved. The Government does not instruct liquidators and is not in a position to do so, despite what the Deputy said consistently...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Government cannot instruct.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I appeal to the Deputy to do it cross-party. She is not doing it. She has come in attacking the Minister’s bona fides. The Minister wants to help. What he is doing is sensible and the right thing to do before the end of October. Does the Deputy not see that? I have no doubt the Minister will talk to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am not attacking the Deputy. I am just saying if the Deputy wants cross-party-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am not aggressive at all.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am simply saying the Deputy is wronging the Minister and not accepting his bona fides. I am sure the Minister would be more than willing to talk to the Deputy’s spokesperson and other spokespeople. In the final report of the commission, the section on the confidential committee will reproduce the anonymised testimony of each individual who appeared before it. While the testimony...