Results 19,361-19,380 of 50,453 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy says when in the context of her assertion as to when I had full knowledge and I disagree with her.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I had a number of discussions over the last while. Yesterday, following my meeting with Deputy Cowen - there were others during the week - I apprised both the Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, in terms of the outcome of my discussions with Deputy Cowen and also of the fact I had seen what I took to be the PULSE file yesterday morning. I gave them my view and my intentions, by...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: There are more Deputies in the House, Deputy.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the leaving certificate and the National Educational Psychological Service, it is important to point out that there have been significant reforms to the leaving certificate over the last 20 years with a greater reduction on the emphasis on written exams. That is a good thing. The benefit of the leaving certificate has been its anonymity, the fact that it is fair and that it...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy spoke to me before this session. It is very important project and one that has great potential for Waterford. I will pursue the issue. Notwithstanding that I am Taoiseach, it is not in my gift to instruct every Minister to provide every grant to every project. This is an important project with critical mass that can have knock-on benefits for the region. I will talk to the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am reluctant to intervene in such lyricism. The manner in which the Deputy can ream off wonderful phrases is something I genuinely enjoy. His point is well made. In respect of the plight of publicans in rural Ireland and the life experience of people more generally in terms of the impact of Covid-19, the overriding priority will be public health. Public health advice will be made...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed): Cabinet Committees (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will take Questions Nos. 1 to 3, inclusive, together. The Government has established the following Cabinet committees: Covid-19; economic recovery and investment; housing; health; environment and climate change; social affairs and equality; education; Europe; Brexit and Northern Ireland; and Government co-ordination. I am a member of all committees, along with the Tánaiste and the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: There has been comprehensive engagement by the Minister and the Department - the Minister in particular - with the stakeholders involved in education with a view to facilitating the reopening of schools at the end of August. It is something to which I am personally very committed. As I have said repeatedly in the House, the reopening of schools is important for the development of the child...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: It may interest the Deputy to know that I spoke to the Welsh First Minister last week. In Wales schools have been open for the past three weeks - they have a later session - and this has worked far better for them than they had anticipated. My understanding is that schools in Scotland will be reopening on 11 August. We are learning lessons from other countries.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will have to check that. I will get a written report back to the Deputy on it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Is Deputy Gould going to provide it?

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: This is a very serious issue. The broad area of alcohol and drug abuse, in particular the degree to which young people are targeted, is very serious indeed. We will be working on it. It has to be cross-cutting and cross-departmental to be effective, between the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Health, as well as youth services. That is something we will attend to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I presume that is on public health grounds. I will check out the situation. If the Deputy wishes to send a note to me on it I will follow it up and see what can be done.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: To be fair, the wage subsidy scheme has been of help to businesses across all sectors. Other measures have been taken to protect livelihoods as well. The July job stimulus programme will be of assistance for those in school transport in the general sense in terms of the range of supports that will be made available and opportunities to access funding. Of course the key enabler will be the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy. The public services need to do far more in terms of providing apprenticeships and opportunities, especially in the current crisis. They should provide opportunities for young people to avail of apprenticeships and internships. One thinks of the great role semi-state companies played in the past in terms of apprenticeship and training across the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: In principle, yes. This is an opportunity, particularly on the homelessness question, to drive down homelessness. The Deputy is correct in saying that it illustrates the impact short-term lettings have had on the availability of units and houses for people generally. We have to prioritise. I will certainly be speaking to the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government about...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The programme for Government has raised the prospect of moving to try to accelerate the national broadband plan. That is, however, something that must be followed through in some detail regarding engagement with the company concerning what is possible. I accept fully the point made by the Deputy regarding the poor quality of broadband in rural Ireland being a real inhibitor of economic...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: First, the Deputy made a statement earlier that was completely wrong and untrue. I did not collude with anybody regarding any legal action or any legal initiative. I respectfully suggest that the Deputy should not be making such loose allegations and assertions that are wholly without foundation.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: It comes easy to the Deputy's lips to throw innuendoes and accusations around the place.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is, however, out of order. Deputy Cowen took his own initiative regarding legal action to protect his name and reputation, as he saw it, and in respect of ascertaining his own personal data. I saw the PULSE detail yesterday morning for the first time and I also had a lengthy discussion with Deputy Cowen the evening before. I have already dealt with this issue in that respect. ...