Results 19,521-19,540 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Advisers (29 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The persons employed in my Department as Special Advisers are detailed in the table. It should be noted that all appointments are subject to formal Government approval which I will seek in due course. Relevant contracts will be laid before the Oireachtas in due course also. All appointments will be made in line with the Public Service Management Act, 1997 Office...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: In my discussions with the First Minister and the deputy First Minister on the internal market Bill, my objective is to protect the interests of the citizens of this island in the context of the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union. Notwithstanding if somebody was pro-Brexit or pro-remain, everyone shares a pragmatic view that the least damage possible should...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: As I have said, I will relay the Deputy's points to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and I am sure the Deputy will also have opportunities to engage with the Minister on these issues. He is a positive individual whose basic objective is to try to bring people on this journey to a cleaner, healthier and better society by meeting our obligations on climate change because it is the existential crisis...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 8 together. Following my meeting with the Northern Ireland First Minister and deputy First Minister in Belfast on 16 July, I welcomed them and their colleagues in the multi-party Executive to Dublin for the 24th plenary meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council at Dublin Castle on Friday, 31 July, which I chaired. This was the first plenary...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for their questions. The heads of the climate action (amendment) Bill were approved by Cabinet this week and the legislation is at a fairly advanced stage of drafting. It is quite comprehensive. It will set a target to decarbonise the economy by 2050 at the latest and then make-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----the adoption of five-year carbon budgets setting maximum emissions by sectoral legal requirement. It will also establish the climate action council on an independent statutory footing and ensure greater gender balance and increased scientific experience and expertise in its membership. The objective is to have the Bill ready and published within 100 days, give or take a day or two. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Administrative Arrangements (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Deputies Kelly and McDonald asked about the Low Pay Commission. Sinn Féin and Deputy McDonald could take a leaf out of Deputy Kelly's book. Let us argue these issues in as non-political and non-partisan a way as we can. We are all in favour of looking after and doing the best we can for low-paid workers. The problem I see in the exchanges this morning is one party wants to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Administrative Arrangements (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have met quite a number of workers. The issue now is how we can try to bring a resolution to this matter and that is not easy.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 6, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on the environment and climate change was formally established by the Government on 6 July 2020 and had its first meeting on 30 July. It oversees the implementation of the programme for Government commitments in regard to the environment and climate change and receives detailed reports on identified...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: To which legislation is the Deputy referring?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Is it the climate change Bill?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thought the Deputy was talking about the sick pay legislation.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Administrative Arrangements (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. 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...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: That is in the Bill.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: What the Deputy just said does not tally. We are fundamentally changing the way appeals are being held by providing greater capacity to deal with the applications and appeals in a faster and speedier way. I say to both Deputies that the legislation is important and has been approved by Government. It is in the Seanad this week and will move through this House next week. People object...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I said previously in the House that I met the Minister for Education and Skills and the chief inspector and senior officials in the Department of Education and Skills. It is their absolute desire and commitment to have the normal leaving certificate that next year, that is, the normal written exams as well as other aspects of it. Obviously, Covid-19 will have some impact on, perhaps, some...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising that. It is a significant issue. I would like to engage further with him, the Minister for Health and others to see how that issue can be best addressed.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: In the plan that was published and launched last week, one of the clear objectives of the HSE was that there would be, at a minimum, one testing centre per county. That is a commitment from the HSE. The precise location is a matter for the HSE operationally. I do not get involved in deciding where a test centre goes, whether it is that town as opposed to another town or a particular...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: As a former Minister for Health, I have had a long-standing commitment to Bantry hospital and I put significant resources in at that time. We do not put into the programme for Government approval for every individual post at a particular hospital, such as anaesthesia, cardiac surgery or whatever. We are, however, mindful of the issue raised by the Deputy. Deputies O'Sullivan and Cairns...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (23 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am abiding by the Chair.