Results 19,561-19,580 of 50,453 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: -----but public safety comes first. There should be capacity to deal with the Shannon Heritage sites, particularly since we are encouraging people to holiday at home - staycation and so forth. Therefore, I would have thought quite a number of facilities can be made available for people to enjoy, as the Deputy outlined.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Historically, broadband has been underprovided in rural areas. That said, the programme for Government is committed to rolling out the national broadband contract as agreed by the previous Government. The indications are that the company may be in a position to accelerate some dimensions of that plan. The objective is to get broadband rolled out as quickly as possible. The Minister will...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: This morning's statement by the Central Bank Governor is very revealing and important, and will have to inform future interactions with the pillar banks. I understand the Minister for Finance will be assessing that statement of the Governor of the Central Bank and will determine policy after that in terms of his interaction with the banks.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. Since we raised this issue the last time, the outgoing Taoiseach outlined that there would be a redesign or a review of the redress scheme and that it would be changed. That work is under way. I understand that since the judge's determination at the time and the review, offers of compensation have been made to 13 survivors as a result of that...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The relevant Ministers for Transport, Tourism and Sport, and Housing, Planning and Local Government-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government has a clear role and responsibility here. Obviously, he will examine this now as the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government. Certainly, we will see what we can do on it. I will not make any off-the-cuff commitments today. Given the opportunity to increase the building of housing, it is obviously something we will look at...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am of a view that parents should not have to go to court to get the most basic rights for their children. There have been issues ever since that Act was introduced in 2005. I understand that some sections of that Act remain to be commenced regarding children with special needs. The allocation of resources in education does not always depend on that assessment of need having taken place...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has helpfully highlighted the anomaly and asked for it to be addressed and resolved. From what he is saying here, it would make sense to do so but I will have to defer to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in this regard to take the necessary measures to deal with the anomaly.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: As I said earlier, the Ministers with responsibility for various aspects of this are engaging about the matter. It is somewhat more complex than has been presented, with regard to both policy and legal implications. I appreciate that there is a time issue. The Government will come back with a response as soon as possible.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: The legal framework relating to the experience of Debenhams workers and the behaviour of the company involved will be examined. The Deputy said that consultation has to be meaningful and it does have to be meaningful. We will look at the other aspects that the Deputy highlighted, such as full access to the books and all relevant material for workers concerned, as the Deputy articulated.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: All efforts will be made to avoid a no-deal Brexit. The situation with negotiations between the European Union and British Government is difficult. I spoke to the British Prime Minister and we both agreed that there was a need to comprehensively deal with the issue in a way that would involve a comprehensive free trade agreement and would be of benefit to Europe, the United Kingdom and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I share the Deputy's distress and concern about this situation. I would like if he could forward to me the example of the schools or the cohort of students in question. This year's July provision has been expanded significantly compared with previous years, including school-based provision, home-based provision and the extension and expansion of DEIS schools. Yesterday the Minister for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Again, I am not going to raise expectations that one cannot deliver on in terms of interfering in the liquidation process or making interventions that could not be legally sustained. For the existing workforce, the liquidation process and how we can leverage the remaining assets to secure the rights of workers is a challenging and complex issue, as the Deputy knows deep down. I accept his...

Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I beg leave to announce, for the information of the House that after I had informed the President that Dáil Éireann had approved my nomination of Deputies to be members of the Government, the President on 27 June 2020 appointed them accordingly; that, on the same date, I nominated Deputy Leo Varadkar to be the Tánaiste and assigned the Department of Business, Enterprise and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Debenhams has treated the workers very poorly and in a very shabby way and it is wrong to do so. The Deputy is correct that the company has availed of the legal framework within the Companies Act in regard to insolvencies, winding-up and so on, to leave the workers extremely short. The State will have to do its bit to provide, within the legal framework, what it can in terms of statutory...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: On the specific response to the issue of the temporary assistance payment and the funding issue, we have to accept that when a global pandemic of this scale emerges, which is once in a hundred years, lessons have to be learned from it. There should be comprehensive reviews of everything that took place, but with a view to learning lessons and not trying to damn people or apportion particular...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I empathise with much of the Deputy's comments about the challenges that faced the nursing home sector at the outset of Covid-19. I do not believe it was adequately prepared at that time to cope with the pandemic. Much has been learned since. The expert panel has been set up by the previous Minister and I understand it should report within the next fortnight. It will be an important basis...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: Again, the Covid figure is the one I take as my yardstick in terms of the unemployment rate and the reality of the situation for many people. Of course, in the context of those supports, the jobs stimulus programme will focus on that area and on the wage subsidy scheme, which has protected thousands of jobs. We can get into all sorts of statistics, but it remains unclear how many companies...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Jul 2020)

Micheál Martin: I do not accept the Deputy's analysis of the first week of the Government. He can talk about internal party issues pertaining to certain individuals but my focus has been unwavering since I was elected Taoiseach. That focus has been on policy and substance from the beginning. We have an extensive legislative programme for this month, as the Business Committee is well aware. I would say...