Results 1,941-1,960 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: I know, but it is not the Government's fault that we lost. The previous Government had decided-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the policy. I was going to make the point that because of the High Court decision, the Department said it had to be exhaustive in terms of the second consultation to make sure that it would not fall foul of another court decision in the time ahead if someone challenged it. It was concluded last summer. The consultation is over now. My view now is that we need to move ahead...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions No. 1 to 11, inclusive, together. The Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland’s Future, recognises the importance of Cabinet committees to the policy development and oversight work of Government and commits to the establishment of a reformed structure of Cabinet committees. The Government followed through on that commitment, part of which was...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: Fundamentally, it is about recruitment and retention. What is the name of the service?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy outlined the situation. One person is on maternity leave - I will check with the HSE about that because there should be a locum operating in that role - and another has left. The recruitment and retention of therapists has been a real issue for the HSE. There have been additional resources provided. Progress is slow. Approximately 272 extra whole-time equivalent staff were...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy 100%. He articulated very well the importance of St. Patrick's week in the US, particularly in regard to solidarity with our significant diaspora there. The diaspora really values the engagement with Ireland. It is important in terms of the undocumented. The link with Senators and Congressmen and Congresswomen is extremely important in terms of looking out for the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: The economic relationship is enormous. Many thousands of Irish livelihoods and Irish workers depend on the economic relationship between the United States and Ireland. That needs to be said. It has been taken too much for granted. Hence the need for a very proactive engagement for the entirety of St. Patrick’s week across the length and breadth of the US.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising an important matter. As he will know, along with him and others, I have been a champion of an elective site being built on this site. I am also supportive of the project relating to an elective hospital for Galway. The HSE tends to have rather lengthy processes, particularly in terms of getting to the stage of tendering for a project of this scale. My...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will accept that the Government has invested heavily in the Dundalk area over many years.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: It has also invested in Drogheda, and progressively, as the Deputy said. I do not have the background to the meeting next Monday. However, I will check with the Minister regarding the up-to-date position.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: The scheme is being examined by the Ministers for housing and public expenditure. As I said earlier, there will be clarity on this next week, when I expect an announcement in respect of the scheme.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: The prime focus has to be on tenants, not necessarily on landlords. We just had a debate about value for money and waste. However, when a Minister is taking a few weeks - I am not saying Deputy O'Dea is saying this; I am just saying it to the Opposition - to see whether the scheme can be retargeted or fine tuned in order to make it more targeted for vulnerable and needy people, there are...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: The tenant in situ scheme has been effective and impactful, certainly last year and the year before.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Minister is looking to target that scheme more effectively, particularly for people who are very vulnerable. We will have clarity next week on the situation for the remainder of this year.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: I addressed this earlier. I make the point that as a percentage of the overall population, the number of children with special and additional needs is increasing fairly significantly. For example, in 2018, about 42,000 children benefited from domiciliary care allowance. That has risen to 64,500 in a short number of years. We need to provide additional spaces in this regard. Officials...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The decision by New Look is a devastating blow for the workers in the first instance. We will do everything we can, through the Government agencies, to see if we can secure alternative employment for those workers. Clonmel is a fine and very attractive town, and a significant hub in the region. I will talk to the Minister about a timeline for call...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: My clear belief is that there is a constitutional right for every child to have a school place and an education. I met yesterday with eight Ministers to discuss the establishment of a disability unit within the Department of An Taoiseach. There has been and there will continue to be significant investment in special education, particularly in the context of additional special schools and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: The people who elected their TDs-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: With respect, a Cheann Comhairle, I have had to listen for five or six minutes-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Feb 2025)

Micheál Martin: I want to make a point. The people have elected TDs-----