Results 19,921-19,940 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Advisers (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 64 and 69 together. The persons employed by my Department as Special Advisers are detailed in the table below. It should be noted that all appointments are subject to formal Government approval and relevant contracts will be laid before the Oireachtas in due course. All appointments will be made in line with the Public Service Management Act, 1997. Both...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Communications (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I spoke with Prime Minister Morrison by telephone on the evening of 29 July, when he offered me congratulations on my appointment as Taoiseach. In our call we discussed the challenges posed by the COVID19 pandemic, and the steps we were both taking to deal with its health, social and economic consequences. We agreed the importance of cooperation in the international community to contain and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: State Claims Agency (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: There are currently no legal cases being handled by the State Claims Agency on behalf of the Department. From time to time the State Claims Agency handles legal costs on behalf of the Tribunal of Inquiry and Commissions of Investigation which are independent of the Department.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Office of the Attorney General (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together. Since the formation of the 33rd Dáil, the Office of the Attorney General has made two appointments to the grade of Advisory Counsel Grade III (provision of legal advice and advising on the conduct of litigation); one appointment to the grade of Assistant Parliamentary Counsel Grade II (drafting of legislation); one appointment to the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The following table lists the Cabinet Committee meetings held since July. Cabinet Committee Meeting Dates COVID-19 3 July 11 August Economic Recovery and Investment 8 July 15 July 21 July 2 September Housing 30 July Health 28 July Environment and Climate...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: My Department made one payment of €379.32 to the company in question in May 2016.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: In 2019, my Department paid for public information campaigns relating to Budgets 2019 and 2020, for public consultation notices for draft language schemes, and for the ‘Votail100’ commemorations. There was also expenditure for advertisements relating to the recruitment of Judges. The IBRC Commission, which is an independent statutory commission, contracted services to manage...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Offices (8 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: My Department does not have any civil service accommodation allocation outside Dublin city.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: We will continue to work on those issues. I take the sincerity of the Deputy's comments in regard to Debenhams, the workers of which we are continuing to engage with.

Nomination of Member of the Government: Motion (2 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I move: The Dáil Éireann approves the nomination by the Taoiseach of Deputy Charlie McConalogue for appointment by the President to be a member of the Government. It is my intention to assign to Deputy McConalogue the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. As the House will know, Deputy McConalogue's knowledge of this area is both broad and deep. A proud son of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The whole thrust of Government policy is not to punish; it is to support. Any objective analysis of Government interventions to date would have to accept that was the case. The level of State intervention is unprecedented, and rightly so, because it is an unprecedented global pandemic. Both schemes are being extended to April - that is the fact. The Deputy is talking about the rates....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government is not about punishing anyone and has not been from the outset of the pandemic. The key responses in terms of the pandemic unemployment payment and the wage subsidy scheme have, as I have said before, been unprecedented and significant and have supported a significant number of people. This week approximately €17.2 million...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I am very clear that we must have this engagement with the meat industry and with other sectors that are important and which create employment. The rights of workers in the meat industry need strengthening and I believe collective representation for those workers is important. That will form part of the Government's continuing engagement with the industry.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Of course I will visit the areas. I did not want to do so during the period of the severe restrictions but we were in touch with the chambers of commerce. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, the Tánaiste and others were in touch with affected people in the three counties and we will continue to engage with them. On the data hub, the Deputy heard...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Murphy for the series of questions raising very real concerns and issues relating to people from the Deputy's county, the impact of the lockdowns and the whole situation around high-risk areas such as meat plants, which to a large extent represented the perfect storm in the spread of the virus, and related issues. Again, the decision to intervene in the three counties by...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I have dealt with it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has a tendency to develop a melodramatic posture when he is addressing people from time to time.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has. The Government introduced the Covid-19 illness benefit. Some €330 is available per week to employed and self-employed workers. It is paid for two weeks where a person is medically certified as self-isolated, and can be extended for a further two weeks and for a maximum of ten weeks where a person is medically certified as being diagnosed with Covid-19. We extended...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: Hold on. Last month, the Government also approved the extension of Covid-19 illness benefit to the end of March 2021. It is important to note that the Covid-19 illness benefit payment and the pandemic unemployment payment are also available to people living in direct provision centres as well as to applicants for international protection who live in the community outside of the direct...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Sep 2020)

Micheál Martin: I know that. I accept the necessity to intervene here. We all agree on that. As I said to the Deputy, I will constructively engage with his legislation, which has more longer-term implications for the broader workforce.