Results 1-20 of 45,779 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: While there are always difficulties and challenges in every situation, including in the force, we need a bit of balance in our commentary. Everything is not "on the floor"; everything is not disastrous. The Government has increased the training allowance and has increased the age of entry to An Garda Síochána from 35 to 50. We want to grow the force to 15,000 members and beyond....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: It needs to recover, particularly due to the closure of Templemore during the Covid period.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is a whole background to that situation. It is not a snub.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: I do not see why, generally speaking, the Garda Commissioner would not be invited. Let us get back to normal.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: We can have disagreements but people should always maintain dialogue, should always engage, and the common courtesies of life should always apply, in my view.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not talking about the Minister. The Deputy knows why; he knows the background to it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will ask the Minister, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, to engage with the Irish Wheelchair Association, IWA. I am not fully au fait with the background to this. There was a settlement in respect of the section 39 workers. An agreement was reached last October, which resulted in an 8% increase in pay to be delivered in three phases. There might be other background decisions, but it is a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: One of the factors here is the resignation of a consultant.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: I mean that is the fundamental issue. Is it the case that this consultant was responsible for endocrinology retired? Is that what happened?

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that the HSE-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: What we need to do is engage with the HSE, in the first instance. We can write to the Taoiseach of the day but it will go back down the chain. The Minister for Health has to deal with it, as does the HSE within the broader programme on diabetes generally. There there has been substantial increased investment in LUH over the past number of years with increases in staff and so on. I will...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue, which he has raised consistently, with other Deputies, particularly all the public representatives in Cavan-Monaghan. Approximately €3 billion has been allocated to regional and local roads to date by the Government. A total of €658 million has been allocated this year, which is an increase of €32 million over last year. Of...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: This is a novel proposal. I understand the challenges. It is shocking when boil water notices are the order of the day in certain localities. I will discuss this with the relevant Minister, although I can see challenges to it and precedents and so forth being established.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: I commend the Deputy on her dexterous use of the time available to her to include two issues. On the diabetes question, clinical nurse specialists are essential so I will check with the HSE on the replacement of those clinical nurse specialists for children with diabetes. The Deputy is correct that their advice is required for proper use of insulin pumps, which are essential. The Deputy...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: The school building programme is at record levels. This year, the Minister has again secured substantial additional funding to try to progress a range of projects across the programme. I will certainly raise the specific case. Site acquisition can often be the slowest part of any school project. I will talk to the Minister in this regard.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: Legislation has to come back here anyway.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: It has now transpired in the Brooklodge case that no application was made to the Department by the school in respect of a new special class. The NCSE has sanctioned an ASD class but my understanding is that an application was never made or had not been made up to the weekend, although an application is going in urgently now. I do not think it is fair to the Minister to say that the Minister...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: No application was made. We need to all agree on the facts of any given case. We will do everything we can to help. Broadly speaking, provision has been made for about 2,700 new special education places.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will follow up on that.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have been a long-standing advocate for and supporter of minor injuries units. I do not know the background as to why we do not have a minor injuries unit in Galway. Is it to do with the configuration of Merlin Park and other hospital projects getting ahead of it?