Results 121-140 of 46,047 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Through the Chair, two or three years ago there was a lot of concern in the House about backlogs and delays in getting passports. The speed at which one can get passports today online is quite dramatic. It is tremendous all round. More staff have been recruited and we continue to do this. It is a good service and it is responding well. When there are individual problems it equally...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The real issue with passports is that we work with people and we can just get the procedures correct but there is always a security dimension. We have it in other debates in the House on other issues, where people are condemning the Government for the absence of security dimensions.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is an issue with disability services and CDNT teams. My view is that the progressing disability programme has not worked. The progressing disability policy was announced in 2013 and it simply has not worked and we need to change it. I have been working with the HSE and various education and equality bodies. Parents and children cannot wait any longer. This should not impede the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I cannot talk about an individual case but from what I understand, the position in this particular case is that the person in question sought international protection in Ireland and inquiries identified he had previously been an applicant in the United Kingdom. Under the arrangement in place since 2020 the United Kingdom agreed to accept his return and also advised that he had been convicted...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Justice has asked for a review of the case to be carried out.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: From what I have been presented with, it seems there has been a very serious lapse in regard to this case.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: What the Deputy is presenting is ridiculous. It should be resolved between the two State agencies. The Deputy has said the county council and Uisce Éireann have an issue. They should sort it. With the greatest respect to everybody, there are people on the ground working with the two agencies. For God's sake would they go away and get it done. That is all I would say. I am not...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: While the Deputy cannot be calling everyone a joke, this needs to be resolved.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I agree that it should be resolved. We need to be clear also that those responsible on the ground should do their job.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I support absolutely the recruitment of further bus drivers. I believe the NTA is before the Committee of Public Accounts today and as much pressure as possible should be brought to bear. We are in a full employment era, which means many agencies have challenges with recruitment. Certainly we will be very supportive of this.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy must know that the Government has invested hugely in Knocknaheeny in terms of the regeneration programme, house building and education and it will continue to do so. Likewise, house building in Cork is strong. CBL is the methodology by which people want to choose a particular house in a given location. We have dramatically increased social house building and the Deputy should...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have already answered. There are enforcements. The RTB is taking action and has sanctioned landlords in respect of breaches. Some 77% of the breaches were in respect of the rent pressure zones. Supply is the key. People can pluck figures out of anywhere but real targets have to take in a number of factors. We know that this year we should be a position to build 33,000 or 34,000...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----which most political parties seem to be adept at doing this right now. We need to be real and be honest with people. Yes, we need to increase supply but unfortunately, I have seen very little policy on increasing supply from anybody in the Opposition.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am listening.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I was amused by the Deputy's commentary. I apologise if he found that a bit disconcerting. You could not make it up really; a left-wing Deputy like himself invoking the right-wing Tory press to attack the Irish Government and the Deputy is taking The Daily Telegraph seriously. There are local elections today in Britain. The Deputy talks about a PR boom-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: We will see by the end of the night whether it has been a PR boon or not. There is no one at any border. There are no checkpoints at the Border. I remember when I met a former British Prime Minister in my time as Taoiseach. There were blazing headlines across the British press, saying the frigates are going to France. Does anyone remember that headline? Can the Deputies not stand back...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am familiar with the issue. A number of bodies are involved in this. The Deputy mentioned the HSE and CUH. University College Cork has priorities in respect of a range of capital investments, involving the Cork University Business School, CUBS, building, the Tyndall National Institute and others, including the dental school. It is regrettable that given the prioritisation of the dental...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Is the Deputy suggesting taking the Garda out of the process of vetting passports? Is she suggesting that we take out the security dimension that is essential to passports?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: In a passport?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: No - to evacuate Irish citizens safely.