Dáil debates

Tuesday, 30 November 2021

Ceisteanna - Questions

Programme for Government

4:45 pm

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I remind Deputies that the original question was about the programme for Government. The key elements of that programme have been groundbreaking and significantly developed. Delivering Housing for All is the biggest State investment in housing in the country's history. I suggest that Deputy Cian O'Callaghan refer to the Minister with the specifics because the Minister is adamant that the local issue does not arise anymore and the accommodation should be provided.

We have confronted and responded to the climate and biodiversity crisis. Other parties have not; they are playing politics with it. The Government has decided to go for it and has passed the law and passed the climate action plan and the carbon budgets. We need those who are against the climate and almost in denial about the climate to come on board, because this has to be an Oireachtas approach.

Managing the country's safety through the Covid pandemic has been a significant achievement of the Government so far. We have rolled out one of the most successful vaccine programmes globally. We have plotted the country's social and economic recovery, which has been significant since the spring, with unprecedented direct financial supports and Ireland's largest ever capital investment programme in the national development plan. We are also developing and delivering the most significant initiative on North-South relations in decades through the shared island initiative. We are embedding health reform in the lessons learned from Covid-19.

In respect of bespoke measures for the entertainment and music sector, the Minister has announced some schemes. We will continue to work on that and the Government will keep it under review in terms of more bespoke models to support those who may still be under pressure in the current situation.

Regarding peat, let me be clear that the Government cannot break the law and cannot advocate breaking the law.

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