Catherine Martin (Dublin Rathdown, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Throughout the past two and a half years, this coalition Government has faced a confluence of crises and challenges never seen before. They included a pandemic that closed the country down, a cost-of-living crisis fuelled by inflation and a war on the footsteps of our Continent that threatens world peace. At each juncture, the Government has not been found wanting in responding to the needs of communities, families and businesses.

My Department supported tourism throughout the Covid-19 pandemic with generous grants and funding. We are providing 2,000 artists with a weekly income of €325 as part of our landmark basic income for the arts pilot. Another groundbreaking measure is the move to reduce harmful online content and make our children safer online, with a new online safety commissioner and the regulation of online services. The new regulator is now up and running, with real powers to sanction and targeted interventions to end the era of self-regulation.

The Government has also addressed the spiralling cost of living for communities. The Green Party in government secured a 25% average reduction in childcare costs. We introduced energy supports for businesses and households, kept VAT low for the tourism sector and targeted those most vulnerable and in need of help.

Further ways to protect the environment, the nature around us and our own future have also been progressed by this coalition Government. Crucially, we passed legally binding climate laws to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. We added further onshore generation in 2022 that is already powering 350,000 homes per annum. The planning for seven large offshore wind farms has begun. The Government is on track to deliver more renewable energy than have all previous Governments. The Green Party in government secured a sixfold increase in investment in cycling and water infrastructure, resulting in a significant number of new greenways and cycle lanes. There has been a 20% cut in public transport fares and a further 50% cut for young people, which was the first such reduction in almost three quarters of a century.

I have progressed new cultural, sports and Irish language supports. Agus mé i m'Aire Turasóireachta, Cultúir, Ealaíon, Gaeltachta, Spóirt agus Meán, is é an rud is tábhachtaí dom ná cluas a thabhairt ar riachtanais na teanga sna ceantair Ghaeltachta agus fud fad na hÉireann. Sa cháinaisnéis i mbliana, tá leithdháileadh suntasach speisialta tugtha do TG4 ar mhaithe le cainéal úrnua do pháistí amháin a chur ar fáil. Beidh an cainéal nua seo seolta i mbliana. Feictear dom go bhfuil dualgas orm, ní hamháin mar Aire, ach mar thuismitheoir, an Ghaeilge a chaomhnú do pháistí na tíre.

I have ensured, following the Covid crisis, that new life is injected back into our nighttime culture through later openings, more diverse offerings and cross-Department reforms of the antiquated alcohol licensing system.

See this speech in context