Results 441-460 of 51,735 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: In any event, I will ask the Minister for education to talk to the Deputy in respect of it.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: That was the subject of a debate in the Seanad recently. The Government has an open mind on this. I will give consideration to it but there is a time lead into this and so forth.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: There is a broad range of factors. Ireland is late to the phenomenon described by the Deputy in many respects because we would have had the highest birth rate across Europe, and still do, is my understanding, or we have one of the highest. Nonetheless, the Deputy's point merits broader reflection in terms of the society we organise, how society is organised and supported, and challenges in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: Is it the two wind farms?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: Are all of them causing concern?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: I will say something at the outset in a broader sense. The Government does not develop wind farms. The Government does not develop solar farms. The prospect of doing that would involve a multibillion euro speculative kind of investment by the State, so they are privately led. The fundamental difference between us in terms of economic philosophy is that I believe there has to be a private...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. There is a lot of merit in what he is saying. The Government is endeavouring to develop greater flexibilities for people in rural Ireland in particular. I understand guidelines are under consideration in that respect to enable people to build their own homes. With the vacant grants and the grants to restore derelict houses, we have facilitated...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: AI is an enormous issue of enormous consequence for the future of Ireland and the future of the world in terms of economy and society. Its impact will be as significant as the industrial revolution of the 19th century. I spoke to the Minister of State, Niamh Smyth, on this after the committee meeting. Certainly, we will give consideration to this. I did attend the AI summit in Paris....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy. I do not have the details of the individual case. The model of general allocation is one that was favoured by school bodies and principals when it was originally introduced, giving more flexibility to schools to deal with the numbers of children they may have in respect of additional needs. I introduced the SNA system back in the late nineties when I was Minister for...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Crowe for raising this issue. The National Council for Special Education, I understand, has advised that Sixmilebridge national school has resubmitted a previous special needs assistant review request, which now includes additional new junior infants due to start in September 2025. The NCSE has confirmed that the SNA review will be completed and the outcome notified to the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Minister moved early in terms of the national planning framework and the follow-through on that is a circular to all local authorities on zoning and to get more land zoned for residential use. That is absolutely vital and we expect every executive and every county council to follow through on that and to zone more land because that will be essential for the level of housing we require in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is very strongly supportive of the Common Agricultural Policy. The EU Commission will publish the multi-annual financial framework proposals later today. This is only the beginning of a long process. The Presidency that Ireland will hold in the latter half of 2026 will be important in the context of finalising issues around the multi-annual financial framework. There is a long...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----then their livelihoods will go down. I do not understand Sinn Féin's position of opposition to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, particularly as it would damage Irish farming.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: First, Cork is quite happy to accept the underdog label-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----that the Deputy has clearly ascribed to us. I would never have the degree of confidence he would have. We are humble people.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: In respect of the cost of living, fundamentally, since Covid and the war in Ukraine, there has been volatility, uncertainty and turbulence in world markets. Supply chains have been disrupted. That has been a factor in the very high inflation we experienced in the immediate aftermath of Covid and during the energy crisis caused by the war and the Russian invasion. One of the problems now is...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----that have to be addressed.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: That is a bizarre assertion.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: What the Deputy said about forestry.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Government has not turned anything into anything.