Results 561-580 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: The cost of congestion in Galway is particularly high and the failure to get the ring road system through has been a significant contributing factor to this. It is currently with An Bord Pleanála but we need that ring road developed, and parallel with that, investment in public transport. There is investment under way in public transport in Galway both rail and through the NTA but I...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Government does fulfil its legal obligations. In respect of aviation, there are international conventions that the Government and all other governments have to adhere to regarding inspections or state flights as opposed to commercial flights. The Government is adhering to and observing those obligations. I have not seen the Deputy's letter to the Attorney General. If it is okay, I...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: I presume the Deputy has approached the HSE on the matter. If she could forward the details to me or the Minister for Health, I will certainly follow it up with the Minister and HSE. Was it a private practice?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: The public health service has some remit there-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: ----- and the HSE would too.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: There is a set procedure for how protected closures are dealt with. I am not familiar with the full details of this case. I do not know whether the Deputy has raised it with the-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: With the Ministers for justice. That is fine.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: I cannot intervene in every case, but I will ask the Minister for justice for his perspective on this to see what the situation is and what help can be given.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: Increasingly, Deputy McDonald's use of language-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----is lacking any credibility. We have words like "botched", "made a bags of" and "astonishing". There is nothing astonishing about it. I pay tribute to the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, who has handled this very well. Approximately €29 billion was invested and €29 billion has been recovered. We have a fully functioning bank. Europe-wise, legislation and the regulatory...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: Where is the Bill at the moment?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: You are proposing to introduce it. We will certainly examine it and look at it positively. We believe that the religious orders, first and foremost, should be accountable and contribute redress, even though this will never compensate for the appalling abuse inflicted on any individual or group of persons. Compensation or redress can never do so, but they constitute an aspect of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: Absolutely, funding and reform. The funding will be made available through the national development plan. The issue will be whether we can get societal buy-in to a lot of the required infrastructure. That is the big issue. The Deputy mentioned the ring road in Galway. His former colleagues in the Green Party were very much against roads. That is just a fact; that is their political...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: I think we have had too simplistic a debate on roads from those on the environmental pillar who see roads as just a total non-starter. We need better debate around these issues because they can also have beneficial environmental impacts.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----and wanted to get rid of the help to buy scheme. It wants to get rid of those two schemes for first-time buyers. In addition, we have produced very significant grant support for people who want to renovate and live in a derelict house, for example, or in a vacant house. This is not investor led. This is people-led investment and support that we as a Government have introduced and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: First of all, "Yes" is the answer. We will. Utilities need certainty. Utilities can be a great enabler of both housing and infrastructure. The national development plan will reflect the prioritisation of water in particular, expansion of the grid and public transport along with road infrastructure. The Minister, Jack Chambers, has established an infrastructure division within the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: I reject the use of language like "chaotic" and all that. It is a good sound bite, but that is all it is - a sound bite with no substance behind it. The bottom line is that the reforms announced last week will enhance protections. The Deputy says it will drive up rents. Every existing tenant will have their rent capped at 2%. There will be no increase. Does the Deputy acknowledge that?...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: There is no real detailed teasing out of issues or discussion of issues in here on Leaders' Questions - it is get up and have a go. The Deputy mentioned the proposal around the SSIA, a savings and investments scheme. She must acknowledge that it would take some years before the necessary funds would be available. The State itself is investing hugely with about €6.8 billion in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Government's focus has been on housing supply. The Government has dramatically increased the level of public sector investment. We had record numbers of social houses built in the last four years. One would need to go as far back as 1975 to get an equivalent level of social housing built.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jun 2025)

Micheál Martin: We have built up to 36,000 social houses since.