Results 581-600 of 51,735 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: If we are honest, and rightly so, successive governments in the past had to introduce drink driving laws and all of that, all of which reduced capacity for people to get to the pub at night. There are lots of factors and behaviour has changed as well.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: I would recommend a good, long-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: I will not, so, or I will get into trouble.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: First, I thank the Deputy for his comment. I think it is a very fair point in terms of the need for a forward planning unit in the Department of children. There is one now to identify the gaps and the needs of a growing population for childcare services. It will be resourced. It has been a success and impactful in the Department of education relative to the situation prior to that, when...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this. It is an issue, and as newer technologies emerge, we are getting more crowded road space again. Just as we have begun to segregate cycling and walking from motor transport, we now find that some of those routes are crowded out by e-scooters and e-bikes, which are fantastic for people who may not be as fit as others for getting up a hill and so on. There...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: Which one?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: I will ask the Minister in respect of this and indicate that the Deputy raised it, although I am not clear from the Deputy's presentation as to why it is still in preplanning or whether there were particular difficulties with the planning.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: I will talk to the Minister in respect of it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: First of all, there is a comprehensive European Union legislative framework in place to regulate safe drone operations that is directly applicable in Ireland. I made this point last week in the Dáil. These regulations cover both recreational and commercial use, including commercial drone delivery services. The Irish Aviation Authority, the civil aviation regulator, oversees the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: Did the Minister, James Lawless, not dig a sod in the technological university just a couple of weeks ago for a new engineering block worth about €120 million?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: By the way, I was the Minister who secured the site for that university-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----in terms of a new site to get it developed, and it has been a very great success story. The URDF funding was very significant for Waterford as well, and that should be acknowledged.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy, unfortunately, and his party engage continually in the politics of slogans, not action. We are taking action. The Deputy mentioned two; we have taken about 15 actions since the beginning of this Government in relation to housing alone and will continue to take action on housing. There will be housing types of different size. By definition, that is okay. They will not be dark...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: There are sensible provisions. Different people look for different types of accommodation at different stages of their lives.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: We will build, predominantly, more houses. We need more apartments. We need more-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----private sector investment. The Deputy does not want any private sector investment, it seems.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy just attacked the funds.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy does not want funds in, for example. I would love to know how the Social Democrats would get to 300,000. How is it going to get the 50,000?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Social Democrats have not. That is not going to give what we need.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy knows, the pay issue was resolved. There was a full and final settlement with Fórsa in terms of school secretaries. They play an essential and very important role in terms of the organisation and smooth administration of schools. Dialogue is the best way to deal with these issues. The Department officials are fully open to engaging with Fórsa to try to reach a...