Results 33,861-33,880 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Sinn Féin has opposed every single measure that this Government has taken to provide affordable housing to people and it did likewise in previous years.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government has this year committed to 12,750 new social homes, 9,500 of which will be direct builds. That is a commitment that the Deputy continues to ignore. That is at maximum and it was before the three months of Covid-19 restrictions on the construction industry came in. That is the point. I note the Deputy's reply. Is she saying that private builders have no role at all?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy seemed to be saying that. I have no idea what her view is of private house building.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I do not know whether the Deputy thinks small builders should be facilitated to build homes.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Sinn Féin seems to be objecting to housing project after housing project for a variety of reasons, perhaps just to mess up the whole thing and prevent success. In terms of the investment funds-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----the Ministers for Finance and Housing, Local Government and Heritage are going to deal with the issue and will be bringing proposals to the Government in respect of the situation.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: We do not want investment funds competing with first-time buyers and certainly not buying up housing estates. We oppose that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: As I have said, in previous eras the banks provided finance to the construction industry. The Government is now providing the bulk of housing activity through its funding mechanisms, be they direct build, affordable housing schemes, cost rental or other mechanisms such as the housing assistance payment, HAP, and so on. That is the reality of the situation.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has raised a very important issue. I take on board the points he has made. It is a cause for concern that quite a high number of those judgments were overturned or that seven were voluntarily owned up to and deficits were acknowledged in terms of the decisions. In the first instance, this means An Bord Pleanála must reflect on its process and due diligence regarding...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I do not have to direct my Minister in that regard because he is actively considering it. That is one of the range of ideas he is considering in the context of dealing with the investment funds issue, particularly in how it impacts on first-time buyers and suburban estates. I do not disagree with the Deputy's analysis in respect of the deficiencies within the strategic development zone,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: There have been many applications that have never been followed through on as well. That is another issue. I refer to the enormous volume of applications have not been followed through in terms of actual construction or development of sites. That is something that needs focus as well.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Lowry for raising this important issue. All Oireachtas Members from Tipperary are united in revitalising Tipperary town and addressing social disadvantage and deprivation there. As the Deputy said, the entire community came together publicly to demonstrate its concerns but, above all, its objectives in terms of revitalising the town and its hinterland and providing for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will follow up on the school meals issue. I do not know how these issues keep on cropping up at the bureaucratic level. Significant funding has been provided by the Government in respect of school meals and our wish is that the money would get out there to schools. An extensive body of work has been undertaken on the national review of the whole DEIS identification model, based on the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: As I have said, this relates matter to the transposition of an EU directive, which is an obligation on all member states of the Union. As the Deputy knows, a stakeholders' group has been established and the Minister is engaging with it with a view to dealing with the issue of antiparasitic and antimicrobial resistance while maintaining competition in the market and keeping costs down for all...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: As I said, the Minister is committed to reaching a constructive and fair resolution of this issue that intends to try to maintain employment within the sector, as well as ensuring we can fulfil our obligations and keep costs down for all concerned, particularly those in farming who avail of such services. We understand that fully, we understand the issues and we are committed to doing that....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: These issues were not raised by the parties concerned at the meeting of the Business Committee. The Government is extremely concerned about what is happening in the Middle East, with clashes in Jerusalem and the attacks on Gaza. A number of deaths have been reported in Gaza since Monday following the launch by Israeli forces of an operation in response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: That needs to be said. I am saying it because there is far too much of a one-sided view of everything in terms of the European Union. We are members of the European Union and we should stand up for the European Union from time to time. The Government has no issue with statements. It may be next week in terms of the facilitation of the House but we should have statements on the issue. ...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: My position remains clear on that issue. That project is of immense economic importance to the region and to the dairy industry and the expansion of that sector. It has gone through a lengthy process already. It has gone through the judicial process. I appeal that there be no further appeals against this project, given that the courts have ruled clearly in relation to it and that many...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: There has to be balance in terms of how we all behave in society. We cannot all be absolutist in pursuit of our own objectives to the exclusion of the well-being of others in society. The balance is being tipped in the wrong scale here completely and it will create unnecessary tensions and division.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: This is a subterfuge and a way for people to create their own Leader's Questions and Order of Business debate to the detriment of other representatives in the House. The issue of weighing is serious but it has absolutely nothing to do with the marine planning framework. Deputy Michael Collins uses that as an excuse-----