Results 35,021-35,040 of 51,211 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank all the Deputies who put questions to me in respect of housing issues. I will first deal with rents generally, which covers a number of the questions. On the issue of a rent freeze, the Government has been advised in the strongest possible manner that it is unconstitutional to introduce a three-year freeze. I remember years ago, before an election, Opposition Members put forward a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I am not paranoid at all about it. What I will say is that a lot of people across this House were involved in trying to bring this to a conclusion, along with a lot of people, across the party divides, in the council.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: Many people worked to get the project to where it is at now. If we go back again, there is no guarantee of a conclusion. It could take another ten to 15 years. That is a realistic perspective on it. The key issue Deputy Conway-Walsh raised in terms of the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme is provided for, as I understand it, in terms of people who are divorced or separated. I will...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: There is a commitment to doing it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 to 28, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on health oversees implementation of programme for Government commitments in regard to health, receives detailed reports on identified policy areas, and considers the implementation of health reforms, including Sláintecare. The committee last met on Monday, 14 December and is expected to meet again...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: On the final point, I do not know what the circumstances are that necessitate the travel from Limerick. It must be regulatory or relate to a particular aspect of the education programme. We are open to any submissions from the University of Limerick in respect of having that completed here or a liaison with the technological university. That is something we are open to having pursued....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: My view is that if there is no alternative and the 72-year-old is hale and hearty, then common sense should prevail and provision should be made for it. In terms of a citizens' assembly on drugs, I will come back to the Deputy on that, because now that we are coming out of Covid, we might be in a position to accelerate that. We said we would identify three areas for citizens' assemblies....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I will come back to the Deputy on the timelines around that. On Deputy McDonald's point about the progressing disability services programme, I will talk to the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, about what is essentially a real difficulty in the context of the programme. Resources are being taken out of existing special schools and then they are told that they should access those...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (28 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: I have made that clear to the HSE.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: First of all, I reject the assertions of the Deputy in terms of the essence of this Government's housing policy, which is very much focused on affordable homes, contrary to the position of the party opposite on affordable housing in recent years because it has consistently opposed home ownership. It has voted against every affordability measure at every turn. In particular, it opposed the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: We knew that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: It has not been a surprise all year.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has been involved in all the housing debates all year. She knows exactly the situation.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: With the greatest respect, what I think is scandalous is that the Deputy's party opposed 975 homes that were due to be built in Clondalkin, of which 20% were social housing. I think it is scandalous that her party opposed 500 homes in Tallaght, of which 80% would be social or affordable purchase homes. I think it is scandalous that her party opposed 278 homes in Swords. It voted against...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has stated very clearly that he has put in place the building blocks for the development of----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----a comprehensive affordable housing programme-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----including 36,000 affordable purchase homes under Housing for All. The first home scheme for first-time buyers will enable people to buy a home through government help to bridge the gap-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----between the finance they have and the cost of a home. The local authority affordable purchase scheme will make available homes at an average cost of €250,000 across the country. The reformed local authority home loan scheme, with reduced interest rates for all new applicants, will see more single people eligible for State-backed mortgages. The Minister has put in place the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----who need housing. All she is about, and has consistently been about, is exploiting the housing crisis for her electoral gain.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Sep 2021)

Micheál Martin: First of all, I thank the Deputy for the question, because it is a very important issue that is facing the people of the country today. As the Deputy outlined, it is the responsibility of the CRU and EirGrid to ensure the right balance of electricity supply and demand. When they briefed me and the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications on Monday night, they assured us that...