Results 36,841-36,860 of 51,299 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I know that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I do understand it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I think the fundamental point is one of supply. Sinn Féin has consistently ignored it, because it is playing the political sloganeering game. It is into exploiting the issue for sake of electoral gain. I know that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: The real issue in supply is that at different times and different stages, the Sinn Féin spokesman and others will advocate for private developments and say they want them. What we are saying in Housing for All is that 33,000 houses are required. Social housing of up to 10,000 units will be required and we are providing funding for it. It is likewise, with affordable housing. There...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: We need supply.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: What we do not need are serial objections, as the Deputy's party have made, to developments in Tallaght, Donabate and right across.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Sinn Féin has objected to the building of around 6,000 houses.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: It has objected to them and voted against them being built. That, to me, is hypocrisy-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----when put in contrast with the huge crisis that we have in terms of housing supply.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. Again, the issue is a very serious one. Rents are too high for people. There are not enough houses out there. We can see from the from the Daft report there are not enough apartments to rent. There is not enough housing out there to buy. The whole purpose of the Government policy over the past 12 months and since we came into office has been to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I have been a long-standing advocate for social housing, along with the Deputy, even when I was in opposition. We are now looking at an unprecedented social housing programme. It is going to take time to build but it is happening right now.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: There were 31,000 starts last year. I accept and am glad the Deputy acknowledged the need for private sector investment. It does need to be constrained. We have already brought in planning constraints on funds in terms of housing estates and being able to bulk buy. They cannot do so. From a taxation perspective and a planning position, that has happened. In terms of apartment building,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. This report from the police ombudsman is a very significant one. It is a deeply disturbing report and, as the Deputy stated, the second such report in a matter of weeks. Examining those attacks, in particular that in south Belfast in Sean Graham bookmakers, resulting in many murders and one attempted murder, it has found very strong...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: In the first instance, I have told the Deputy what we are doing. I do not agree with the amnesty at all and I do not take it as a likelihood. The Irish Government has entered into discussions with the British Government and all of the parties in Northern Ireland in respect of the proposals that emanated from the British Government last year. We have made it very clear we do not accept any...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: First of all, proposals were made that cannot be accepted. We have opposed them and have made it very clear to the British Government that there can be an amnesty for nobody. State forces and governments have a higher moral order in how they conduct themselves, as does the government in any state. Equally, no paramilitaries should have an amnesty either in respect of heinous crimes and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and suggest that, given his poetic elegance, by the time I sit down, Eir will have heard this has been raised in Leinster House. I appreciate the seriousness of the matter because connectivity is everything today in the modern era for work, education and quality of life. Eir has announced, as part of its €1 billion capital investment...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Again, I thank the Deputy. As I said, we will engage with Eir and the other companies with regard to provision. The world has changed. The Deputy is correct to point out that the late Albert Reynolds was the pioneer in communications-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----and bringing Ireland up to a level of communications capacity that was instrumental in foreign direct investment coming into the country as well.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is very important, therefore, that we get it right with broadband and that we get a high level and high quality of connectivity. That means investment from both the private sector and the State, which is investing very significantly in the intervention areas that are not covered by private sector companies. Those areas are now earmarked in the national broadband plan. The State is...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: In the budget we took a major step forward in providing funding to deal with pay and conditions within the early childcare sector. I agree that career pathways have to be developed in early education and early childcare. The funding has increased dramatically, from approximately €69 million to €207 million through to 2023, to facilitate that. A joint labour committee has been...