Results 39,121-39,140 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, together. My Department's annual report for 2021 was published on gov.ieand laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas last July. The report sets out the work of my Department in 2021 to deliver under the strategic priorities set out in the Department's three-year statement of strategy. My Department continues to work at the centre to ensure...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Yes. A whole range of issues were raised there. Deputy Bacik raised the issue of childcare. The difficulty is that if we were to move completely to a State system, it would involve very significant engagement with stakeholders to dramatically and radically transform the area. As I said, we dealt in the last budget with a significant allocation for pay and conditions. Working between...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy O'Callaghan raised the question of renters. Housing for All is our strategic response to housing. It is the most substantive housing policy. I have seen nothing near it from any Opposition party in terms of substance, breadth or depth. The reality is we will need a range of measures to deal with housing and homelessness. Unfortunately-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The population is rising, and is more than 5 million. There are more Irish people coming back than Irish people leaving. The housing issue is not just Irish; it is European. It is an issue everywhere, basically.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy made his points. I am addressing all the points he made, because I have written down what he said. We need to study the facts. The bottom line is that a number of factors have really conspired against us, Covid being one, but more importantly, the war and the increase in the cost of commodities. However, we are responding to that. The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am coming to them. Deputy Boyd Barrett raised the issue of the transport service in south Dublin. The funding was obviously coming through some agency prior to that, was it not?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: I know, but what agency are they dealing with?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Government did not meet as a Government and say they were not getting funding. The Deputy should know that. He made the political point that the Government refused it. We did not.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Who did they ask?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Normally, in terms of groups in that specific area, funding is provided through a particular agency or whatever. I do not know the full background to the case.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Well, there must be other reasons and factors we need to tease through.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Barry raised the issue of the minimum wage, which is a 7.6% increase. Last year's increase was higher than inflation, actually.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is my understanding, yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the year it applied to, yes. This is just narrowly lower. It is an independent commission, not the Government, that decides the minimum wage. We want to move up as quickly as we can to a new living wage. For the first time in the report, a living wage has now been identified, so progress has been made. The Deputy is aware the vast majority on the minimum wage are not the main...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The practice has been to accept the recommendation of an independent commission. However, in the budget and the cost of living package, we will be taking other measures to help people on the minimum wage to get through the current crisis.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Reports (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: I have an official State event here on Saturday.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The parliamentary liaison unit in my Department assists Government in its relationship with the Oireachtas. It works with the Office of the Government Chief Whip on issues that arise at the Business Committee and the Committee on Dáil Reform and Standing Orders, including Dáil reform proposals and amendments to Standing Orders. The unit supports the Office of the Government Chief...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: There are a number of issues there and in fairness to Deputy Martin Kenny I did not answer his last question-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----in the last bout, for which I apologise. There is national implementation board oversight between the Department of Justice and my Department and that is working well. We launched and published the strategy itself just before the summer recess and that will report to the Cabinet subcommittee on social affairs and equality. We have outlined that to the Deputy’s party leader and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Bodies (14 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: No concerns were really raised at that stage. It was only just before the summer. We will allay any concerns we can and there will be proper oversight of the implementation of the strategy. On the issues the Deputy raised on the survivors of mother and baby homes, to be fair to the Minister overall, this Government has moved on a range of issues and has got action and delivery. The...