Results 39,261-39,280 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ukraine War (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 to 8, inclusive, together. I made an official visit to Ukraine on 6 July at the invitation of President Zelenskyy. I was honoured to be the first Taoiseach to do so. During my visit I visited the towns of Borodyanka, Bucha and Irpin, north of Kyiv, where I heard about and saw at first hand the abuses and destruction inflicted by Russian troops. As...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Ukraine War (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Durkan raised the first question. What was interesting about the three towns just outside Kyiv that I visited was that none was a military town and, therefore, there was no militarism there. There was no need to undertake the atrocities carried out by Russian forces on the people of those towns. I went to the town of Bucha and to the church there. I met with the priest and the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 14, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on housing has met six times to date in 2022. The last meeting took place on Thursday, 15 September, with the next meeting planned for Monday, 10 October. The committee works to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the implementation of Housing for All and the delivery of programme for Government...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: To respond to Members generally, the State is the biggest actor in housing now. One would not think that from the contributions made regularly in the House and some public commentary and analysis. The State is the biggest actor in housing, be it social housing, affordable housing, cost rental, Croí Cónaithe, the town centre first policy and trying to bridge the gap in viability on...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: I have been in discussions with the Minister on this. On the defects in housing, the Minister established the working group in 2021 under Mr. Seamus Neely, former chief executive of Donegal County Council. He received the report and published it. As Deputies will be aware, the working group estimates the average cost of undertaking the remediation of defects is likely to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: Many people do not feel it is worth their while to be landlords anymore. They may have purchased a house or two in the past with a view to renting them out. They are now selling.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The value has become high but also-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: If one talks to people-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is interrupting me again. The point is landlords are getting out of this.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: No.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The State will not buy every house.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: However, the State has said that local authorities are allowed and have the capacity-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----and the firepower-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----to purchase houses from people who could rendered homeless as a result. The councils have been told that they can-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----buy the houses where someone could be rendered homeless if-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: There are in some cases where they are.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: However there is an issue to reflect on as well. There is no point in saying "buy every single house". These kinds of simplistic answers to everything are not the way to solve the housing crisis-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Policy (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----because we need people to let existing housing stock. Many people do not feel it is worth their while and yes, because of the value now, they feel it is timely to get out. That is not good enough for the housing-supply issue because we need the supply at present. Many approved housing bodies are saying this to us. They want us to take action to encourage landlords to stay in the system.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Government launched the Third Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Strategy in late June of this year. The central aim of this Strategy is to bring about zero tolerance towards domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in Irish society as well as the attitudes and assumptions that underpin it. Another important goal of the strategy is to improve the coordination and delivery...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (20 Sep 2022)

Micheál Martin: In line with the Guidance and FAQs for Public Service Employers during COVID-19 in relation to Special Leave with Pay for COVID-19, as published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, my Department uses Special Leave with Pay in lieu of sick leave for COVID-19 to assist in the prevention of the possible onward spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Where possible, my Department...