Results 39,581-39,600 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: It was not ignored. The Minister has implemented it.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: We are building substantially more social homes through approved social housing bodies and local authorities. We are doing everything we can to increase the number of social homes, primarily through house building, with some through acquisitions and some through leasing in respect of immediate urgency around homelessness, which we want to prevent. The State is the biggest actor in housing...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: Have we time to go through the questions from Deputy Paul Murphy and others, with the agreement of the House? There are two or three others.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: On data centres and TBESS, we must have a general scheme that catches as many people as we possibly can because we do not want to lose jobs.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: On another day, we can debate whether we think we should get rid of all data centres or if there is a function or a role for data centres in a digitalised economy. I would like and appreciate hearing the Deputy's perspective on that. Nevertheless, TBESS is an emergency scheme being brought in as a temporary state aid framework under the auspices of the EU to ensure companies do not go to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I have.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I said that where there is systemic non-payment of rent, people can still be evicted. In situations where people are in difficulty or trouble, a whole range of measures is in place to intervene to prevent people from being evicted, in terms of additional needs-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I do not know the detail of the individual case the Deputy has brought to my attention.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: There are other mechanisms that can be used as well.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: To respond to Deputy Brendan Smith, the economy is dependent on SMEs. The Deputy is correct in saying that many companies depend on the Northern Ireland or British market in terms of initial exports of goods leaving Ireland and going into the UK market. This is why it is important to us that the UK economy is strong. If the UK's economy is strong, Ireland's economy is strong. Energy costs...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 17, inclusive, together. The social dialogue unit co-ordinates and supports the Government’s overall approach to social dialogue through a variety of mechanisms, including the Labour Employer Economic Forum, LEEF, which engages with representatives of employers and trade unions on economic and employment issues insofar as they affect the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Quinlivan asked about the minimum wage. We have an independent Low Pay Commission that deals with the minimum wage. That was agreed in the House.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy talked about the minimum wage as well.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy talked about the minimum wage as well.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I want to make the point that the minimum wage is determined by an independent commission, which also then-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I know but the value of the independent-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The reason we set up an independent commission was to avoid, every single year, having partisan perspectives on it. We wanted it professionally done and well researched with a balance of considerations taken into account. That commission also assisted the Tánaiste and did some work on a living wage. The Tánaiste has published the details of that and has given a timeline for us to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: More than two years ago, there were up to 1,000 people who were in direct provision and could have left but decided to stay.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The number is probably higher now. I am speaking in particular about people in employment. Deputy Barry spoke about an employment regulation order. The Government has to act within the law. People are entitled to take out an injunction, whether or not we agree with them. In this case we do not agree with them but they are still entitled to take out an injunction. We do not say people...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Social Dialogue (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: That would be a real slippery slope if it were to be applied in other situations and people could only get a contract from the State if they had to do what the State tells them in other areas.