Results 39,821-39,840 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: On Deputy Barry's question, I do not know the specifics of the case but President Macron is a liberal politician who likes discussing and debating with people. I have no doubt he would welcome an opportunity at some stage in his life to debate with the Deputy the pros and cons of how society should best be organised.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: Ar dtús báire, déanaim comhghairdeas le Príomh-Aire nua na Breataine, Rishi Sunak, as é a bheith tofa mar phríomh-aire. Guím gach rath air agus é ag obair ar son mhuintir na Breataine. Beidh mé ag caint leis níos déanaí, mar a luaigh an Teachta, agus inseoidh mé dó go bhfuil géarghá ann anois le tús a chur...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: First of all, we want the institutions restored, and I make that plea to the DUP. The Good Friday Agreement provides for meetings of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference to promote bilateral co-operation on matters of mutual interest and to consider non-devolved Northern Ireland matters. It makes provision for the Irish Government to put forward views and proposals, recognising...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: First of all, I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, and by prefacing her remarks by referring to some good news. It does not normally happen in exchanges between the Opposition and the Government sides. However, I do take the point made by the Deputy. Today's price is the lowest since June, and it is down more than 70% from the record level of 640 pence hit in August. That...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The regulator has powers in respect of these issues. This is the worst energy crisis we have had. It surpasses even that of the 1970s. By definition, it is feeding into the price in the market and that is why the Government has taken unprecedented moves in the recent budget to provide substantial payments across the social protection system between now and the end of the year. The energy...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: No one has been more proactive than the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, in dealing with issues in respect of defective blocks and apartments. He has commissioned the largest and most significant survey of apartment defects in this country. He has the results of that report. He has indicated repeatedly to the House that he will be bringing...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: Fianna Fáil did not open the door to anybody-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----and the Deputy should not absolve people who have their own responsibilities, namely, those who build. There is always responsibility-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is just classic politicking-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----by the Deputy and political spin. I am more interested in getting this issue resolved for the residents.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The bottom line is, as the Deputy knows, the Minister brought a memorandum to Government in September and informed us of the content of the report he had published in July, outlining the scale of the issue, where 100,000 apartments have been impacted with a potential cost of approximately €1.56 billion to €2.5 billion - within that range. The Minister will bring proposals on...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: We are now well into October and it is not too long until the end of the year. No one is kicking any can down the road. This is a very significant issue. We have already allocated up to €2.8 billion for the mica scheme and a further €1 billion for pyrite. These issues have to be taken seriously. They involve a great deal of expenditure on behalf of the taxpayer. We take...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for the constructive manner in which he has approached it. From what the Deputy has outlined, I have suggested to the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, that he should go up to County Louth for the weekend, where the Deputy could take him around to a few more sites. The Deputy's points are well made. Housing is the biggest issue facing us as a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I do not know what is holding back development on the particular site the Deputy is talking about. If it is shovel-ready, has planning permission and so on, it should go ahead. I ask the Deputy to give the details of those voids to the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien. We want to address voids as quickly as possible. There is no limit on funding for councils to get voids back into use....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: We have made it very clear that we want the councils to move very quickly on voids and to get them back into use as quickly as possible. Some 7,000 have been brought back into use since this Government was formed. We will retain a relentless focus on that aspect of housing because the Deputy is correct; if a house is idle because someone has left it for any reason, the local authority...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: There is nothing lying on the Minister's desk. There has been a very substantial increase in core funding for the health service. The Minister has published an initiative to deal with this winter. There are concerns about a combination of a flu outbreak and a return of the Covid virus, which could cause very significant difficulties with regard to admissions to hospital. That is why there...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: There has been a very significant expansion of special needs education in both the primary and post-primary sector, the budget for which increased by a further 12%. Approximately €2.6 billion is now spent on special education. We have established additional posts including posts for new special needs assistants and teachers. Approximately 392 new special classes have been sanctioned...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: ----I will again pursue that issue with the Minister but it is my understanding that there has been considerable engagement. I will come back to the Deputy on that.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I will pursue the issue of the Bandon bypass with the Minister and come back to the Deputy with the details. Did the Minister give the Deputy any reason as to why the Innishannon project had been shelved?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (26 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am well used to the queues.