Results 40,161-40,180 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: I do not actually equate the US with Russia.
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: There they go again. The "whataboutery" is a constant. The Deputies are against the pro formabut then they attack America. The bottom line is they attack America far more than they do Russia.
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: My point is, without interruption, it is not tenable that this situation continues. There has to be reform of the UN and the Security Council. When we were on the Security Council, Ireland put forward a good proposal linking climate change with security. India and China were sceptical at the beginning. Both of those countries abstained. One country stopped what the overwhelming majority...
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: The question is in the context of my meeting with Vice-President Šefčovič. It is important to put on the record that we did not discuss the Apple case. The updates are there to be had in terms of the proceedings of the court and the court's timetable. I can get the update for the Deputy and communicate that to him. Deputy Conway-Walsh raised a separate issue on the...
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 14, inclusive, together. The climate action unit is part of the economic division of my Department. The unit was established in 2019 and it supports me and the Government in dealing with the challenges of climate change and driving the necessary transition to a climate-neutral economy. The unit assists in co-ordinating a whole-of-government response...
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: In response to Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh on retrofitting, I sometimes wonder, when Sinn Féin makes propositions, if it ever wants anything done at all. It is a very good retrofit programme and there has been a 130% increase in applications. It is about getting energy efficiency into our entire system. Its fundamental priority is energy efficiency and reducing energy waste. There are...
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: -----certain outcomes, it is Ireland's responsibility. Ireland makes a very progressive and constructive contribution to these international gatherings and takes it very seriously. Our officials and political representatives at COP apply themselves seriously to this to try to get agreement. An agreement is better than no agreement. I genuinely believe that.
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: With regard to loss and damage, we have made proposals. We have put forward a target of €225 million per annum by 2025. We are not there yet but that is Ireland’s commitment in terms of funding. We have to increase our funding significantly next year and the following year to reach that target, and we are doing everything we possibly can to reduce-----
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: I will come to that. Deputy Smith also raised loss and damage.
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: I take that point but a lot of questions have been asked. I have dealt with loss and damage and I have dealt with the failure to limit general temperature. I was coming to the Deputy’s next point, which is the licence extension to Europa and existing licence holders. I have other questions to deal with so I do not know whether we can get a few minutes extra.
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: On the extension, Europa already has a licence. There are legal constraints on the Government in terms of existing licence holders. This Oireachtas decided to ban, or recommended the banning of, the issuing of any future licences. The Government has adhered to that and it is part of the programme for Government. However, in terms of existing licences holders, of which there are just a few...
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt the Deputy.
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: In terms of existing licence holders, that is the legal position, and the vast majority of fossil fuels are being left in the ground in Ireland. That is the reality and the Deputy knows it. We are not entertaining any new licence applications.
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: With regard to Deputy Boyd Barrett-----
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: -----his absolute zealous focus on the US is noted. Without the US, last year there would have been no COP of any merit or substance. President Biden has brought about a significant change internationally to the whole climate change agenda------
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: -----along with his representative, John Kerry, and several former American presidents, all of whom are focused on trying to get outcomes at these COPs. That needs to be acknowledged, unlike other big powers that are not making the same contribution at this stage to the international effort. The US has an awful lot more to do in general and not just in respect of its military. There is a...
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: -----rather than decrying them all the time. For the Deputy, the US and nobody else is the big baddie of the world, in terms of his presentations. Deputy Paul Murphy raised the issue of data centres.
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: He referenced south county Dublin. First, because of the digital age, data centres are a reality, unless you want to de-digitalise the entire society and economy.
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: Does the Deputy want to de-digitalise it? He needs to be honest and front up on that.
- Report of Committee of Selection: Motion: Departmental Offices (22 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: We have a framework. The Commission for Regulation of Utilities, CRU-----