Results 40,281-40,300 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: We need more supply to deal with that. That is why we have ramped up social housing supply very significantly - to deal with the issue of homelessness and the waiting lists for people who are trying to get social housing. This is why we have ramped it up, and it is up significantly. Consider the numbers of workers who are working in construction. There are 40,000 more people working in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. Transfers to Irish Water of water services workers under the framework for future delivery of water services, which was identified, as the Deputy will know, at the Workplace Relations Commission on 24 June of this year, are voluntary. Every worker will have the option of staying with his or her local authority, and transfers will...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Minister is committed to this and there is a recommendation to come from the Housing Commission.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: There is no doubt but that water will remain in public ownership in this country. I know of no political party in this Dáil or this Oireachtas which wants to privatise water.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: No they do not. I have not seen anyone say that. No one has articulated that in a long, long time. We need to stop the scaremongering but that said, we are committed to a referendum. But let us stop the scaremongering. The public wants a smooth, efficient delivery of water services. We need to expand wastewater treatment plants. That is the focus on the Government. It is to get more...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: A workplace framework agreement was agreed with the unions through the WRC and so on. There has been a lot of consultation and a lot of engagement on this. Moreover, as I said originally, it is voluntary.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is devastated.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising those issues. The country has enjoyed full employment for the past two years, having come out of Covid. West Cork has not been immune from this. Agricultural incomes have gone up over recent years, despite what the Deputy said. They went up significantly last year. I was in Ringaskiddy at the weekend, on Saturday. The Mayor of the County of Cork was...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should talk to the Mayor of the County of Cork. He is opening a lot of developments. The urban relief road in Carrigaline has been transformative in addressing the congestion there. It gives very quick access to Minane and places further along. We will seek further improvements to the LEADER and CLÁR programmes, but the Deputy must surely acknowledge the additional...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: As for fisheries, as the Deputy knows, Brexit was the key factor there. We have brought in funding from the Brexit adjustment fund, which will help in that regard.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: There has been a 50% increase in LEADER funding for west Cork and Cork county in general. The Deputy knows about the Bandon flood relief scheme, which has received huge public funding, and €5 million has gone into the Bandon public realm project. The Clonakilty and Skibbereen flood relief schemes have been funded. Significant public money is going into west Cork and the Deputy knows...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: Yes, Global Shares. When Mr. Dimon arrived, he could not get over the productivity of the workers in Clonakilty. An international financial services company based in west Cork is doing outstanding work. The Deputy should be careful. I do not mind him raising issues but he should not paint a picture of one long tale of misery. One thing west Cork is not is miserable.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: Is this the Order of Business?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Bacik expressed her concern regarding the consolidated planning and development Bill, which the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage will bring to Government on 13 December. I have repeatedly stated that we will publish the Bill before the end of the year but that it will go into the pre-legislative scrutiny process because it is a major legislative measure and will...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: The union representing the workers is very clear.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: The union representing the workers has been very clear that this is something it welcomes on behalf of the 20,000 workers it represents.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am not spinning it. The Deputy just wants to grab a headline.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: I accept that; I am just responding to the points that were made by the Deputy. The matter to which Deputy Boyd Barrett referred has been raised previously.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: There is no time for statements. The bottom line is that it is coming forward. It will be increased by €5,000. There is a look-back facility.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (29 Nov 2022)

Micheál Martin: We will see if we can or not, through the Business Committee, but there is limited time for a whole lot of things.