Results 42,261-42,280 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: First, I would not agree with the Deputy’s assessment of the Government's position. I would argue that the Irish people did take a fundamental decision on the repeal of the eighth in a referendum, but that followed a significant level of constructive engagement, informed engagement, and a listening exercise within the then Oireachtas Committee on Health – it may have been the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I genuinely believe that the approach we took in the referendum was the correct approach. This is a sensitive issue and people have different views on this issue, and those views go deep with people. The idea that you have an Oireachtas committee to look at this in a detailed way should not be a surprise or should not be attacked, and you are attacking that. Through the Chair, I am not...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: Through the Chair, I am not looking for confrontation. I am not attacking anybody's motivations or bona fides in respect of this. However, I respect the fact that this is a legislative assembly, with people who will potentially be asked in due course to vote on or have a view on legislation relating to this area and the very least that should happen is that the report should be examined by...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I would say at the outset that there is no cap or ban on the granting of planning permission for new homes in rural Ireland.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: Planning authorities provide a target for new housing as part of their statutory development plan, including for rural areas outside of their towns and villages. There is one statistic that may not be well known, which is that it has generally been one quarter of delivery nationally for the last 30 years. In terms of overall house construction, one quarter has been new rural homes,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: Will I have a chance to come back in with supplementary remarks?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: The match at the weekend is in Navan.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: We go forward with all modesty and so on. In respect of the issue, I was going to mention the vacant and dereliction grants which give real opportunities but I take the Deputy's point. I understand the sincerity of what the Deputy is saying in terms of people who want to build on their family's land. The overall planning policy over the years has been to try to move to areas that are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: To me, that would suggest that a bit of pragmatic common sense-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----facilitate a resolution of this particular issue.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I cannot get involved in every individual issue but I take the Deputy's point.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that the Department of Transport is aware that Dublin Airport is facing significant car parking challenges on foot of the temporary closure of a privately owned long-stay car park, QuickPark, and that there is potential for that to have a very significant impact on passengers over the coming summer peak period. The numbers travelling overseas for holidays and various...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I do not have the precise figures here, but my understanding is that 11 out of 19 maternity hospitals are providing services. The Minister has been informed by the HSE that that number will increase significantly, certainly by the autumn. If a referendum is passed and a law is passed by the Oireachtas, State agencies have to adhere to the law. That is my view. It is very basic. Every...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: From time to time we have very creative diplomacy in terms of exchanges, learning of expertise and so on. The next thing could be a parliamentary trip to Disneyland. It could be cross-party.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: We might get very valuable insights into how things operate. It has been a long time since I have been in Disneyland, so opportunity beckons.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: In a more serious vein, I think the broader issue of crime which the Deputy introduces-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: A very significant resource allocation has been made to recruit a thousand more gardaí. That will continue year on year, and applications have been received and so on in that respect.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I would have to get the context of the visit to Disneyland to understand the full policy wraparound as to why gardaí are there.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: Disneyland set me off.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (25 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: Last year we announced about €1.1 billion in tax cuts and about €6 billion in additional public expenditure in respect of a whole range of services. Shortly before the summer recess, in the summer economic statement we will give the financial envelopes as to how much more we can spend on services and how much we can do as regards taxation. That taxation will take many forms....