Results 45,181-45,200 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: My words are not empty, Deputy. I believe in substance on this issue and not words. I have heard many words in this House and across its foor about substance and impact. I believe Ireland can have impact, small and all as we are, and we are having impact. We are one of the few countries which have already made a robust legal submission to the International Court of Justice in respect of...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: I am telling the Deputy that I believe the best and optimal time is following the publication of the Arab peace initiative and in the developing of a political track whereby a number of European countries together could, on the back of that and in tandem with that act-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: -----which is far more effective. This idea of the Deputy trying to score points or suggesting that she is more virtuous than everybody else in the House on this question is an approach we need to dispense with. We all want this to end but I genuinely believe Ireland can and is having an impact and we are using every possible forum - diplomatic, legal and political - to end this.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: Firstly, I agree with much of what Deputy Berry has said. By way of quick reply, we are actively exploring the possibility of Ireland contributing to this multinational effort and Jordan, in particular, has been leading this in organising air-drops. I spoke to Foreign Minister Safadi on this a week or two ago and I specifically asked questions on this. We speak a great deal on other...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: I will come back to the Deputies generally when that progresses somewhere, but it is being actively pursued by the Irish Government with the Jordanian Government. I met with the King when I was in Jordan recently. He and the Jordanian Government are very appreciative of the role Ireland has taken internationally at the various forums, particularly within the European Union. In response...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising these issues. More generally, food production is essential. In the context of climate change, the resilience of our food production system and food security are absolutely essential. Rather than undermining our food production system, we will increase it. Tá géarghá ann an córas a threisiú agus a dhéanamh níos láidre....
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: The fishing industry is not gone at all.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: Obviously, Brexit had an impact. Agriculture is certainly not gone. If you look at us in the context of our relationship with most countries and if you look at the export table, all you will see is a rise in Irish exports of agricultural produce. For example, China has imported Irish milk and dairy products for quite some time.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: They will be. Saying it is dead and gone is an exaggeration.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: It is exaggeration.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: The bottom line is that beef is also being exported to China. Anywhere I have been as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have invariably been accompanied by someone from Bord Bia with new product lines and interested in exporting to new markets. We need a bit of balance and proportion. I take the Deputy's point with regard to the farmers in the his area. In the context of the new Common...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: -----not just for one or two years, but for a long time. This is so that we can protect our biodiversity. It is about getting incomes to farmers, which we are determined to do.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: I have been to Kerry. The Deputy knows I have been to County Kerry a great deal. I will see him in Killarney.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: This State stands with the family of Sean Brown. I am aware of the coroner's call and that he has decided he can no longer carry out an Article 2-compliant inquest and that he wrote to the Secretary of State seeking a public inquiry. I support that. I will ask my officials to meet the family as soon as possible to hear their concerns and to discuss how we can support them. I am aware that...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: We will.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: The Deputy knows the issue.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his comments. We spoke earlier about the inspirational legacy that young Saoírse leaves behind. Our sympathies are with Saoírse's family. Since we started national cancer strategies in the late 1990s and through the 2000s, with various levels of progress being made, there has been a transformation in cancer care which has led to a significant reduction in...
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: We exceeded our targets for housebuilding last year, with close to 33,000 being built in 2023. Up to 143,000 houses have been constructed since we came to office.
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: There was a record 10,000 social houses in 2022. Last year, we delivered 12,000 social houses. We are now getting to a stage-----
- Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (7 Mar 2024)
Micheál Martin: Social. Please let me finish. In the context of the first home scheme and help-to-buy scheme, we have reached the stage of record levels in the drawdown of mortgages by first-time buyers. We have to do more because the population is increasing. We are working extremely hard-----