Results 49,981-50,000 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Responsibilities (7 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: There are two Ministers of State attached to the Department of the Taoiseach: the Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Mental Health; and the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence. Functions in respect of the Central Statistics Office have been delegated to the Government Chief Whip and Minister of State for Mental Health by the Statistics (Delegation of Ministerial...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cycling Policy (7 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: The number of cycle to work scheme applications processed by the Department of the Taoiseach and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), the only body under the aegis of the Department, is provided in the table below. Year Number of applications Department of the Taoiseach NESDO 2020 9 ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Legislative Measures (7 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: My focus and that of the Government is on supporting international efforts to bring about the immediate cessation of hostilities, a return to the ceasefire and hostage release agreement, and its full implementation including the release of hostages and the resumption of humanitarian access at scale. The Government’s position and, indeed, that of the EU is clear: settlements are illegal...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (7 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: Under the previous Government, the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services oversaw the implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the areas of culture, arts, Gaeltacht, sport and media. Following the formation of the new Government in January, the Cabinet Committee on Justice, Migration and Social Affairs was established. Under its remit in relation to social...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: At the outset, I also extend my deepest sympathies on the floor of the House to the family, friends and colleagues of Garda Kevin Flatley. Our thoughts and prayers are particularly with his wife Una and his daughters Aoife and Erin. He died in the line of duty, which is a reminder to us of the dangers that members of An Garda Síochána go through day after day as part of their...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: We can come back on it later. The fundamental point is that no one is ducking, diving or dodging anything and it is unfair to suggest that. We want completion. It is far better for everybody if a complete report is issued and published, and then we can act on it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: If Deputy McDonald does not mind me saying so, she is being somewhat disingenuous. Nobody is stonewalling and no one is refusing to give information.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thought the obvious thing to do, and we may have this sooner than Deputy McDonald might think, is to wait for the audit report to be published and given to the Minister. That is logical. Otherwise, all Deputy McDonald is asking for is drip-drip and bits of information here and there,-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----which would only add to the anxiety and concern of parents.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: If I may, I did not interrupt. Experience tells me that when we ask someone to do an external audit independent of politicians and Government, we should just let them finish their work and have the totality of their work available for us to assess, and then take action based on that. Of course, that audit has to be shared with the public, the parents, in the first instance, and the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy clearly then understands the context-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----of why they will be written to.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: I disagree with the Deputy's analysis of the Government's response to vacancy and dereliction. The vacant homes action plan progress report 2025 highlighted the breadth of action the Government is taking to support bringing vacant properties back into use as homes. Key areas of progress include the successful delivery of the vacant property refurbishment grant, with over 11,300 applications...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: Ní aontaím leis an Teachta in aon chor. Níl an ceart aici. Ní raibh na deontais atá ann anois maidir le tithe atá folamh agus mar sin de ann riamh. Is léir sin ón méid daoine atá ag fáil deontas sa lá atá inniu ann. I do not agree with the Deputy. The refurbishment grant for derelict buildings was not there four years ago....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: The only criticism I remember was that a TV programme gave details of the grants. It was considered politically wrong to let the public know they could avail of a grant if they wanted to buy and refurbish a derelict building or vacant house. These grants have been spectacularly successful and we need more of them. Some local authorities have been good on social housing but others have not...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: It is not always about handouts. You can go around certain local authority estates and see six vacant houses. Millions are not needed to put those houses back into use. They should never be vacant for beyond a month. I am not just saying this now; I have said this to local authorities time and again. We have taken void initiative after void initiative. The dependency culture kicks,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: First of all, every child is entitled and has a constitutional right to an education. It is our job as the Government to vindicate that right. I do not accept the Deputy's presentation that the Government does not care. The Government does care. There is evidence of that. I do not want to go through all the statistics as that does not console a particular parent or family who are having...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is correct. As I said, 399 new special classes for the next year have already been sanctioned in the past month. This has been done much earlier than in previous years. I do not have a detailed report in terms of each particular class. There are many with which there are no difficulties, but there are some in respect of which there are difficulties in terms of the logistics of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 May 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I join Deputy Bacik - I omitted to do so earlier - in expressing my deepest sympathies to the families of Emmanuel Familola and Matt Sibanda and the community in Donegal on the sad and shocking drownings at the weekend of the two young teenagers who were enjoying themselves with their friends. What happened made for a very sad weekend...