Results 50,921-50,940 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: In fairness, I think the students of Northern Ireland would appreciate a bit of clarity from Sinn Féin as to how their fees still remain at over €5,000 in Northern Ireland, and the Deputy pontificates and says this Government is not providing clarity.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: It is a Sinn Féin Minister for Finance, and they have the biggest allocation from Westminster in a long time, but they reduce everything to simplicity. We have a full range that we are going to provide-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: -----and we will continue to provide supports to students-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: -----and we will also continue to prioritise participation in education because it is a great gateway for people to progress in life.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I appreciate the Deputy's questions. We are under no illusions about the impact of the cost of living on families and people. The reality is there was an excessive inflationary spiral coming out of Covid and as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the consequential increase in energy prices. That did impact and that is why there were exceptional once-off cost-of-living packages...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: The Deputy may be aware that the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon, has met with the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, CCPC, and has asked it to conduct an analysis of the Irish grocery retail sector, with a view to determine the existence of excessive pricing or not in an evidence-based way. We also have the equivalent of the agricultural ombudsman in terms of food prices. We...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: Let me make one comment, which is probably an observation on the political world we are in today: all the parties on the left favour universality in everything in terms of provision and have not argued once today for targeting or prioritising those left furthest behind.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: It has been very interesting that in the past ten days, including today, their entire focus has been on giving everybody everything. Whatever scheme is brought in-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: Through the Chair, I did not interrupt anybody. It is a case of giving everybody everything. In the last budget, we took significant steps with the child support payments for both under-12s and over-12s.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: Sorry, Deputy Hearne is not leader yet.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: In the last budget, I itemised the issues. The free schoolbooks scheme is now part of the budget and of the base, which is very important. It is not once off or anything like that. It is the same with free transport for those aged between five and eight and the hot school meals programme. We did not extend VAT either. I have made it clear that in the next budget, for the Government and...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: There is only so much money-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: We could spend billions of euro but the challenge really is the question of whether those opposite have the political guts to target.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: Yes, we do have the guts to take on anyone who is engaged in price gouging, absolutely.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I think we need an evidence-based approach.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: There is an agency there, the consumer and competition authority-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: The Deputies opposite know that. People come in here and make assertions but we have to do our business in an evidence-based way.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: In terms of the Agri-Food Regulator, we established it.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: The former Minister for agriculture, Deputy McConalogue, brought that in precisely to get greater transparency in respect of the differentials between what the primary producer earns - the Deputies know the primary producer was a key motivator behind the introduction of that regulator - as well as making sure that the primary producer would get a better share of the entire supply chain in...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: The fundamental point is this. We recognise that there are significant high prices, particularly in groceries.