Results 50,981-51,000 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I will talk to the Minister. The abolition of town councils was a big mistake. I said that at the time, although I was in opposition. I think it was introduced by Brendan Howlin but he subsequently said it was a mistake. I am a great believer in restoring councils or creating new councils in line with the programme for Government. I will have a look at who is on the task force because...
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: In my honest opinion, Dublin City Council could be performing better with regard to housebuilding and could have performed better over the last-----
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I am just saying it. There are too many coming into the House asking for more and more. To be very frank about it, I have watched O'Devaney Gardens and Oscar Traynor Road over the years and it should not take a decade to get agreement on what we do to build houses on a massive site.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: There are grants available for derelict buildings and derelict houses.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: They are worth up to €70,000.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: The grants are available. Is there any proactivity there? I am serious. There is no questioning of anything. Members just come into the House. That is what happens in politics these days.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: We want a solutions-based approach.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: Any initiative on housing just gets criticised and opposed.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: Alcohol is a contributory factor to cancer. The more fundamental issue is to reduce the levels of consumption of alcohol in the country. The significant story is that, from 2000 to now, there has been a very substantial and significant reduction in the consumption of alcohol-----
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: -----which is a very positive development that the Deputy should acknowledge. The previous Government also introduced minimum pricing for alcohol to target young people in particular in endeavouring to reduce the consumption of alcohol. We have some of the highest prices for alcohol in Europe, which has impacted-----
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: The regulations have been signed. The Government considers all of these matters. An issue has been raised in the context of the trade and tariffs issue.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I just gave an answer. The Deputy does not like it. On dementia services, I will talk to the HSE and the Minister in respect of what is happening at the Royal Hospital Donnybrook. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, did exceptional work on dementia during the term of the previous Government and improved resources significantly. More generally, we will focus on dementia provision in...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 13, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on children and education oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments in the area of children and education. It receives detailed reports on identified policy areas such as child poverty and well-being and education. The membership of the Cabinet committee on children and...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: So, counselling does not fall under it.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: There is quite a substantial number of questions there. Deputy Bacik raised the establishment of the commission of inquiry.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I pay tribute to Mark and David Ryan for what they did in providing a catalyst for the establishment of this inquiry and the scoping inquiry before it. It would be unprecedented to have a redress scheme in advance of a commission of inquiry.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: That is difficult as well. One has to make an assessment of what is happening. That said, the Department is working on this. Fundamentally, those who have committed the crimes and those responsible for them should pay. That is the religious orders, in particular. A significant degree of work is under way in the Department to identify various scenarios. In previous times, the State went...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I will have to look into the background of that and come back to the Deputy with an answer from the Minister. On Deputy McDonald's question about special needs assistants, the numbers are growing exponentially.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I do not know what is happening with individual schools' allocations but the numbers are growing exponentially. We are close to 23,000 SNAs now. It has been a story of increases and increases. I acknowledge the numbers of children who have been identified with a disability has increased as well. It was quite high in the most recent census, much higher than the previous census. Demand is...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (8 Jul 2025)
Micheál Martin: I do not have the specifics of those schools and the Deputy has identified them-----