Results 2,141-2,160 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department is making increasing use of electronic methods of payment for improved security and more efficient business practices. To facilitate this, credit cards are issued to Diplomatic Missions where there is a specific business need, including a regular pattern of low value or infrequent payments, a need to make online payments, or where suppliers require a hold to be placed on an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government is continuing with the planned expansion of Ireland’s mission network, in line with the Global Ireland Strategy. While a range of possible locations remains under review, there are currently no plans to open a new Consulate General in the Algarve region of Portugal. However, I am pleased to confirm that, following an open competition and completion of the associated...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes - Vote 27 (International Cooperation) and Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs). Overall expenditure under both Votes for consultancy services engaged by my Department in 2023 and 2024 to date are set out in the table below. My Department engages external expertise in line with national and EU procurement rules when it is clear the skills...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, in February 2024, the then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain wrote to the President of the European Commission requesting an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. I have continued to underline the importance of such a review at successive...

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is a full allocation for that now. Come on. Give it a rest.

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----and a series of actions, which would make things much worse-----

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----fewer houses, slower building and cancelled support for first-time buyers. That is the reality of Sinn Féin's brave new future.

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Sinn Féin would destroy the prospects of first-time buyers.

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: This budget is particularly significant - through the Chair, if I could -

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: They do not want to hear the truth.

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The bottom line is Sinn Féin would screw first-time buyers. It would destroy them. It would get rid of help-to-buy and the first home schemes, the grants and would take away any support and assistance that is currently there. What we are saying to first-time buyers is that the help-to-buy scheme will be there until 2029. They can plan with certainty, save with certainty and be in a...

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: By investing a further €1.2 billion we are putting it up to Sinn Féin, which has said it will get rid of the Land Development Agency or transform it and change it. Waste more time is what Sinn Féin would do. We have built the foundations for housing delivery in this country, including the Land Development Agency, but Sinn Féin wants to go back to the drawing board in a...

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----in terms of getting houses built.

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Of course, we do not need to look in the crystal ball when it comes to Sinn Féin's housing policy. All we have to do is look at its abject failing on housing in Northern Ireland where there is no action, no increase in home building and no expansion in social or affordable housing. Next year, we will see new records on home building in critical sectors in this country, and a further...

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----which claim that nothing positive has ever happened in our country and that just demanding more of everything is the answer. Even during the pandemic, the addiction to destructive opposition showed itself repeatedly. Every measure we introduced to help workers and businesses was attacked as paltry and when we had to end emergency measures, we were attacked again. We saw another level...

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: In response to a balanced, ambitious and progressive-----

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am clearly striking home.

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I take the Deputy's interruptions as a compliment on the quality of my speech. In response to a balanced, ambitious and progressive budget, we have heard an incoherent barrage of attacks and no meaningful debate. The Opposition would like nothing better than to claim that they are facing some form of neo-Thatcherite Government. Of course, the reality is that we have been consistently...

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: This is a budget for a modern country determined to protect its success and use its resources to permanently tackle key issues. It is a balanced, fair and progressive budget that significantly expands vital public services and supports. It is a budget that protects and promotes the economic success that generates the resources on which these public services and supports rely. Critically,...