Results 6,241-6,260 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Covid-19 affected the numbers going through the training college. The numbers in Templemore now continue to increase. Approximately 500 trainees are currently in the system, with one more class due into Templemore on 27 December. Approximately 237 new gardaí have attested so far this year. The new attestation schedule is for 12 January. We are on track to have between 700 or 800 new...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Water is in public ownership and will remain in public ownership. There is no intention to privatise water supplies. I do not think the Deputy should try to twist the truth in that respect. I will pursue with Irish Water the specific issue the Deputy raised regarding the discolouring of water and the specific water supply challenges he identified.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the situation. The Taoiseach and the Minister for agriculture are meeting the environment Commissioner today in respect of the nitrates directive, with a particular focus on the issue of calving heifers in the very near future and the timelines around that. I visited the Timoleague catchment area some weeks ago. I spent a number of hours there with farmers. I can confirm...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: We announced an increase cost of doing business grant in 2024. It is available to small and medium sized businesses which operate from a ratable premises. I do not know if the pub which the Deputy instanced has availed of that funding to alleviate its energy bills.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The scheme will make payments in 2024.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Sorry?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Which charge? I did not quite pick it up.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am saying, in terms of general energy costs we have introduced a grant scheme. Over €250 million has been made available to small to medium sized enterprises to help with their energy bills.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: What new charge? I do not know specifically because the Deputy did not say. I did not pick up the name of the new charge the Deputy referenced.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: In my view remediated homes should be mortgageable.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will ask the Minister for Finance to engage with the banking sector to discuss that.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of what the Deputy is saying although any case that has come before me, I have looked at on its individual merits and chosen not to reduce any award as the pension is awarded. I have done so on the individual merits of a given case that has come before me. I stand to be corrected, but I do not think a case has come before me yet where I have acceded to the idea of reducing it.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I know there is a general point but I look at each case individually.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has made a very good point. There is a broader issue where there is an interdepartmental group looking at the whole area of retirement from uniformed public services, whether An Garda Síochána, firefighting or Defence Forces. We have increased retirement age limits on an interim basis in the Defence Forces. We are living longer. Thankfully, Ireland has made dramatic...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is not a legacy of the Government at all.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: No it is not. It is a legacy of the landlord or whoever owns the house. There is individual responsibility on this too. There is also the RTB and there are regulatory authorities. The regulatory authorities should be acting on something like that. There is the local authority, in respect of the residential area involved and there is a whole range of regulatory frameworks that govern that...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his question and his strong advocacy for the Cavan and Monaghan area for quite a long time. I will pursue that issue of additional capacity on the Cavan-Dublin route with the Minister for Transport and particularly guarantees that people will get a return journey, especially if they are attending medical and hospital appointments. I will talk to the Minister about that.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will speak to the Minister for housing on that. I doubt it is as simple as that. As soon as you do something like that a whole host of people in this House and elsewhere will come forward to say that you have to go through the proper planning process.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I agree. I think the flood relief schemes are taking too long. There is huge deliberation and public consultation and lots of inputs at different stages yet some end up in the High Court and, in one case in Cork city, in the Supreme Court. That is excessive and problematic, given the emergency. In some instances, we are talking about very significant funding. I know that in the Midleton...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: We wish Patrick Kielty the very best with his first "Late Late Toy Show". It is a magic moment for many children across the country. I hope that will be the case tomorrow. The Government is taking a lot of measures in November. Child poverty has come down. There are budget measures, including the doubling of the child benefit payment and a range of payments that will take place in...