Results 621-640 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It is obviously a matter of real concern to people in Ardgroom, Eyeries and Castletownbere. I have had discussions but not specifically on this issue. I did not realise the Deputy was going to raise the matter this morning, but I will follow up on it. I have asked Uisce Éireann, in respect of rural communities in particular, to develop...

Ceisteanna ó na Comhaltaí Eile - Other Members’ Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising what is an important and serious issue facing Irish society. The Government is acutely aware of the terrible damage that drugs can do to individual users, their families, communities and society as a whole. We are committed to a health-led approach to drug use that reduces the harms associated with drugs and supports recovery from problematic drug use. In...

Ceisteanna ó na Comhaltaí Eile - Other Members’ Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: I fully take on board what the Deputy is saying about the need to expand the current strategies and for a new public awareness campaign on this issue. I will speak to the Minister for Health and other Ministers about the matter. We will take a cross-departmental approach. On the criminal justice side, there have been some strong and successful interventions by An Garda...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: They made a decision off their own bat and for their own commercial reasons. I would not approve of some of this either, particularly in terms of divesting and all of that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: In terms of divesting from Jordanian and other debt, we are talking about small amounts of money which could not fund any genocide. I ask the Deputy to withdraw the assertion that the Irish Government has funded genocide. That is wrong.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: First, I welcome James Maloney, who is in the Gallery with his wife Deirdre. James is an elected member of the Parliament of Canada and is affectionately known there as "the minister for Ireland". I had the pleasure of meeting with him when I was last in Canada. I hope he enjoys his visit to the Oireachtas and to Ireland, particularly as he has been a great friend to Ireland in Canada.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: Every child is entitled to and has a constitutional right to an education. It is the Government's job to vindicate that right, especially for children with additional educational needs. Schools and parents consistently highlight the value of special schools and classes, particularly where there are challenges in the system with the provision of a broader range of disability supports. This...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: Of course they do. In Cork schools, they do.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: In Carignavar in Cork, alterations are being made to an older school building to facilitate a new special school. In the interim, the Gaelscoil, which is no longer in use, is being used as an alternative location until the building is complete. It will be completed before the end of the year. That is my understanding. That is what I referred to in response to the Deputy. I reiterate that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: First, we do take responsibility. We are leading and have taken measures. The Deputy does not like the new planning design standards for apartments but that is addressing-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----a viability gap. There will have to be a range of house and apartment types built. There will simply have to be to cater for different elements of the market. Some people have said outside of Government that this will be positive with regard to single people seeking housing and apartments also.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: The single-stage approval process for all social housing projects under €200 million has been decided on by the Minister and also the RPZ reforms, which the Deputy opposed. That is an action the Government took that increased, by the way, protection nationally but that will also increase greater investment for the private sector.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy just said, "No, no, no". Any measure designed to bring any private sector investment into the market the Deputy says "no" to.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy does. She consistently says "no" to that. The review of the national planning framework-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: ----enables us to zone more land and guess what? Some of you people will be out there opposing all of that too when it comes to the local authorities.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: First, I take strong exception to the Deputy's assertion that the Irish Government is funding genocide. It most certainly is not and never has.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: Hold on, now; do not be twisting. The Deputy knows full well that ISIF was established as a separate organisation in terms of all of its investment decisions.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy knows Government does not get involved in investment decisions by any fund that is established. He knows that is the case. In terms of this specific issue the Deputy raised this morning, I will follow through on that. I ask him not to make the assertion because he must understand and know that this Government is fundamentally opposed to the Israeli war in Gaza.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: Surely the Deputy knows that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Jul 2025)

Micheál Martin: Surely Deputy O'Callaghan knows that when he meets Palestinian representatives in this country. The Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, met the deputy foreign minister yesterday in Europe, and what was the response of the Palestinian deputy foreign minister? To thank Ireland for the role it has played in terms of the Palestine question.