Results 6,821-6,840 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: He would have gotten nine months of jobseeker's benefit when he became unemployed, which would have been a higher payment, based on his contributions, than the jobseeker's allowance. I presume the nine-month period has elapsed and now he is on jobseeker's allowance. Exceptional needs payments are available if any particular issues arise but again, I do not have the background to the case....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----and, therefore, they need a cushion to get them through difficult periods. Again, I thank the Deputy for raising this matter.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thought the Deputy might acknowledge that this Government has done more on all-island and cross-Border projects than most, whether that be the Ulster Canal, the Narrow Water Bridge, the €40 million-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----for research involving third level collaboration, the geopark in Cuilcagh, where we purchased thousands of hectares for the first cross-Border geopark-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am delighted about the UEFA bid. What is important is that, first of all, we get host nation participation in the finals. That should be sorted. Stadia have to be developed and the UK Government has significant obligations in this regard as well. The Irish Government will work with the UK Government to make sure that our stadia are fit for purpose, available and developed with a view to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: First of all, I dispute the Deputy's presentation of the facts, or the facts as he puts them and the position he is adopting here. The Government is very committed to protecting people against the cost-of-living increases. Last year we provided €12 billion to cushion the impact of rising prices on households, businesses and farmers. The Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Most Irish small- to medium-sized companies want to engage in free trade, but the Deputy is against it. His policies would undermine the enterprise economy-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----that has resulted in very high employment in the country, and career progression.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: We addressed the cost-of-living issues last year in an unprecedented way and in a way no other government in Europe did, with respect to the scale of the intervention. There were a whole range of measures, double social protection payments and all of that. We spent €12 billion last year alone and we are going to take similar action this year in the form of interventions to protect...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----the lowest in the European Union and our population rose by nearly 100,000 people over the year to the end of April 2023.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: That is an alternative-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----and there is much more I could say but we are committed in the budget to protecting people, especially those on the lowest incomes, from the very significant and acknowledged pressures of cost-of-living increases.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: First, in the context of the use of the word "hope", I believe this issue can be resolved. As recently as Tuesday, officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth engaged with the trade unions on the issue, and there will be further engagement next week. The Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, has informed me of that. The Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am listening to Deputy Whitmore.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: First, I would have thought the Deputy would have been more generous in her commentary in respect of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and childcare generally. Without question, the last two to three years has witnessed a transformation in the scale of funding to childcare, in particular in terms of workers within the childcare sector, when the joint labour committee, JLC, agreement was arrived...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Through the Chair, the context is very important because there is a huge difference between €5 billion or €6 billion and €17 billion of expenditure, which is what the Social Democrats are proposing. The credibility of that needs examination. I accept that Deputy Whitmore's party is proposing tax hikes of €1 billion to pay for this, and a new tax rate of 43%....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: That is an outrageous assertion to make to say that the needs of children have been forgotten by this Government. It does not stack up at all across the full range of measures that we have taken in the last three budgets in respect of childcare more generally but also in terms of support of maternal care leave and so on. We have introduced a whole range of measures. It is not a credible-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Through the Chair, I do not believe the assertion the Deputy just made is a fair or credible one.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: It defies any realistic understanding. In respect of childcare costs, over the last two years we have met our commitments.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: The more significant commitment is improving the status, pay and conditions of workers, in conjunction with the social partners in terms of a new JLC framework for people working in the childcare sector, which gives sustainability and continuity to the childcare sector in terms of a career pathway. That is key and crucial. In terms of the reduction in childcare costs, parents did feel the...