Results 7,241-7,260 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: We are committed to social housing and affordable housing, and on the vacancy, the Deputy knows the Croí Cónaithe grants have been increased from €50,000 to €70,000-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: There is also the new revolving funding of €150 million. Therefore, for the first time in a long time, there is a focused, targeted and well-resourced programme on vacancy and dereliction. The Deputy should at least acknowledge that, but there we are.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. In terms of lifespan generally, the last 20 or 30 years have seen a dramatic improvements in lifespan. Over the history of the State, we have gained 25 years in lifespan. In terms of health outcomes, there have been fairly dramatic improved outcomes on cancer care and survival rates and cardiovascular in terms of survival from cardiac issues....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is all of the above. It will need more resources, if one looks at the trajectory of health expenditure. Much of that is on the human resource because the human capital in health has increased. The numbers of people working in the health service have continued to increase but more and more services have come on stream with it. It means more investment of capital, in equipment and in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: With respect, I never said anything about anybody not getting additional funding. The Deputy just said that I did. That is untrue. Do not be putting words into my mouth. The Deputy came out two weeks ago about sources he had saying that remedial works needed to be carried out. In the public interest the Deputy should reveal the sources.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: What is the secret?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: If someone comes to the Deputy and says that he or she has information-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: No. The Deputy should put the source in. Who came to the Deputy?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: Through the Chair if I may-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am answering the Deputy's question. I am simply saying that in the public interest. There are lots of agendas here. I am not talking about the Deputy now. I am talking about the cost of this. We must protect, as best we can, the taxpayer. I never gave a date on this. The reason I did not give a date is that I am aware of the tensions between the contractor and the hospital...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is in the nitty-gritty and the daily grind of contesting the claims that are being made and testing them objectively, and then doing the best on behalf of the taxpayer.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: With respect the Deputy she has been very short with proposals or options for the housing supply side. She has not put anything forward. There will be no break in house building. There are record levels of house building going on right now. If the Deputy had read the progress report this was very clear. Last year 30,000 houses were built. This is a 45% increase on 2021. We need balance...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: The most effective advocates for housing should be in this House. No-one should be depending on any lobby group. I do not depend on IBEC to tell me that housing is the biggest crisis in this country. I have said this from day one since I came into Government. On coming into Government I was adamant that a member of our party would become the Minster responsible for housing, to take on the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: We have reached our target and have exceeded our target in house building but-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----it is not enough and we need more housing. The problem, I respectfully suggest, is that the propositions the Deputy brings would actually reduce the supply. That is the challenge. All of the Deputy's approach-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: First, I agree with the Deputy that the new children's hospital will be transformative when completed and will represent a significant step change in tertiary care for children in this country. The opening of the two satellite centres has already had an impact. I visited the site last year when I was Taoiseach and there is a greater degree of completion now than there was some years ago....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: I did not.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: I never said anything.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Family Reunification (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: I can assure the Deputy that officials in my Department have been in regular contact with the Irish citizen in this case and are continuing to provide consular assistance and guidance. I can appreciate that the circumstances of this case are difficult for all concerned. The Embassy of Ireland has engaged with the relevant Ministry of Justice on the matter and has provided advice to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jul 2023)

Micheál Martin: There are certain passport applications for applicants resident in Ireland that require forms to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána. The witnessing of these forms is a vital element of the identity verification process for the Passport Service, as it provides initial assurance that the person in the photograph is the same person submitting the passport application form. ...