Results 11,281-11,300 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Provision (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: I have listened to the Deputy at length. I am saying where we are in respect of this. Obviously, we will have more definitive figures at the end of the year, when a lot of completions will come in. On the tenant in situscheme, the Minister took the initiative and local authorities have purchased houses where tenants were facing homelessness. He has instructed local authorities to proceed...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Provision (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: They are doing it, actually. A good few hundred have been purchased at this stage. I do not believe we should legislatively force local authorities to buy every single house that becomes available. There can be all sorts of background issues. Local authorities have to have some discretion in individual cases. Without that, why have local authorities and why not manage everything from the...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Provision (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: Deputy Boyd Barrett raised a similar issue concerning tenants in situ. It seems he is basically saying the local authorities should be automatons and do what they are told across housing. I am not sure that is the right policy and that councillors on the ground would appreciate that approach. There has to be some delegation of authority to local authorities. What we can do is resource...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Provision (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: -----in issues that arise in their jurisdictions. On the question of income thresholds, of course there is an issue. There has to be, and some mechanism is needed to resolve it. There is no point in saying there is not an issue because there many people with lower incomes who cannot get housing. Therefore, there has to be a targeting of resources too. We cannot just go in one direction...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Provision (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: We should allow people their space. There has to be balance in how we raise these issues. I will follow up on Deputy Murnane O'Connor's point on emergency accommodation for men. On Deputy O'Sullivan's comments on the planning review, the hope is the legislation will be published in a matter of weeks. Then it has to be deliberated upon.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Housing Provision (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: It deals mainly with the planning code, not necessarily the OPR or other issues. We will revert to the Deputy on this. Deputy McAuliffe raised the issue Croí Cónaithe. I agree with him that if opportunities arise in the context of interest rate increases, the Land Development Agency should take over sites for use for cost rental or other initiatives. Deputy McDonald raised the...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: The point is if one is in favour of free trade, as I unapologetically am, because it means jobs in this country-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: No. I want people working in this country. The Deputies are supposed to be for the workers but everything they are doing is against the workers, as far as I can see. If the Deputies' writ was allowed run here, we would destroy jobs in this country.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: There is no question about it. We should take the clarity offered by the Supreme Court and amend the Arbitration Act, which would cover trade deals. Investor courts are standard in trade agreements, and the European court has ruled on this.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: No country can be forced to accept it. There can be natural breaches of trade agreements, which have to be arbitrated. Hence, you need an arbitration court.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: This makes it far more effective and efficient. People cannot sue a state or ask it to take policies contrary to its legislation policies or its constitution.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: They cannot. Nor can they force states to go against the European Treaty. In terms of Deputy Bacik-----
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: It is all housing. It is all one issue.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: I do not mind. I am easy.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: It is up to the Deputies.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: We have taken a stance in respect of Iran, as has the Minister, particularly following the killing of Mahsa Amini and what is going on there right now. It has to be investigated. We have condemned the widespread and disproportionate use of force against peaceful protestors. Woman in Iran are being denied their rights. We work with the European Union in communicating our strongest...
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: You made assertions that there was sleight of hand.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: I am entitled to rebut those.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: I will if you will allow me to. Most people at COP accept Ireland's bona fides in respect of climate finance and loss and damage. We have led the way.
- Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (15 Nov 2022)
Micheál Martin: I will come back to Deputy Bríd Smith on the specifics of the question.