Results 11,721-11,740 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: We need honesty in the debate.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is not two years ago. This is a new scheme that was introduced, as the Deputy has just said, via legislation in this House. It is a new scheme because homeowners and representative groups did not believe the previous scheme, which was welcomed by the Deputies in the House at the time, went far enough. We met residents and representative groups and dramatically improved the scheme with...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is difficult. The agencies involved, and all State agencies, have to be very conscious of the predicament families find themselves in when someone makes a declaration that a house will be purchased via CPO or taken over. It causes genuine stress and anxiety. It can also put people into a state of limbo for many years whereby they are not in a position to do anything. That is not...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is the only way we can do it. At the moment, Europe is saying it takes an average of eight years from concept to a wind farm being in position. There has to be an overall public good that triumphs over our individual perspectives and considerations. We have not achieved consensus in this House or society more generally, if we are honest.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I understand the genuine disappointment with the latest developments in this project. I was in Galway on Friday and all the engagements regarding the economic development of Galway, including the expansion of Genesys, the expansion of the Galway Technology Centre and the launch of the Irish clinical academic training programme, were very positive....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The HAP scheme and the RAS have been there for a long time. If we did not spend the money on the HAP, there would be far more people homeless. It is not a simple matter of saying we should get rid of HAP and start building.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I know. I am articulating a basic principle around this. We will build more houses and more social homes, as we are doing and will be doing consistently. I have seen no mechanism from any other party. Some parties say we should be building 20,000 social homes. There is no capacity at present to build 20,000 social homes. It is not there. We all need to be honest. It is all good for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am making this point generally. This is what gets said. To deal with the HAP-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am doing so. I am speaking about the HAP. The only way to deal with it is to build more social houses but that will be over time. As we build more social houses, we will reduce our reliance on the HAP and the RAS.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: That is what the Government is doing. That is what we are committed to doing. We will work with the Opposition on any constructive proposal it has on this issue and on the Bill that will come before the House in the next while.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue, which is more specific to the issue of the winter eviction ban. The residential tenancies (deferment of termination dates of certain tenancies) Bill 2022 was approved by Government this morning and will be published shortly. The Bill gives greater security of tenure to tenants during the coming winter period. Specifically, the Bill will defer...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Bill proposes to stagger the end of the protections afforded in it to ensure there is no cliff-edge impact on 1 April next year. Importantly, the Bill applies to licences and tenancies in student-specific accommodation and to student tenancies in the general rental market. The Bill is required, as I said earlier, due to the ongoing acute supply constraints in the residential rental...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: Since July, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, has given authority to the local authorities to purchase-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----houses where a tenantin situ, whether under the rental accommodation scheme, RAS, or the housing assistance payment, HAP, was on the cusp of being evicted. Since this measure was introduced, close to 650 houses have been bought or are in the process of being bought by local authorities. That is a significant intervention. Every mechanism the Minister can use to avoid homelessness is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputies would, absolutely. It would be condemned as guillotining and all the rest of it. Anyway, 1 November is the date the Minister is targeting. I will take up the offer made by Deputy McDonald. The legislation will be published and we will work with the Opposition to get it through as quickly as possible.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: First, I have said repeatedly in this House - and I stand by my statement - that, in my view, housing is the single most important social issue facing our country at this moment in time and access to housing is fundamental to our security, our stability, our health and our progress as a nation. I do not know the individual circumstances in relation to Graham King and his family. I do not...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Programme for Government commits to establishing four Citizens’ Assemblies, on the topics of Biodiversity Loss, the type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin, Drug Use and the Future of Education. The Citizens’ Assembly on Biodiversity Loss and the Dublin Local Government Citizens’ Assembly were formally established in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Bodies (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The National Economic and Social Council (NESC) advises me on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Ireland. The NESC work programme, in 2022, include five main areas: - To carry out a major piece of research and consultation on climate, biodiversity and how to achieve a just transition in agriculture. - To continue to help us deepen...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Bodies (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: A Policing Service for our Futureis the Government’s Plan to implement the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. As recommended in the Commission’s report, implementation of the Plan is being overseen by a dedicated Programme Office in the Department of the Taoiseach. The Policing Reform Implementation Programme Office monitors progress on A Policing...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Human Rights (18 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I visited New York for UN High Level Week from 21-23 September. In delivering Ireland’s National Statement to the General Assembly, I said that all countries, no matter how small, have a contribution to make to international peace and security, and to economic and social development; and that all people have the right to live in dignity; to have their human rights and fundamental...