Results 101-120 of 51,741 for speaker:Micheál Martin

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: We are, unfortunately, importing too many fossil fuels and the sooner we can get to more and more renewables, the cheaper our energy will eventually become. In the meantime, we will keep the pressure on the companies. We will talk-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: We will talk to the CRU. There is a regulator there. The Deputies know that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: The regulator does not agree with Deputy Tóibín's position, but at the same time, we understand fully the pressures on people and that is why are focusing-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----on those on lower incomes-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----as opposed to giving wealthy people energy credits.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for, as usual, a well-researched and detailed presentation.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: Sorry, Deputy Cullinane, but it was. Safety in the air is first and has to be prioritised. I will follow this up and talk to the Minister for Transport in respect of it. I know from my neck of the woods that there is a safe zone around Cork Airport where you cannot do anything or build anything and that has been the way for decades. I will pursue the issue the Deputy has raised.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: That hospital has been closed for a long time. It may not be easily available for housing, or amenable, given the investment that would be required and the historical nature of the building. Aspects of it are probably listed. I do not know that but I presume so. Every Department, therefore, has to look at it from a value-for-money perspective. It is in a prime location and it would seem...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----the emergency accommodation for Ukrainians-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: It is not just the Minister for housing. It is the Minister for Health and the HSE as well. They are all involved. Come on.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Minister has been briefed in respect of this and I will be engaging with a number of Ministers on this as to what the current situation is. When the Deputy says "approved", does he mean by the Minister for housing?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: We have committed to ending the waiver over the lifetime of this Government, which is five years and five budgets. We made a significant start on this occasion which will enable us to do it in five years. We have significantly increased the income disregard. It is the highest ever. If you look at some of the income levels now entitled to the carer's allowance when compared with some years...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue. I accept fully her bona fides in moving this measure. As she said, we tabled a timed amendment to the legislation last year. I will talk to the relevant Ministers and the Government about the implications of adopting such a measure. We have made significant improvements in this wider area of the past number of years. We will look at it...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: We are using that money. We have used substantial resources in terms of the retrofitting programme-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----fuel poverty, the increase in the fuel allowance payment-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: -----and extending it into the working family payment will which will bring in a significant cohort of working people who are on relatively low incomes. We are spending an unprecedented amount on funding, targeting the measures. The quote the Deputy used is a bit distorted because I said it in the context of Deputy Murphy wanting universal credits for everybody, irrespective of income or...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Minister is engaging with them. We need to do everything we can to get prices down.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: The bus driver is very important.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: That is not true.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Oct 2025)

Micheál Martin: We will not be introducing price controls. They failed in the past and would fail again. In terms of child poverty, consistent poverty is the key metric, not relative poverty. The Deputy did not qualify which he was talking about.