Results 13,141-13,160 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which is a very serious one for many people throughout the country. We know that inflation has risen very significantly globally. The origins of this are fundamentally global both in terms of oil and gas prices which have risen dramatically across the world - the Deputy will have to acknowledge that - and the unevenness between the supply of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Sustainable Development Goals (15 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Programme for Government commits to continuing to work towards achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at ending poverty and inequality, tackling climate change, and fostering innovation. The whole-of-Government approach to implementation is led by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, with each Minister in the Government having...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Sector Staff (15 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Neither my Department nor the National Economic and Social Development Office, the only body under the aegis of my Department, have any employees working in County Wexford.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Electric Vehicles (15 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: My Department currently provides one electric vehicle charging point which was installed for use by State-owned cars. A second charging point has recently been installed in line with the action in the Department's latest Resource Efficiency Action Plan (REAP) to provide an e-charging point for staff use. This e-charging point is not yet operational. The National Economic and Social...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the Deputy's question about whether there is a disconnect with local authorities, I just said in my reply that the Minister has provided an additional 200 staff to local authorities. He recognised that, and we have been, since we came into office, very serious about social housing. There have been a number of years where it has taken a while to catch up. We want to do 9,500...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: We cannot just move on from that with a click of our fingers or wish it away. What we can do is rebalance that equation over time. If we did that, we would then free up more houses for the private market as well, for cost rental and so on. We can have all the politics about it and I respect people's views and different perspectives, but I keep coming back to the point that we need to get...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Government has been working hard to implement the commitments in the programme for Government across a wide range of issues in all Departments. The ten Cabinet committees established by this Government reflect the full range of policy areas on which it will work on during its lifetime, as set out in the programme for Government. Cabinet committees meet regularly to continue this work....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: On the point made by Deputy Kerrane concerning the local employment services and job clubs, there has been considerable discussion about this in the House and, indeed, within the Government. The Minister has received significant legal advice in respect of the European directive and the need to adhere to it. The Minister, in the designing of the tendering process and framework, has put a...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I apologise; I do not know the detail of that. I do not know the background so I do not want to make any comments. However, I will say that no intimidatory actions or actions of the kind the Deputy has described should occur when children or teachers are in school or in an early education setting. Nobody should be endangered by any actions. There are better ways to resolve issues.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: The public service, justice and policing reform unit is part of the social policy and public service reform division of my Department. The work of the unit supports me, in my role as Taoiseach, with regard to criminal justice, policing, community safety and related matters. The unit incorporates the policing reform implementation programme office, which oversees the implementation of A...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: On the issue of Tusla's report and the review of the provision of accommodation for victims of domestic violence, as the Deputy will know, the Minister for Justice said last week that she would be taking overall responsibility for policy and wraparound services. She will therefore be publishing that review along with both interim and medium-term plans to provide for and develop those places,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: We in the European Union have been dealing with Belarus, for example. Let us not always try to dilute the core argument I am putting forward because what I am saying is the truth.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I do not agree with what is going on in Hungary at all in some of what it is doing but equally let us not pretend either-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: The first question was about the TEN-T and was from Deputy Kerrane. It related to the western rail corridor. The western rail corridor is now being considered in the context of the all-island rail strategy that the Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has agreed with his counterpart in Northern Ireland. Through the shared island initiative, we have agreed to fund an overall strategic...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Minister brought them in in December, to be fair. The 2% limit was introduced by legislation in December. It will take some time to bed in. The rent control board will carry out its own engagement with landlords to make sure that the legislation is adhered to. The rent pressure zones have been around for quite some time and are similar to the measures in France that the Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I have no issue with linking people's income to rent. In fact, our social housing programme is quite good in that respect. Likewise, HAP is a support to many low-income families in getting access to housing. Our preference, however, is to build more houses and to build social housing through the approved housing bodies and the local authorities in order that people can get access to social...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Is the Deputy saying we should not build?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: There is no doubt but that the absence of supply is driving rents at present.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: As for the issue Deputy Cian O'Callaghan raised, of course apartments are homes - I know that - but we have had an issue with the building of apartments in recent years. We have been in government for one year and a half and we have been endeavouring to deal with the issue of viability. Builders are saying they cannot build apartments and get a return. There has been a particular absence...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Yes. We will reach 9,500 this year. That is the maximum.