Results 14,081-14,100 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Leasing is not the big story anymore. The Deputy knows that. We will directly build 9,500 houses. To respond to Deputy Ó Murchú, as I said, the 2% limit on rent increases came in last December. It is now February. It will take some time to bed in. I take his point that supply will take time. I appreciate his candour and honesty about that. There were 30,000 commencements...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is correct in that there is ongoing negotiation between the Irish Dental Association, which represents dentists, and the HSE, representing the State and taxpayer in respect of services. A balance has to be struck between representing the taxpayer and value for money and the need to provide badly needed services for medical card holders.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: As I said in my response to Deputy Tóibín, who raised the issue on Leaders' Questions, we are very opposed to the amnesty proposal that has emanated from the British Government. We do not believe in unilateral action on legacy issues. The British and Irish Governments and all the parties in Northern Ireland have entered into an intergovernmental conference on this in terms of the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue, which is being consideration by Government. She has been a long-term advocate for school secretaries. As she knows, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is leading on the broader issue of pay and conditions. As she said, this issue is scheduled to be discussed in further meetings within the industrial relations process. We...

Green Hydrogen Strategy Bill 2022: First Stage (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: No.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Functions (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Question Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together. The housing and infrastructure unit supports me and the Government in developing and implementing policy to support sustainable economic development, with a particular focus on the development and delivery of policies relating to housing and infrastructure. It supports the work of the Cabinet committee on housing, which...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: Cold case reviews are operational matters for An Garda Síochána. I have made the point more generally about statutory commissions of inquiry that there are serious issues around them in terms of how long they take. I do not believe such commissions are as optimal as we like to think they are for resolving a whole range of issues.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: As I say, I do not have all the answers. Over 15 or 16 years ago, the answer was to expedite the commission of investigation as an alternative to a public tribunal under the Tribunals of Inquiry Acts, which was the standard approach then. There are challenges with statutory inquiries, and we all should acknowledge that in the House.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: In the first instance, I think the cold case review is one for the Garda.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: It is my understanding that this legislation has gone through pre-legislative scrutiny and the outcome is being examined.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: On the overall point about delays in planning, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in consort with the Attorney General, is having a more fundamental and very detailed comprehensive look at the entire planning code with a view to providing legislative proposals whereby a project that would normally take a number of years could be undertaken in one year. We acknowledge...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I have noticed this morning that everything involving Kerry is of national importance. I am quite pleased with Jessie Buckley's nomination, which is an extraordinary achievement, and the greenway decision. The Deputy did not mention that Kerry beat Dublin at the beginning of the week.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (9 Feb 2022)

Micheál Martin: I know there is a bit of reluctance to go full-blooded on that one. There is a lot of funding for greenways. Greenways press so many buttons for health, well-being, people's enjoyment of nature, active travel and so on. It is very good news. We want to transform the country with walking routes, cycle routes, greenways and so on. We will certainly be very positive in our approach to it.