Results 16,201-16,220 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I have dealt with this earlier. This is not an abandonment of anybody. There is a key issue about the supply of apartments and that is one that has to be balanced. We could do what people want and increase taxation or do this or that. All of that could, cumulatively, reduce-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government has now been in office for ten or 11 months. Over that time, we have made it very clear that we would have a broad suite of initiatives for housing, the key part being social housing and the building of 50,000 houses over the next five years. The Deputy keeps ignoring that. That is part of the €3.3 billion. The €3.3 billion has nothing to do with it ISIF. HAP...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue. Without question, the expansion of data centres in Ireland has led, and will continue to lead, to a large increase in electricity demand, concentrated in the Dublin area, which raises challenges for the energy system. One needs to consider data centres more broadly, in terms of both the FDI situation and also in terms of the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and I acknowledge his consistency on it. I will say what I have said consistently since this attack. It is a despicable thing to do to attack a health service and to engage in theft of people's personal medical records. This is a criminal enterprise and this is what criminals do in situations like this. We have to be very clear on two things....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: It is an important aspect of the issue. I do not think the Deputy expects me to comment on the plan because those who are endeavouring to hold the State to ransom would be very interested-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----in finding out about the Government's response and the security advice we are receiving as to how to respond to this. The Deputy will accept that. There are, therefore, limitations to the degree of public comment I will make on the State's response to this beyond what I have said on the restoration of services. We are very conscious of our duty of care. It is appalling that people...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----people's medical records and seek to exploit them for commercial gain.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Again, every effort is being made. The HSE is communicating internally with staff about this on an ongoing basis. It is very difficult for the HSE at all levels and for all workers on the front line. The frustrations are enormous. This is a very serious attack on our health service, and the overriding priority is to get the systems back up and running as quickly and as safely as we can in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: We will do this as fast as we possibly can.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The public should in the first instance, if they are contacted in the manner in which the Deputy's constituent was contacted, do exactly as his constituent did in contacting both their GP-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----and in particular the police.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: We will work to provide-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is wrong in his assessment of last night's measures because they will have an impact, both on the planning side and in respect of stamp duty. The stamp duty will have an impact, much broader than just the funds. The stamp duty disincentivises multiple buying of houses or duplexes and gives the advantage back to first-time buyers and owner occupiers. It is a much broader measure...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: We need a rental market. Does the Deputy not get that? In addition to other markets, we need a rental market. We need more supply. We need affordable houses and more social houses. Last night is just one measure in regard to one area. The Government is coming up with a range of initiatives in housing, the most important being substantial allocation of funding for the largest ever social...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: There is a range of initiatives the Government has brought forward and the Deputy has opposed every single one of them.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I think the Deputy's response is now the typical Sinn Féin response - oppose everything, prevaricate, delay and endeavour to exploit the housing crisis for its own political ends and electoral gain as opposed to coming up with real solutions that matter out there. Our fundamental concern is with young purchasers and other people to enable them to be in a position to buy houses at...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 to 44, inclusive, together. The Government recognises the importance of regular and open engagement with all sectors of society including the social partners. There are many different fora in place for these conversations, including the National Economic Dialogue, the National Economic and Social Council, and various Sectoral Groups. There is also...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Energy Usage (19 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: My Department’s 2021 Resource Efficiency Action Plan sets out a range of actions to improve the management of energy, water, material and waste resources within the Department and to increase sustainability awareness among staff. It also includes levels of energy and water usage and waste produced by the Department so that improvements can be tracked and measured following...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Once the agreement and the discussions are complete, I would expect full accountability to the House in that respect.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (18 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: As I said, this has gone on for quite a long time. Covid has dominated, but when we get full clarity around that, we will revert to the House on it. The Oireachtas health committee is an appropriate forum for the ins and outs of this project to be debated. We need to get a new national maternity hospital built.