Results 16,421-16,440 of 50,297 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Lowry for raising this important issue. All Oireachtas Members from Tipperary are united in revitalising Tipperary town and addressing social disadvantage and deprivation there. As the Deputy said, the entire community came together publicly to demonstrate its concerns but, above all, its objectives in terms of revitalising the town and its hinterland and providing for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has raised a very important issue. I take on board the points he has made. It is a cause for concern that quite a high number of those judgments were overturned or that seven were voluntarily owned up to and deficits were acknowledged in terms of the decisions. In the first instance, this means An Bord Pleanála must reflect on its process and due diligence regarding...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Sinn Féin has opposed every single measure that this Government has taken to provide affordable housing to people and it did likewise in previous years.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Government has this year committed to 12,750 new social homes, 9,500 of which will be direct builds. That is a commitment that the Deputy continues to ignore. That is at maximum and it was before the three months of Covid-19 restrictions on the construction industry came in. That is the point. I note the Deputy's reply. Is she saying that private builders have no role at all?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy seemed to be saying that. I have no idea what her view is of private house building.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I do not know whether the Deputy thinks small builders should be facilitated to build homes.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Sinn Féin seems to be objecting to housing project after housing project for a variety of reasons, perhaps just to mess up the whole thing and prevent success. In terms of the investment funds-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: -----the Ministers for Finance and Housing, Local Government and Heritage are going to deal with the issue and will be bringing proposals to the Government in respect of the situation.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: We do not want investment funds competing with first-time buyers and certainly not buying up housing estates. We oppose that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: As I have said, in previous eras the banks provided finance to the construction industry. The Government is now providing the bulk of housing activity through its funding mechanisms, be they direct build, affordable housing schemes, cost rental or other mechanisms such as the housing assistance payment, HAP, and so on. That is the reality of the situation.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: First, I have to say that the Government is ten months in office. During those ten months, we have been dealing with an unprecedented global pandemic which has had a huge impact on the people and, indeed, on sectors of our economy. It has also had an impact on the construction industry. Notwithstanding that, the Government has committed to, and provided the funding for, the largest...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: State Visits (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: High-level visits between Ireland and the United States of America are an important part of the relationship between both countries, including in strengthening the ties between us. During my phone call with President-elect Biden in November last year, I extended an open invitation for him to visit Ireland. In my letter of congratulations to him on his inauguration in January, I added a...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Properties (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Chief States Solicitors Office (CSSO) does not own any property. The CSSO occupies two buildings, Osmond House which is State owned and managed by OPW and 3 Chancery Lane, which is a privately owned property and part is rented by OPW to meet CSSO additional accommodation needs.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The information requested by the Deputy is detailed in the table below. Name Role Salary Scale Start Date Exit Date Deirdre Gillane Chief of Staff Deputy Secretary 27.06.2020 N/A Pat McParland Deputy Chief of Staff Assistant Secretary 27.06.2020 N/A ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The groups currently chaired by the Secretary General of my Department are listed below: - Secretary General Post-Cabinet Briefing; - Secretary General Brexit Group: - COVID-19 Oversight Group; - Civil Service Management Board; - High Level Steering Board on Policing Reform; - North East Inner City Oversight Group; - Senior Officials Group on Commemoration; - Climate Action Delivery Board...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: My diary for quarter 1 of 2021 has been published and is available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/87c7c-taoiseachs-diary-2021/.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Funding (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: My Department, has not allocated any funding to An Taisce in the years in question and there is no budget allocation for An Taisce in 2021. The National Economic and Social Development Office, which is under the aegis of my Department, have confirmed that they have also not provided funding to An Taisce.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Funding (11 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: The Department of the Taoiseach does not provide funding to any non-governmental organisations.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Richmond for tabling this question in the first instance. I accept the points he made. He has retained a very consistent and constructive interest in this issue for quite some time. He mentioned the importance of meeting with the British Prime Minister and the necessity for ongoing open exchanges between the British Prime Minister and myself. Such exchanges will continue in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (5 May 2021)

Micheál Martin: Clearly, that has to be examined as well. To respond to Deputy Murphy, the Government is developing a national relationships and sexuality education programme and all children attending all schools will have to have the State RSE programme provided to them. A review into RSE and its provision is on the way. The 1998 legislation, through the National Council for Curriculum and...