Results 1,841-1,860 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: We are fundamentally committed to value for money. The Comptroller and Auditor General is there; the public accounts committee is there. This is part of our system of rigorously examining public expenditure. My point, in response to the Deputy's presentation, is the lack of balance in her presentation and the lack of any reference to some very significant projects that have been delivered....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----and transformation of our school system. In social housing along in 2023-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----some 8,000 new build social housing homes were delivered.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Then if we look at transport links, the Deputy knows herself about the Maynooth bypass-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am sure the Deputy welcomed that Maynooth bypass. However, there is also the Collooney to Castlebaldwin N4 road project. Then there is the Gort to Tuam on the N17-N18-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----and the N25 New Ross bypass. These are all projects. There is the Westport to Turlough N5 protect, the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: My point is, I am redressing the imbalance-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----in the Deputy's presentation. If she talks to the people in Macroom right now-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----and the people all along there who travel to Cork and Kerry, that Macroom and Ballyvourney bypass has been an extraordinary-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----game-changer in terms of-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----the quality of life of the local people. It is well worth the expenditure that was allocated to it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: What is happening in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon is absolutely unacceptable. It is clearly in breach of international humanitarian law. In terms of what happened in northern Gaza in the last week, we witnessed war crimes of a shocking nature taking place. I immediately called that out in a statement in respect of what was happening in northern Gaza and followed that up at the Foreign...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the pupils from St. Columba's National School in Cork. I hope to meet them after this session. Ní aontaím leis an Teachta. Bíonn suas le €14 billiún á chaitheamh ag an Rialtas gach aon bhliain anois. Tá an-chuid foirgneamh scoile, tograí sláinte agus tithíochta curtha i bhfeidhm ar fud na tíre. I do not agree with the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----to increased expenditure and so on. There has been inflation, coming out of the war in Ukraine. We all know that. Everybody knows there was a period coming out of the start of that war and coming after Covid where the cost of building materials, in particular, went through the roof. We know that from some of the road projects. Some of those road projects we approved, where the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----which were being evaluated was such that its Deputies in here said they wanted the project to get done and asked why we were delaying it. The Dunkettle interchange is an example. It is an exceptional piece of work from an engineering perspective on the way into the Jack Lynch Tunnel, but I recall that when we went back to tender to get better value for money compared with the original...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate what has been said. At the virtual meeting of 16 EU defence ministers, there was unanimity in condemning the violation of international humanitarian law by the IDF in firing on peacekeepers. At the Foreign Affairs Council earlier in the week, it took 48 hours to get agreement on a statement because of one country objecting to some language, which we found very distressing and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank both Deputies for their remarks. I accept what Deputy Smith said about the role of our military in protecting the State, especially against the shocking violence over the 30-year period from the late 1960s to the nineties. I read a book recently, written by Ronan McGreevy and Tommy Conlon, about the kidnapping of Don Tidey, when a private and a garda lost their lives. It...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 23, 34, 39 and 40 together. I reiterate my absolute gratitude and pay tribute to our Defence Forces personnel who are operating in Lebanon under very challenging, difficult and dangerous circumstances. I am particularly conscious of their families who are obviously very worried and anxious about what they are watching on the news and on social media,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I believe the Deputy's time with the FCA stood him in good stead and prepared him well for his parliamentary and ministerial career, so that speaks volume about the importance of the RDF. In a serious vein, since I became Minister, I have been very determined to drive this on because it is not acceptable that we do not have adequacy and sufficiency in terms of the Reserve Defence Force. We...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will follow up on the gratuity issue. That has not come on to my radar and more is the pity, because we could have got it done but I will pursue that. Civil servants can be granted special leave with pay if they attend for the full period of the course of training. That could be seven days or three working days for a course of annual training lasting 14 days. They could be given special...