Results 81-100 of 45,809 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----and the evidence is there in that the vast majority of house purchases-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: ----in the country are by citizens and individuals. We have had the highest number of first-time buyers in years on an ongoing basis. What does that tell the Deputy? It tells us that affordability is improving-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----for quite a number of first-time buyers. We doubled the number of affordable homes this year and we will continue to increase the direct intervention by the State. This is not spin, because Housing for All is a fairly substantial document. It has been updated, and so forth and there are quarterly reports.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have seen no other substantive document from any party saying how we are going to get to building 40,000 or 50,000 houses per annum. We can all pluck figures out of the air but we need an actual programme and clear policy platform as to how one gets more houses built-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----and how one gets more houses into the private rental market. I would suggest the Deputy's policies would take more houses out of the private rental market.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: Which party is that?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are different constituent parts to it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Shanahan has an undue paranoia of Cork hurling.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: No I am not. Deputy Shanahan seems obsessed with senior hurling and Cork. We will park that for a moment. Since this Government came into office, there has been a very focused prioritisation and commitment to the south east on a whole range of investments. At different times when I have engaged with the Deputy, he has acknowledged that, particularly with regard to health. Then, every...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: When I mentioned October, it was in reference to the task force that was put together, came together and developed a cross-sectoral plan. That was what I referenced. The Deputy keeps saying nothing is being done-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----and just ignores what has been done. He creates the scenario, for a political reason that suits him, that the Government does not value apprenticeships. That is nonsense. Of course the Government values apprenticeships. Come on, cop on with the nonsense. That kind of language is grand for politics and the back and forth, but it does not make any real sense.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: We want to grow craft apprenticeships and construction. We have expanded in that regard. There are now 17 programmes across the broad categories of construction, including electrical engineering, which are relevant to the construction sector. We have actually expanded. That includes the plumbing, electrical, geo drilling and scaffolding programmes and so forth. The numbers who...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have to deal with the backlog.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will make the point, and I have said it repeatedly in the House, that housing is the single most urgent and important social issue facing our people at this moment in time. Access to housing is fundamental to our security, social cohesion, opportunity for people and progress as a nation. There is not a family in the country untouched by the crisis. I respectfully suggest the Deputy does...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: First, I will say that all of our thoughts are with the families of those who died in the Stardust tragedy in 1981. For over 40 years now, the families have pursued their search for truth and justice. In a couple of hours' time, we will hear the verdict of the Dublin Coroner's Court. This will be an important moment for the families and for the entire country because the Stardust tragedy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs, working closely across Government with key Departments and agencies, continues to closely monitor Ireland’s trade with the UK and to support Irish exporters address the challenges that continue to be raise by the outworkings of Brexit. While the loss of pre-Brexit trading arrangements with the United Kingdom has been challenging, following the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: Engaging in extensive public diplomacy activities is an important part of the role of Ireland's Ambassador to Israel. This typically involves a wide range of activities, such as engagement with universities, media outreach and social media. The Embassy in Tel Aviv regularly engages with a variety of Israeli organisations to effectively communicate Ireland's perspective. Due to the ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: In March, I announced that Ireland will seek to intervene in the case initiated by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice. At the time, I stated that our intention is to file a Declaration of Intervention after South Africa has filed its Memorial, and I noted that this would likely take a number of months. On 5 April, the ICJ made...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: Following Government approval on 7 September 2022, Ireland will open a resident Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan later this year. The decision to open a mission in Pakistan is part of the Government’s Global Ireland strategy, which seeks a doubling of Ireland’s global footprint and influence, including through an expanded and strengthened diplomatic presence. The Embassy will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (18 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland, together with our EU partners, adheres to the One China Policy. This means that we do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. We recognise the People’s Republic of China as the legal representative of China. However, this does not preclude the development of economic, cultural, and people-to-people connections with Taiwan; nor the meaningful participation of Taiwan in...