Micheál Martin
Cork South-Central · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“At the beginning of April, the Government approved the establishment of the Cork city futures group to guide development of Cork city for the future.”
“We have to have a budget that reflects the need to sustain that level of work in our economy so that people will have access to jobs. The AI issue is causing a lot of concern. I take heart from the investment announced by Intel this week, which will be AI-propelled, actually.”
“Dublin City Council is progressing the establishment of this new legal entity, in line with the timelines laid out in the roadmap; a ten-year integrated area strategy for Dublin city centre to optimise funding and investment and tackle vacancy and dereliction; and accelerated delivery of landmark capital projects in the city centre throug…”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 to 30, inclusive, together. This will be a long answer because there is one task group and one futures group.”
“I think Deputy Hayes was being a bit petty, if that is the word I am looking for, in what he said about Spain. Well, using the word "petty" might be a bit uncharitable today. It is more a Spain is more vociferous than us kind of thing. We have worked very well together on the Middle East. It is a very serious issue.”
“A dedicated body, to be known as The Cork City Futures Group, will work to unlock the city’s full economic, cultural and academic potential, alongside further investment, innovation and infrastructure. I think people are familiar with the terms of reference.”
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“The Cabinet committee will continue to oversee preparations for and delivery of the rotating Presidency of the EU Council which we will assume in July. It will be our eighth time doing so and we look forward to advancing the common European interest and improving the lives of citizens across the Union. Additional information not given on the floor of the House Irish Ministers will chair many dozens of formal meetings of the Council in Brussels and Luxembourg, and they will lead work to advance a positive policy agenda for all member states. We will host an informal meeting of the European Council and a meeting of the European political community in Dublin next November. In addition, up to 22 informal meetings of EU Ministers will be held in Ireland, with around a quarter of these meetings outside Dublin.”
“I participated in a round table discussion with other leaders on how to improve European connectivity and economic security, as well as the pressures being faced by people as a result of the conflicts in Iran. I joined the Moldova core group meeting which focused on supporting Moldova on its pathway to accession to the European Union. I also participated in the second meeting of the European Coalition against Drugs, co-hosted by President Macron of France and Prime Minister Meloni of Italy. I strongly support our focus on the collective fight against drug trafficking and drug-related threats. I also met with a number of leaders, including Prime Minister Starmer of the UK, President Guy Parmelin of Switzerland and Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada. This was the first time a non-European leader has attended.”
“European leaders met again in Cyprus for an informal meeting of the European Council on 23 and 24 April 2026, where our discussions included geopolitical developments, the impacts of the war in Iran on energy prices and supply, and the EU’s next long-term budget, the MFF. I also attended a European Political Community, EPC, summit on 4 May in Yerevan, Armenia. The EPC is an informal forum which brings together around 50 leaders from across the Continent of Europe twice a year to discuss co-operation on issues affecting the entire Continent, such as geopolitical uncertainty, economic security, trade, energy and connectivity. At the meeting President Zelenskyy gave a sobering update on the challenges he and the Ukrainian people face in confronting the continuing Russian aggression.”
“Substantial items discussed included the situation in the Middle East, including the impact on energy prices, Ukraine and economic competitiveness. On the last of these, leaders agreed a programme of work to be completed in the period ahead that will be central to Ireland’s Presidency of the Council in the second half of the year. Other items on the European Council agenda included European security and defence, migration, the democracy shield, multilateralism and the protection of children online. There was also a euro summit which assessed the state of the EU’s economy.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 to 40, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs was established by the Government in 2025. It meets quarterly in advance of regular European Council meetings, and as required. Its role is to oversee implementation of programme for Government commitments in relation to the European Union, including preparation for Ireland’s Presidency in the second half of this year, and international issues. The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs last met on 26 February 2026 in advance of the meeting of the European Council on 19 March. At the March meeting of the European Council, leaders dealt with a very full and important agenda against the backdrop of a very challenging and volatile international environment.”
“I am looking forward to opening the Fórsa conference as well, and we might allow them to hear my speech first. Perhaps it would be the best thing to do. In response to Deputy Hearne, we built about 36,000 houses last year. We need to do much more, and we need to go higher again. We are going to do everything we can to provide social and affordable houses to both buy and rent.”
“In response to Deputy Nash's question on the public service pay bill, the Minister will obviously engage with the trade unions on a new public service pay agreement, which will have a bill attached to it. I want to make the point that the package did result in a reduction of 32 cent in diesel and 27 cent in petrol which benefits workers. That cannot be ignored. It happened.”
“-----to engage with the company involved. In response to Deputy McGuinness's question regarding that fire in Waterford, the Ministers of State, Deputies Butler and Cummins, have been there and met with the key people. The Minister, Deputy Browne, visited yesterday. The Minister, Deputy Burke, visited today and also received Cabinet approval today for a humanitarian scheme for those impacted. We are working to see if we can relocate the social enterprises and in particular the facilities for adults with disabilities which have been wiped out as a result of the fire. We are also working to make sure that full public health protocols are applied in terms of the asbestos. Teams are already down there trying to protect public health.”
“Since the Minister brought in reforms, the applications have doubled in the first month or two since he announced them. In response to Deputy Boyd Barrett, someone has to keep an eye on public expenditure and if the Minister for public expenditure is not doing it, then there is something really wrong. The Minister has to alert all Government Departments to stay within their budgetary frameworks. I did not quite get the import of what Deputy Paul Murphy was saying, in terms of one person not being able to get the grant because it was wrongly-----”
“In response to Deputy Heneghan, I agree with him in the sense that all of what he outlined in terms of private wires - and the Minister is driving that forward - will be pursued and, as I said last week, the cost benefit analysis is part of what we need to examine. Examining a proposal means doing the cost benefit and the leg work to sort of identify what it would entail on the nuclear question. However, all of the others do not fall by the wayside as we develop that. In terms of the half a billion euro, I have spoken to the Minister and that will be spent. We have spent up to €4 billion from carbon tax revenues on a whole range of measures, including farming, in terms of agri-environmental schemes, fuel poverty and the retrofitting scheme.”
“The most recent manifestation of it this year has been the Labour Employer Economic Forum that the Irish Congress of Trade Union, the chambers and IBEC attend. I have asked the Secretary General of my Department to draw up a paper and I have consulted with the unions and IBEC, as well as the chambers and others, to see how we can solidify or develop a pathway to a stronger social dialogue and engagement. It will take all involved to participate but people would generally be supportive of some enhanced social dialogue. Whether the various parties want to go back to full-blown social partnership as we knew it is another question.”
“In terms of resolving the issue, it is easier said than done, but there is no question that it is one that the Minister and Tánaiste is focused on. We discussed it at North-South meetings, ministerial meetings and also in the context of the cross-Border bodies whose workers are directly impacted by the taxation situation vis-à-vis North and South. In terms of the job losses at Covalen, retraining and reskilling supports will be provided. We do have the National Training Fund, so the agencies should engage with the workers there in terms of whatever supports they need in perhaps finding alternative employment or helping some establish their own businesses if that is what some might want to do. In response to Deputy Connolly, social partnership is important.”
“Very often, the take-up is not huge in terms of the various loan schemes going back to Covid-19 right through. They had not been taken up to the same extent, but the Deputy attacked it. The VAT reduction was a very simple, straightforward way to try to help the hospitality industry, likewise on the construction side to try to reduce costs but the Opposition attacked it. They cannot have it both ways, but we will continue to work on the financing of enterprise and improving the venture capital area as well. Regarding the CIE pensioners, again I will talk to both Ministers. My understanding was that it was coming to a conclusion and hopefully it will be resolved very quickly. In response to Deputy Ó Murchú, cross-Border taxation is on the agendas of the Department of Finance, the UK Treasury and the Northern Ireland Executive.”
“From Enterprise Ireland, for example, it is growing and continues to do so in respect of most indigenous enterprises for export. The Deputy did not distinguish whether it was indigenous enterprise for export or domestic service companies, but in terms of indigenous enterprise for export, the feedback has been very positive regarding Government supports, not just financial supports but also soft supports, market access supports, market intelligence, R and D grants and so on. Through the budget, we reduced VAT on hospitality. That measure, which was attacked by the Deputy and his party, is supporting SMEs.”
“When there is conflict like in the Middle East and in Ukraine, and going back over the past number of decades, wars and conflict in oil-producing areas have created the greatest degree of volatility, so we have to move to renewables. That is the medium-term strategy. About 50% of electricity generation last February was through renewables. We achieved a lot in onshore renewable wind and solar is moving fast. The key challenge for us over the next number of years is offshore renewables, and then to work with the European Union on whether there are ways to deal with the regulatory framework governing the setting of energy prices. The link to gas is a particular factor in how energy prices and electricity prices are determined. Regarding capital, the support for enterprise is very strong.”
“There is no question that family-owned pubs, particularly in rural Ireland, provide a social network and enhance socialisation, which is an important dimension of human health and the development of community ethos and spirit. I am not sure about the specific proposal. I will have to examine that, but we can see what can be done. On the issue of our electricity prices being the highest in Europe, we are also the fifth highest in terms of purchasing power parity, but, nonetheless, they are too high. One of the key issues is grid dispersal. We are a peripheral island nation and we rely too much on imported fossil fuels. Those are the fundamental drivers of the high cost of fuel, as well as the volatility that arises when war starts.”
“A cost of business forum has been established which has worked with the small business sector with a view to endeavouring to identify cost pressures on SMEs in particular. That is one strategy that has been deployed. A capacity is being developed within the Department of enterprise around simplification of regulation nationally. Across the European Union, significant work is also under way relating to the simplification of regulation for small businesses in particular. One of the initiatives coming on is a 28th regime, whereby SMEs can establish online and, within a number of days, would be European SMEs, without having to negotiate all the various national borders and so on. That is a focus of Government and of the European Commission. Regarding Clare family-owned pubs, we will examine what the VFI has put forward.”
“I agree entirely with Deputy McCormack about the potential for the midlands for renewable energy. There have been some very good developments and announcements there over the last year, with various Ministers attending. I attended one recently with the Deputy. The Bord na Móna land resource has very significant potential for both energy renewables and industry to go along with that. We will do everything we possibly can to capitalise on that for the benefit of the midlands. A transition and transformation is happening there, which is very positive. Regarding sole traders, small farmers and the self-employed more generally, Deputy Dolan is looking for a more streamlined Government approach and simplified tax compliance mechanisms.”
“The Government is taking action to help households and businesses with the cost of fuel and energy. We are conscious of the increased financial pressure on households and businesses as a result. To date, over €750 million has been committed to measures to support households and business with increased fuel costs. This response has been possible because we have adopted a prudent approach in recent budgets. We will navigate this period of volatility, but we must remain flexible in our response. We cannot mitigate every increase in costs, and we must retain resources to ensure we can deal with any further deterioration in the global economy. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and respond as appropriate.”
“The first relatively benign scenario is based on the futures market in mid-March, where energy prices were assumed to moderate over the second half of this year. The second scenario assumes a sustained but contained disruption to energy markets, with oil prices remaining at approximately $100 per barrel over the coming months. The third scenario is based on a more pronounced and persistent disruption to energy supply with oil prices reaching $150 per barrel and staying elevated for an extended time. Under all scenarios, there is a shock to inflation, squeezing purchasing power and lowering the growth rate. While the near-term outlook is clouded in considerable uncertainty, what is clear is that economic fallout is likely to persist given the lasting damage to energy infrastructure in the gulf.”
“There will be delivery of more childcare facilities and school places, investment in children’s disability services and better healthcare for all. Additional information not given on the floor of the House We will continue to invest in the future of Ireland while preserving the jobs, stability and prosperity of today. We will also continue to put resources into reserve funds, conscious of the risks of using windfall corporation tax revenues for ongoing current expenditure commitments. However, the situation in the Middle East remains volatile and highly uncertain. The economic fallout will depend on the depth and duration of the conflict. The Department of Finance has assessed the economic impact of three scenarios, and this was published as part of the annual progress report on 21 April.”
“This funding of €12.2 billion to 2030 represents the largest ever capital investment plan in the history of water services and water quality. Enhanced road and public transport infrastructure will connect our island and reduce travel times. Transport funding of €24.3 billion for the next five years will deliver a diverse range of transport options including public transport, active travel, roads, maritime and aviation. Approximately €10 billion of this will be used for public transport projects with a further €2 billion from the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund specifically to start construction on MetroLink. There will be greater opportunities to attract foreign direct investment and support our international competitiveness.”
“The updated national development plan represents one of the largest and most significant capital injections in our economy in the history of the State. It sets out total public capital investment of €275 billion to 2035. Investment in this critical infrastructure will enable 300,000 additional houses by 2030 and expansion of our onshore and offshore electricity transmission and distribution network infrastructure through a €3.5 billion equity investment in EirGrid and the ESB. This will future-proof Ireland's electricity system and ensure it can meet the growing demands of our economy, our homes and our climate targets. The upgrading of our water and wastewater infrastructure will enable social inclusion, environmental sustainability and housing delivery.”
“As with all policy areas, issues relating to the economy are regularly discussed at full Cabinet meetings, where all formal decisions are made. Ireland continues to demonstrate its economic resilience and its ability to adapt to changing global circumstances. The economy is performing well, despite times of enormous economic uncertainty, with record numbers of people in work, low unemployment and real wage growth. We will continue to advance an economic model founded on a pro-enterprise policy framework, a stable and sustainable regulatory and tax environment with sound management of the public finances and investment in the infrastructure, energy and skills required to ensure our future competitiveness and productivity.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 21, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on the economy, trade and competitiveness last met on 2 March and is scheduled to meet on 25 May. Membership of the committee comprises the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, and the Ministers for public expenditure, foreign affairs, climate, enterprise, culture and further and higher education and research. Other Ministers or Ministers of State are invited to participate as required. The committee oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments relating to sustainable economic and employment growth, trade competitiveness and productivity, innovation, the national digital strategy and pensions.”
“I will engage with the Minister. The HSE and the hospital should be engaging with the family in the first instance. There are proper mechanisms for accountability in respect of situations like this. However, I will talk to the Minister.”
“The next thing is that I will raise with the Minister the outcome of that report. In fact, the Minister discussed the emergency care situation in Limerick this morning with the Cabinet. Also, in recent weeks, there has been a 10% increase in activity levels at the emergency department in Limerick, so there is no doubt that the hospital remains under significant pressure, notwithstanding the fact that 278 new beds have opened in acute hospitals across the mid-west region. I will ask the Minister to communicate with the Deputy in respect of the matter.”
“First of all, I think the Minister is actively engaging with the mid-west university hospital and has continued to engage. I will alert the Minister to what the Deputy has said. He is speaking of HIQA's review. As he knows, the Minister did respond to that review, I think.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Minister, Norma Foley, was, to be fair to her, effective in the Estimates process in getting additional funding to establish ten new family resource centres across the country, a significant milestone in terms of what had been happening prior to that. I will talk to the Minister about core funding requirements. Again, we are anxious to give additional capacity to family resource centres. We value the role that they are playing and the challenges they are under.”
“-----resulted in a 20% contraction in oil supplies and a dramatic escalation in oil prices. That is very worrying in terms of its potential impact on the world economy for the rest of the year. Hopefully, that war can end as quickly as possible. In the meantime, we have announced, as the Deputy knows, a €750 million package-----”
“I thank the Deputy very much. He has made a very compelling case in his citing of constitutional decisions in respect of survivors' entitlements to pensions and so forth. I will raise the matter with the Minister for Finance in the context of the forthcoming budget in October to see if he will examine it because the threshold looks rather low.”
“The defence minister said there should be a European army. Well, the specific characteristics of Irish foreign policy are well known across the European Union and are cited in all documents pertaining to defence, as are those of Malta, Austria and Cyprus. Our military neutrality was decided by Government policy back in the Second World War, essentially, and has evolved since then. We are not joining NATO and we have no intention of joining a military alliance.”
“First of all, what Spain proposes or does is Spain's business. Many people hold up Spain as representing different stances internationally and so on. I am not familiar with the comments. Is the Deputy saying that the Prime Minister made them?”
“Teachers come automatically if the numbers increase. There is a pupil-teacher ratio that applies automatically if numbers increase in any given school. I doubt it is a question of the sanctioning of a teacher. Maybe because so many people want to get into the school it does not have the capacity right now, but that is another issue and maybe it needs to be resolved with the Department. I will raise it with the Minister.”
“I thank Deputy Timmins very much for his constructive proposals. I will certainly talk to the Minister for housing in regard to his suggestions around amendments to the national guidelines and developing a very pragmatic approach, given the severity of the housing crisis we are facing.”
“I am very conscious of the situation there. I have visited that hospital on a number of occasions. As a model 4 hospital, it is in urgent need of significant modernisation in terms of infrastructure and it needs that 300-bed block. It is critical to it. There has been a lot of work done already to get to this stage. One could argue that it has taken an inordinate length of time to get to where we are now. I will certainly talk to the Minister for public expenditure once that legislation is passed, given the critical nature of it to the health service across the entire north west and west. I think there is a very strong case there.”
“First of all, we have put significant increased resources into the ambulance service and have incrementally increased it on an ongoing basis. They have been very significant increases, which I outlined earlier to the House. I think it was a 41% increase since 2022. I can check that figure again. Deputy Tóibín needs to be careful with figures, as he knows. He tends to manipulate figures from time to time.”
“I have already spoken on this earlier in the House. I accept the workers do not want to be on strike. It is wrong to say that the HSE or the Government does not want to reward front-line workers. There were good faith negotiations entered into. The unions recommended the outcome of those negotiations that came out of the WRC to the workers. The ballot was negative. The HSE is saying it is available for discussion and engagement with the unions. I think that is what should happen.”
“I think about 6,000 children in existing mainstream classes have now been identified as needing additionality in terms of supports. That is happening. The Department is flat out on that with the NCSE.”
“I think what we need is all of our officials in the Department working flat out to make sure that every child gets an appropriate place next September. That is where we need staff deployed. We do not need new units to start producing data. There is a balance to be struck in terms of the deployment of public servants. We are increasing the number of public servants on an annual basis. The increase has been significant over the last number of years. To be fair to the Minister, Hildegarde Naughton, and the Minister of State, Michael Moynihan, their focus has been very much on securing additional resources and working with the National Council for Special Education to get the places. They opened the portal early in October. That has resulted in far more significant numbers.”
“I support investment in cycling. The greenways, cycleways and active travel programme have represented a transformation over the past decade in particular. It has been fantastic. People are voting with their feet in places where safe cycleways can be provided. Obviously, we need more sensible arrangements in terms of bike sheds, if I am honest. People did seek that here in Leinster House and we saw what happened afterwards. More generally, investment in cycling is a good thing. It is healthy, and it has implications for less congestion and so on, but we need to provide very safe routes. A lot of that has happened over the past number of years. We will continue our investment in active travel, cycling, pedestrian walkways and so forth.”
“At the outset, I welcome and congratulate three students from Mullaghbuoy National School and the green committee there. Donal McMorland, Jason Woods and Jack O'Neill were the regional winners of the award for global citizenship today in Tullamore. They are very welcome to Dáil Éireann. The Minister, Deputy Browne, did not make that decision, but there was a communication from Department officials to Dublin City Council in respect of the matter. The Minister will engage. He is of the view that this matter can be resolved satisfactorily. Funding has not been refused. Funding has not been withdrawn. It remains in place. There has not been a refusal of regeneration for Oliver Bond House. Engagement is going to be key here. Hopefully, we can get this resolved very quickly.”
“Aontú expects us to magic up money for farmers, magic up money for those on social protection and magic up money for tax cuts for working people. We have to magic all that up as well. We have to magic up money for education, magic up money for social protection and keep abolishing any tax that exists. That is Aontú's approach. It is fantasy land.”
“Where is the Deputy going to find it? I am asking the rhetorical question. He will ask for another billion somewhere else, and another billion somewhere else, and another billion over here. That has been Aontú's performance all year.”
“For example, in 2025 there was some €558 million for residential and community upgrades, including solar PV. That was a significant increase on the previous year. There was about €350 million for welfare measures this year - working family payment, child support payment, and the extension of fuel allowance eligibility - all coming from the revenue from the carbon tax. The Deputy has been a big advocate for the fuel allowance and has been saying we should increase it even more. This substantial revenue comes from the carbon tax revenue. In agriculture, €173 million has been allocated to farmers through agri-environmental schemes, including funding for ACRES under the CAP strategic plan. Between 2020 and mid-2025 about €366 million was allocated to agri-climate supports - to farmers, basically - through a variety of schemes.”
“The Minister for Transport on the other hand is dealing with the haulage industry, which is also critical. It is endeavouring to base it on previous usage, which I think is reasonable, because that would give us some indication of the needs and the additionality in terms of the costs that have undoubtedly been incurred because of the war in Iran and the increase in fuel prices globally as a result of that. The revenues from the carbon tax are used to support lower-income households, farmers, and indeed the retrofitting programme itself. Since 2020, €4.2 billion has been allocated from carbon tax revenues for all of those purposes. The ESRI analysis shows that lower-income households are net beneficiaries due to accompanying social protection measures.”
“First of all, ní aontaím leis an Teachta. Pacáiste cuimsitheach atá ann i dtaobh na feirmeoirí agus na daoine atá ag obair san fheirmeoireacht. Suas le €100 milliúin atá i gceist le haghaidh na míonna sonracha. I do not accept the Deputy's proposition that the fuel subsidy scheme for farmers and agricultural contractors is inadequate. It is a comprehensive scheme that was worked out in discussions with representative organisations. There has to be some methodology attached to it. The Deputy has not come up with any alternative but there has to be a clear methodology designed. The Minister for agriculture has worked with the agricultural organisations and the representative organisations in respect of that and every effort will be made to support farmers and contractors in that regard.”
“-----with the trade unions on this matter. That is the sensible way to resolve this. Anyone involved in industrial relations over the years realises and knows that. By the way, we are long gone from the day of ministerial interventions in every single dispute that could potentially arise. That day is gone. We have a very sophisticated way of resolving disputes that involves experienced people. There must be a will on both sides to resolve it. There is a will on the Government’s side to resolve it, and I am sure there is, too, on the union side, but people should enter into discussions and get into dialogue.”
“First of all, Deputy, we are not going to negotiate an industrial relations agreement paragraph by paragraph in the Chamber. It is not feasible and we are not going to do it, but what I have said from day 1 is that there should be dialogue. The HSE remains available for engagement-----”
“We have professionalised the service, and that all of those involved undertook the additional academic work, qualifications and so on is to their credit. No one is disputing that. The State has accepted from day 1 that pay structures need to be modernised. That was the subject matter of a previous engagement at the WRC, which concluded with very significant outcomes. I outlined those earlier. They were significant outcomes, but they fell at the ballot. We need to get this sorted.”