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.”
The complete record
Every one of 5,818 lines we hold for Micheál Martin, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 28 of 117.
“I thank the Deputy for raising the question. We are increasing investment incrementally year-on-year in this area. We started from a low base in respect of CAMHS-ID. I think there is an extra €2 million for that specific area in this year's budget. We are going to increase that. Recruitment has been challenging but we are going to expand it and are going to continue to expand it. There are about 45 people working in that area at the moment but we need more obviously. We are going to continue to invest and expand.”
“We had a very good outcome on this, thankfully, when we got the British Government to agree. We are very confident that they will receive redress and that they will not be disadvantaged on receipt of redress in terms of whatever welfare or benefits they may be on in the United Kingdom. That was a good outcome of the UK-Ireland summit that we had in March. That is what we want to do.”
“I introduced the whole concept of special needs assistants to education back in 1998. The numbers have grown expediently since. We are now at 25,000 SNAs. In any honest way, how can the Deputy suggest there are cuts in the number of SNAs when it is the opposite direction? In fact, the Government today approved further investment in education, which will mean more special needs assistants above the 25,000 for the 2026 to 2027 school year.”
“The Dublin north central and south central divisions were the first areas to roll out the new high visibility policing initiative. During the first six months of the roll out there were increased detections for public order offences. Body-worn cameras are in use across three stations. I know the Deputy was against them but they are helping with the detection and reduction of crime as well.”
“It is not as if we are not investing right now, as the Deputy knows. About €132 million from the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, has already been already allocated for the north inner city concept area 1 proposal. This involves the regeneration and redevelopment of several areas of the north city that have suffered from dereliction and decline. Some €60 million of URDF funding has been allocated to the Parnell Square cultural quarter project and a €44 million project to refurbish the fruit and vegetable market is currently on site. That is outside the core inner city area but it is adjacent to it and it will be an important driver of regeneration. On policing, we have about 3,894 gardaí assigned in the Dublin metropolitan region, supported by 90 Garda reserves and 463 civilian staff.”
“It is putting in staff with the required technical skills for an interim programme management unit. Essentially, all the building blocks are being put in place now to get moving on what is a ten-year integrated area strategy for Dublin city centre. It will tackle vacancy and dereliction and get real change and will transform the situation there. I am confident we can do it. As a Government, we are very committed to doing it. We believe the GPO will be a major flagship project at the core of Dublin city. Various funding streams will facilitate the objectives both of the task force and the special purpose vehicle itself. Getting the special purpose vehicle together is taking a bit of time. In terms of gardaí, we have significantly increased their number.”
“That is an evolving situation, but I would like to have a situation emerge where the State has greater capacity to revitalise key assets on O'Connell Street, in particular the GPO. We are doing a lot of investment in Moore Street. The last budget dramatically and significantly expanded the living in the city initiative. A lot more substantial grants are now available to support living above the shop and to support mixed-use development. We are also committed to unlocking under-used urban space for housing and enterprise and then pulling everything together under planning, housing, transport and heritage, so that we get a consistent, one approach to the development of the city. Dublin City Council has begun the task of setting up the Dublin city task force special purpose vehicle. The CEO designate is Robert Watt.”
“I was out in Dublin Central last evening with Councillor John Stephens, and it was a very pleasant evening indeed. There was good feedback and a lot of issues raised, of course, on the doorsteps. Yes, approval has been given to the expected appointment of Robert Watt as CEO, seconded to the special purpose vehicle. The SPV is a key legal vehicle to ensure not only the implementation of the task force report, but also the regeneration of the core of Dublin city, particularly the O'Connell Street area more generally, because it will have powers and capacity. The Government will not be found wanting in supporting housing provision in the area. There is, as the Deputy knows, quite a range of properties in private sector hands at the moment.”
“They opposed the project in Ballymastone as well. People are now living in those houses. The Social Democrats cannot just keep opposing everything and claim they are serious about housing. That is the point I am making. Choices have to be made. As regards the planning in terms of the exemptions and so on, it is a major package of exempted development regulations to reduce planning bureaucracy. Planning bureaucracy has slowed us down in terms of housing provision. This will speed up delivery of additional units and maximise existing housing stock. It frees local authority resources for large-scale projects, introduces clear national standards, allows subdivision of homes to create just one additional unit, simplifies attic conversions and supports rental supply. The rent-a-room relief applies.”
“Sorry, I am answering the question. The Social Democrats, for example, voted against all residential zoning proposals on Fingal County Council. Two weeks ago, when the council agreed development plans to zone for 5,000 additional homes, the Social Democrats opposed them.”
“We will keep it under review. We will look at every single way we can ease pressure on people, ease pressure on the private rental market and also give opportunities to people. We will follow up with guidelines for rural housing. We have a crisis with housing but we will never solve it if we criticise every single measure that a Government introduces, which the Social Democrats have been doing for five years. I believe we have to explore every option to get more houses built.”
“On planning momentum, 8,000 permissions were granted in quarter 4 of 2025, up 19%. Permission was granted for 20,000 houses in 2025, the highest since 2009. There have been 8,000 commencement notices in quarter 1 of 2026. These are facts. It is not enough; we want to get to 50,000 per annum. In terms of the exemptions, the Deputy said exemptions were a good idea if just for family members. I think that is what she said. If it is just for family members, are they no longer cabins? The Deputy used very derogatory language when she said they were for rent, but if the very same structures are built for family members what are they? They are not cabins anyway, because they have to be in alignment with the existing building record regulations. I think many people will welcome this.”
“While I can never be happy when it could higher, that is a reasonable legacy in terms of permanent provision of social housing. The good news is that up to 23,000 more are in different stages of design and development. That is one aspect. The others are affordable and cost rental. Yesterday I was at a sod-turning for 800 new units, not cabins but real units in Richmond. The Tánaiste was in Drogheda where about 600 new units will be built. The Minister, Deputy Browne, will be in Drogheda tomorrow for, I think, another 600. Those are sod-turnings for 2,000 houses and apartments this week alone. We built 36,000 houses last year, delivered in 2025. That is the highest since records began and up 20% on 2024. Some 170,000 houses have been built since 2020, with 50,000 apartments built.”
“The Deputy looks at the world through one prism when it comes to housing; we look at it through another. In my vision for young people, housing is number one and it means a relentless focus on supply. The Social Democrats have opposed all supply measures in this House for the last number of years and they keep on criticising every single initiative that we have undertaken. If we do not get supply up, we will not moderate rents. All the rest is just populist waffle if we do not really focus on what matters. The Deputy talks about legacy. When the previous Government was formed in 2020, direct social housing builds were in the low thousands. Last year, in 2025, we built 9,000 social homes, the highest on record since the State was founded.”
“That is not narrow sectoral interest, we all benefit if the food production system can produce food at a reasonably affordable price. We need hauliers to get our goods to the shelves of shops in an affordable way.”
“We then have an Exchequer deficit of €1.1 billion. That is what we have after the moneys is allocated to the funds. We do not have billions of surplus, if the Deputy accepts that the moneys should go to the funds, and she accepts that they should. When they are in the funds, they are being invested and so on under ISIF. We take the Deputy's point in terms of pressures that people are under. On the renewables, we are investing very significantly. ISIF is investing in many projects in respect of offshore wind and other areas. I have a full list of the housing area, transport, you name it. From the sectoral interests point of view, the Deputy said we only looked after sectors. We do need to look after food production, so farmers do need to be supported in terms of food production. Contractors do as well.”
“Of course, they are necessary for the future pressures that will undoubtedly arise because of the ageing population and more expenditures that will arise in health services and looking after older people in our society because our lifespan is increasing dramatically as well. In the meantime, we have allocated €715 million now in terms of supports. We have reduced, effectively, the excise on diesel by 32 cent. That will benefit workers. It benefits everbody, more or less, in society. Petrol is down 27 cent from where it would be if we had not intervened and marked gas oil will be up to about 20% when the scheme comes in for contractors. I will come back later on that sectoral thing the Deputy accused us of doing.”
“There is a whole range of investments out of those funds going into that renewables space and protecting us in terms of developing a low-carbon public infrastructure for the future and electric vehicle, EV-charging, clean public transport fleets, a circular economy waste system and, above all, a lot going into housing, with equity in housing developments, delivery of nationwide housing supply and so on, such as the private, social, affordable and mixed-tenure schemes. Money is being invested. We are not letting it hang around doing nothing. Therefore, the more honest position would be whether the Deputy suggesting that we would stop the funds or pause investing in them.”
“Let us have an honest debate where we can agree and disagree on the facts and let us not make up stuff that does not have any basis from a factual point of view. In terms of the surplus, I repeat that is going into the funds, such as the Future Ireland Fund and the infrastructure and nature fund. The Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, manages that and it is being invested in a whole range of areas including renewables, such as offshore and onshore wind projects, solar farm financing, grid expansion and interconnectors, battery storage systems for renewables, investment platforms for energy developers and funds combining wind and grid-scale storage. Then there is the building of the energy retrofit programmes.”
“I appreciate very much the Deputy's sincerity in wanting to look after people under pressure. We have a similar position but I think we need an honest debate as well. The Deputy cannot just come in here and say we have no vision for investment in the grid. Where has she been in the last number of months when we announced an investment of up to €19 billion in the grid? I refer to the PR6, where we put substantial billions of equity into EirGrid. Why does the Deputy come in then and say something that is patently untrue? Per capita , I would say we have invested more than Spain. We are number one in Europe in terms of the integration of renewables to the grid. That is true.”
“In the budget, we took very concrete measures. A new baby grant of €280 is paid in addition to the first month of child benefit for children born or adopted on or after 1 December 2024. We have all of those measures. We have extended the free travel pass, and also the medical card for the over-70s. There are lots of things we have done. We are going to do more, and we will do more in the time ahead.”
“The Government did not wait. The Deputy has to be honest that over the last number of years, we have brought in very significant schemes that permanently reduce the cost of living for people. The free primary and second level school books scheme has reduced costs for families with children going to school. We also have the free hot school meals, a very recent innovation, which also helps families. The national childcare scheme is a universal subsidy that helps to reduce the cost of childcare. In terms of the fuel allowance, we have extended that, and brought in 50,000 extra on the working family payment. We did not wait.”
“That is a fundamental point that I think the Deputy consistently ignores. An aidhm atá againn ná cabhair agus tacaíocht a thabhairt do dhaoine. Tá roinnt déanta againn. Níl aon amhras faoi sin. Is é seo ceann de na pacáistí is mó ar fud na hEorpa. Tá níos mó le déanamh againn. Beidh moltaí againn i gcomhthéacs na cáinaisnéise a bheidh againn i mí Dheireadh Fómhair. Beimid in ann an brú atá ar dhaoine a laghdú níos mó. Sin an aidhm atá againn.”
“Is she saying we should scrap these projects in which ISIF is investing? I think that would be a huge mistake. We are very clear that housing remains our ultimate priority. Infrastructure is key to everybody in the country. That is clear. Disability and child poverty are other issues. These are areas on which we have focused very strongly and are in a position to target. The Deputy does not pay any heed to these factors. She seems to want to risk everything in the middle of this war. I think that would be a foolish thing to do. Notwithstanding what I have said, I think it does make sense, after a €750 million allocation so far, that we would look at how, structurally, we can ease the pressure on families permanently in the energy cost area. That will take a bit of work because we need to be targeted in how we allocate people's resources.”
“That is what ISIF is doing - solar farm financing, grid expansion and interconnectors, battery storage systems for renewables, building energy retrofit programmes, the EV charging clean public transport fleet, the circular economy, forestry carbon sequestration projects, national scale retrofit financing platforms, equity in large housing developments, delivery of nationwide housing supply, mixed tenure schemes, urban regeneration partnerships and regional housing projects. That is where the investments are happening and much more than that. However, the Deputy seems to misunderstand that, or is she saying we should wind up the funds - the Future Ireland Fund and the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund? The Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund is helping to fund the metro. Is the Deputy saying we should scrap the metro?”
“In terms of home heating and other issues, we have to look at more permanent ways to ease pressures on families, particularly from energy pricing more generally. The Deputy referenced the Government surplus but, as she knows, there is an Exchequer deficit of about €1.8 billion. The Deputy knows what is happening here. We are transferring funding from the Exchequer into the investment funds so it is not as if there are billions hanging round in a drawer somewhere to just take and spend. The Deputy surely knows that. What is happening with that funding is that it is being invested in people, housing, energy and infrastructure and offshore wind projects.”
“I do not agree with the Deputy's analysis. The Government understands fully the pressure people are under as a result of the various cost shocks over recent years from Covid to the invasion of Ukraine, when inflation was at its peak of 10%. We understand that. Prices are at an elevated high and now the war in the Middle East has again created a significant shock in terms of fossil fuel supply globally and prices. Every country across the world is grappling with this reality. We have responded in a substantial, targeted and sustainable way - not just a global sum of €750 million but in terms of food production, road haulage and a reduction in excise duties, which benefits everybody. We will continue to keep a focus on this.”
“With regard to the counselling notes, the Minister for justice is bringing forward legislation in which he will go as he possibly can to place real conditions on the use of counselling notes. On Deputy Lawless' question, the Government has huge pressures. I gave the figures earlier. We are making a lot of progress in terms of a more rigorous, timely and efficient response to those seeking asylum. Nonetheless, people come into the country to seek asylum. They are legally entitled to seek asylum and our job is to process applications as quickly as we can. If people are entitled to asylum, they get it. If they are not, they should be deported or asked to leave.”
“It just would not have made any sense, and that is why it was done. On Deputy Coppinger's question, through the shared island initiative, we support an all-island response to domestic and sexual violence. It is shocking, and Northern Ireland is a particular problem. I have discussed this with the First Minister and deputy First Minister at meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council. It was a theme and a topic at our most recent meeting. There is active co-operation to the effect that there should be a joint approach between our Government and the Executive in respect of domestic and sexual violence. It is a big worry. Deputy Coppinger reminded us of the 30 women who have been killed. That is shocking and wrong.”
“That would have been ruinous for the country because one cannot restart a refinery straight away. How bad would that have been. The Minister for justice made the correct decision in asking the Army in because it has the equipment to remove big lorries, tractors and other machines. It would have been crazy if we ended up stopping the export oil from Whitegate.”
“Deputy Conway Walsh raised the issue of a former garda, Margaret Loftus, and members of An Garda Síochána. Again, there has to be clear rules in terms of our uniformed services, particularly our Garda and our military. There are rules in respect of people who are convicted of crimes. They should not serve. When people are charged, they are sometimes suspended pending the outcome of the investigation and so forth. I salute the courage of Margaret Loftus. On the mandatory reporting of barring orders, I would like a report back on that. I think the Minister is working on something in that regard. To be fair to him, Deputy Gannon condemned blockading. With regard to the decision that was made, we had to remove those vehicles from Whitegate. We simply had to. I got a phone call to say that the refinery was closing.”
“The Minister is scrupulous in terms of the application of the law. I do not know what the background is to this. Maybe they do not want to prejudice the process. I do not know. I will check with the Minister for justice in respect of the report. I think the inquest is due, is it not?”
“Deputy Boyd Barrett also raised the issue of Ned Connors, who died in prison through alcohol poisoning. That is very disturbing. The Deputy said "Apparently, the Minister has for some reason prevented the report from being published." The Minister for justice, Deputy O'Callaghan, is a fair-minded person and is scrupulous-----”
“Deputy Paul Murphy referred to the Northside Home Care Service workers, as did Deputy Boyd Barrett. I am not familiar with the background to the suspension of the shop steward. I will ask for that to be investigated and checked by the Minister for Health. I am not saying that this justifies suspension, but I would be wary of using clients to sign petitions. I understand how it happens, because people need the service and people want the service to be supported. I will talk to the Minister about the general issue. Those involved were here a number of weeks ago as well, and this issue needs to be resolved. The process should be deal with through labour relations in order to get it resolved. Meanwhile, the atmosphere around this should be one that allows engagement and so forth.”
“In Kells. My apologies. The Deputy raised concerns about break-ins and burglaries. I will relay that to the Minister for justice. I am sure the Garda will tackle that in a concerted way. That is very disturbing for the people concerned. Garda numbers are improving every time a new intake goes through Templemore. As a result, I expect that we will be able to get there. We have done good work in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and other locations. As more gardaí come through, we are trying to get to as many areas as we possibly can in sufficient numbers, not just giving dribs and drabs, in order that we get good solid allocations. The Deputy also raised the issue of community CCTV. I will have to get an update on that. It continues to be very effective and impactful in combating crime.”
“It was wrong of the Deputy to do what he did last week. I say that respectfully to him. No self-appointed group gets that right and no TD gets that right. A number of TDs were at that. Deputy Tóibín, more than most, stated that he had negotiated this or negotiated that. That is not right. For God's sake-----”
“I am asking a rhetorical question. I do not need a response right now. I am making an absolutely fundamental point with regard to parliamentary democracy. The Deputy does not have a right to decide who gets access to work. He does not have a right to decide who gets access to a hospital. He does not have a right to-----”
“I will talk to the Minister for justice. I know he is minded to do something in this area in light of recent court cases. I will liaise back with Deputy Brabazon on this. I heard what Deputy Tóibín had to say. In the first instance, C70 requests made very regularly. About 140 were issued last year. Last week, a request was made with a view to calling in the Army to tow big lorries and trucks away from vital critical infrastructure. I do not know whether the Deputy condemns or agrees with the blockading of an oil refinery. I saw his posts all week. He supported the blockade of the oil refinery-----”
“It is extremely distressing and unacceptable that the Deputy and the people he represents are witnessing appalling activity by individuals using scramblers who are recklessly endangering life, causing the loss of life and so forth. I accept the rationale behind the Deputy's call for statutory indemnity to be introduced to protect members of An Garda Síochána who reasonably try to stop this activity. I do not think it is acceptable that a garda should be prosecuted if he or she is endeavouring to stop people endangering the lives of others through the illegal and reckless use of scramblers. The Minister for justice is bringing forward some form of review of the legislation in this area. This is a very important issue because if something is not done, the potential is that we will paralyse the Garda in terms of protecting people.”
“I thank the Deputies for raising a range of issues. Deputy Ó Murchú was first in terms of antisocial behaviour and a multi-agency approach in County Louth. I agree with the Deputy that the most effective response is a multi-agency response. I support the drug partnerships approach that we had in earlier periods. The local community safety partnership has been effective. It is working in certain locations but we need to look at further initiatives in terms of community-based partnerships on the ground that are well resourced by the State. That is a view I have. I am advocating that from my position as Taoiseach and from talking to the Ministers concerned. I thank Deputy Brabazon for raising the issue of Grace's law.”
“In 2025, the International Protection Office delivered over 20,200 first decisions compared with approximately 14,000 in 2024, which is a 44% increase. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal more than doubled the number of appeals closed, from 3,100 in 2024 to nearly 6,320 in 2025. In addition to meetings of the Cabinet committee, I have regular engagements with Ministers at Cabinet and individually to discuss issues relating to their Departments.”
“Of these, 80% have received a first instance decision. Decisions were negative in 88% of cases, with an 11% grant rate and a number of withdrawals. Of those with a negative decision, 48% appealed and 86% of appeals were refused. A total of 482 deportation orders has been issued, with seven enforced removals and 42 voluntary returns having taken place. The median timeline from application to enforced removal was 24 weeks, and 15 weeks for voluntary return. This indicates the pact programme can meet the future timelines for the border procedure. The number of international protection applications has been rising over the past number of years, reaching 18,500 in 2024. In 2025, application numbers reduced by approximately one third.”
“Among other items, the Cabinet committee also oversees the development and delivery of the whole-of-government response to migration and integration, including through a national migration and integration strategy. The new International Protection Bill 2026 will give effect to the measures of the European Union migration and asylum pact. Enactment of the Bill and commencement of the Act is required by 12 June 2026. To prepare for its introduction, a phased transition that mirrors elements of the pact is currently under way. As part of this, applicants from designated safe countries of origin, including Nigeria, and in the context of the Dublin III regulation and inadmissible cases, are being processed under these new processes, with some minor exceptions. As of 24 March 2026, 1,280 applications were received under the accelerated process.”
“The Government has taken unprecedented action to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence through significant investment, legislative reform and the implementation of the zero-tolerance strategy. Overall, our approach seeks to create a society where DSGBV is prevented, victims are supported and perpetrators are held to account. Under budget 2026, almost €80 million was allocated to support Cuan and organisations working to address DSGBV and implement the zero-tolerance strategy. This was an increase of €12 million compared with the previous year. This funding will accelerate the delivery of additional refuge spaces and safe accommodation, while strengthening supports for those affected by violence.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 to 32, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on justice, migration and social affairs oversees the implementation of programme for Government commitments that relate to matters under those areas. It was established in February 2025 following the appointment of the new Government in January. Its first meeting was on 10 April 2025 and it met most recently on 9 February 2026. The next meeting is scheduled to take place in due course. The Cabinet committee covers a range of policy areas, including domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV; policing and justice reform; migration; and initiatives tackling local area disadvantage.”
“Some in Europe are negative about that, but I think it does do because it manufactures a sufficiency of material for windmills and solar equipment that can help us make the energy transition.”
“I covered a lot of people. I am sorry but I did not cover Deputy Hayes’s point about renewable energy. We did actually discuss that with President Xi. They are very conscious of our offshore wind exploration and that we are putting a lot of focus into the offshore and onshore aspects. China manufactures wind turbines at an extraordinary rate. It more or less commands the global market in solar panels. If we can get good multilateral relationships, there will be a benefit. There was a time when people felt we would not have enough supply and the supply chains would not be strong or resilient enough to deal with everybody going after offshore energy at the one time. China actually offers a bit of a solution to that, I think.”
“In terms of the economy, the relationship and air connectivity, a Cork-Shanghai flight is, hopefully, coming. There is also the Dublin–Beijing flight and so on like that.”
“It has already created additional jobs for Irish people, and there has been about a 30% increase in exports for Irish companies. It beggars belief that people oppose it. I apologise, but I did not get Deputy Ó Murchú in. The war must end. The sooner that war in the Middle East ends, the better. What is happening in Lebanon is appalling. I welcome the talks, by the way, but Israel is undermining the Lebanese Government, which is the first government in a long time in Lebanon that has the capacity to get some order and structure in Lebanese society and the Lebanese economy. Hezbollah should cease firing rockets. It should stop. It is causing immense damage to its own people and has done so for far too long. Iran should stay out of Lebanon and stop being a malign force in Lebanon also.”
“I just want to make one important point. Deputy Martin Daly referred to us being a small trading nation. We need to export what we produce and make. I gave the figures earlier. What was interesting was that I spoke to Prime Minister Mark Carney yesterday. In the context of there being polarisation between two major powers, China and the US, there is now a growing movement from the European Union, Canada, Australia and other like-minded powers with similar values, rooted in multilateralism, to come closer together. I welcome Canada's pivot to Europe. Under our Presidency, we are going to advance that relationship with Canada and the European Union. That is why Deputies in the House should vote for the CETA trade deal, which will create additional jobs for Irish people.”