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 45 of 117.
“That is the point. The Garda has indicated there are up to 200 complaints and lines of inquiry. We do not interfere with prosecutors in this jurisdiction. We do not interfere with the Garda. The Deputy has used another phrase, "kicking the can to" Europe. It is another dishonest betrayal of the reality. He knows the legislative framework as well as anybody else. The European Commission is responsible for the very large platforms, including X. It has opened an investigation in collaboration with, and working with, national regulators, in this context Coimisiún na Meán. When we met last week, Coimisiún na Meán gave us a comprehensive presentation on the work it has been doing on this and the degree to which it was co-operating and working with the European Commission, which I believe is essential. This is not about kicking the can.”
“I take offence at the Deputy's very dishonest portrayal of the Government's position in respect of this and his deliberate conflation of a different series of events to give the impression that the Government somehow condones the behaviour of X, Grok or Elon Musk. That is reprehensible political behaviour by him but it is par for the course all the time to distort the actual truth. The French prosecutors are prosecuting. Our prosecutors are pursuing.”
“-----but Revenue has to do a proper detailed mapping exercise with local authorities to get all of the properties properly identified and documented so that the levy can be applied correctly in an appropriate regulatory way.”
“That is positive. It is a proactive way of dealing with dereliction in rural and urban Ireland. The Derelict Sites Act is still in place. Limerick has been the best example. It demonstrated what can be done in terms of the derelict sites levy. Other local authorities were not as good as Limerick. The Government is saying we are putting Revenue in charge-----”
“The most effective thing we did in terms of dereliction was the grants for restoring properties and houses that are derelict or vacant. Thousands of young families have benefited from those very generous grants we introduced and there was no great enthusiasm from the Deputy's side in respect of those grants. It does not even reference them.”
“They are surplus to the HSE's requirements and are in various stages of disposal. If a property is to be disposed of, a disposal strategy for the property is determined by the HSE on a case-by-case basis. Properties are disposed of on the open market and most have been disposed of via public auction. Twenty-two of the properties are vacant and under review. Those currently under review are being considered for retention and reuse by healthcare services. The Deputy is complaining about the building on Baggot Street. It is being sold.”
“Let us come to the HSE. It has about 190 vacant properties. We have been effective with the LDA in getting a lot of State property for significant housing developments already, and that work continues. The HSE has about 4,300 buildings at the moment in about 2,500 locations across the country. It is one of the largest property owners in the State and it has a very large portfolio. Of course, the properties range from small health centres in rural locations to very large acute hospitals. Some of them are pre-18th century buildings and others are modern, purpose-built facilities. That said, we have made it clear to the HSE that any properties that are surplus to requirement must be sold and the LDA has first call in respect of those. About 168 of the properties are in disposal.”
“Certain leading developers and landlords felt that this measure was encroaching on their property. It shows the level of polemic, spin and shallow commentary in the absence of any substantive and decent debate on these issues.”
“This is an important issue. I would just make the point that significant progress is being made on the housing front. There were 36,000 completions in 2025. That is a significant figure when we compare it with 2019 and 2020, when we were building just about 20,000 per annum. Then Covid-19 intervened for a good two years after that. The measures we have taken in the last 12 months are having an impact, and the feedback on the market side, in terms of potentially increased private sector investment, is positive. On the rent reform measures, and the Housing Commission-recommended reform of rent pressure zones, RPZs, it is interesting that the Labour Party shares the opposition of some large developers and so on who do not want this legislation to come through. I read The Irish Times last week.”
“There is also a very clear message, irrespective of whether a person has a licence. We must remember that the bulk of scramblers that are driven in this particular manner are illegal because they do not have any regulatory governance or licences. The drivers do not bother taking out tax. Those scramblers are illegal. With regard to hot pursuit, that is a Garda policy issue but the Commissioner is clear that there will be very intensive action on that front.”
“It is too late for Grace Lynch. It is absolutely shocking and extremely traumatic for the family and friends of Grace that what happened last week happened in the manner that it happened. What is essential is that every possible dimension of law is brought into being to prevent this insofar as we can in terms of human behaviour. The reckless use of scramblers by people in public parks and on public roads is something we simply have to stamp out. The significant additional power is not the power to seize, which already exists, but to destroy scramblers that are seized.”
“This is a singular, focused approach to the commencement of these regulations. It is important that we give every power possible to the Garda to deal with this scourge that is particularly manifest in certain locations and communities by certain individuals. The Government will spare no effort in that. In addition, the Government will bring in regulations in respect of e-scooters, e-bicycles and so on to ensure there is greater protection. These will be preliminary measures in respect of e-scooters, potentially looking at further regulations thereafter.”
“The Minister has today brought a memorandum to Government and received sanction to bring in regulations that would give effect to that measure, irrespective of whether the vehicles are licensed or not, or whatever status they have. They will simply be banned. That will significantly enhance the Garda capacity to take these out of operation both in public parks and on public roads. Fundamentally, these off-the-road scramblers are no longer just illegal for use in public places. It is illegal to drive them anywhere dangerously, even on private land. The Garda has full powers to seize a scrambler being driven dangerously. The Minister is going to give additional powers to not just seize and confiscate but also to destroy seized scramblers, to reduce the number of seized vehicles that could potentially end up back on our roads.”
“The Garda has powers to dispose of a seized vehicle six weeks after the date of detention. However, the 2023 Act was introduced because a number of Deputies, particularly Deputies McAuliffe and Lahart on the Government side, asked us to bring in further measures. As a result of the 2023 Act, and the sections that were commenced in that Act, it became an offence to drive dangerously in any location, not just in public places, which had been the case prior to the 2023 Act. The Garda has the power as a result of the 2023 Act to seize vehicles being driven dangerously. The third aspect is that the Minister for Transport can make regulations to restrict certain vehicles or classes of vehicles in particular locations.”
“Without question, the criminal and antisocial behaviour of many in certain communities in our capital city and certain other locations is absolutely unacceptable. Every single resource will be made available to An Garda Síochána to deal with those who are breaking the law on an ongoing basis. Gardaí have the powers and do not have their hands tied behind their backs, actually. They have significant powers. The Garda Commissioner has confirmed with the Minister for justice his intention to take intensive action in specific locations where there have been repeated breaches of the law and dangerous use of scramblers. There is already a body of legislation in respect of scramblers and other vehicles. The majority of scramblers are illegal in terms of their use on public roads, particularly those that are not taxed and do not have a licence.”
“There could be a potential conflict of interest. I have not examined it in detail. The Deputy has raised it and I will ask that the NTA engage with that to see whether it is possible for it to do that.”
“Again, I have to examine that. Obviously the NTA is the regulatory body. It is an independent transport regulator. Something like the Deputy proposes, or the taxi drivers propose, would need to be examined in the context of that legislation and whether the NTA is in a position to actually do what is being suggested.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising it. That seems like something that should be rectified. I will talk to the Minister and the HSE in respect of this, and to the National Ambulance Service. I appreciate she has been raising it on a consistent basis.”
“I will also engage with Iarnród Éireann and others in terms of prioritisation of what is a populous area regarding investment and how we can accelerate the investment in the railway in particular.”
“Without question, Wicklow and Wexford were severely hit by Storm Chandra yesterday. The schemes have been opened in terms of the emergency response payment and the business and community flooding support scheme, both of which are clearly required. Other locations across the country are affected as well but, certainly, the impact of rivers in Wexford and Wicklow bursting their banks has been severe. I was in Gorey recently with the Deputy. We met with councillors from Wicklow and Wexford and, yes, the issue came up in terms of the N11 and the whole public transport system. I certainly will talk to the relevant Ministers to see whether we can put together a group to examine that.”
“That is a substantial sum of money, particularly when the State, through another Department, is allocating funding to new community centres - I am not sure whether that happened in Rylane - and then it is being taken out on the other side. On the other hand, Uisce Éireann needs some sustainability in terms of funding. We need a balance and, in particular, we need to take on board the overall public good and that the provision of community-based facilities provides for the public and communities at large.”
“First, very significant measures have been taken in terms of recruitment and retention in our uniformed services, with the result that we have huge volumes of applications to An Garda and other services. We have made progress in the Defence Forces in the past two to three years and we need more progress there. We have made progress on that front because of measures we have taken to enhance the conditions for people in the uniformed services. I will talk to the relevant Ministers. Pensions are always difficult and complex - there is no point in saying otherwise - but I will talk to the Department of public expenditure and other Departments in respect of the issue the Deputy has raised.”
“It is utterly soul-destroying psychologically and we have to do everything we can to prevent it. That is why the planning and the progress of flood relief schemes have to happen much faster.”
“We have allocated funding to councils. They might say otherwise but there has never been more funding allocated to councils than in the past number of years. We will continue to work with them in regard to prevention. Yes, there is an issue in terms of co-ordination and around local forecasting as opposed to the national forecast. There are issues there. To be fair, a lot of councils have improved an awful lot in terms of providing sandbags and various measures. A lot of interim prevention measures are happening now in advance of a full-scale flood relief scheme going through planning, being built and so on. These are very serious issues. It is soul-destroying when flooding happens to people's houses or businesses. I have been in flood-affected areas and in the homes.”
“Beidh mé ag labhairt leis an Aire leanaí, an Teachta Norma Foley, faoin cheist seo. Tá deacrachtaí ann agus níl Mick Finnegan sásta leis an méid atá tar éis tarlú go dtí seo. Mar sin, beidh mé ag labhairt leis an Aire agus, b’fhéidir, déanfar teagmháil idir an Roinn agus na daoine a luaigh an Teachta Heneghan.”
“It is not just the pelagic; there are significant reductions in other species as well, which makes for a very difficult scenario. Also, the European Union then has to get more robust in its engagement with Norway, the Faroe Islands and Iceland in terms of the overfishing of fishing stocks more generally.”
“It is going to be a very difficult year, a difficult number of years, actually. I have met with the fishing representative bodies along with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, who have responsibility for the marine. Largely because of the research that came in terms of the stocks, which everybody generally accepts - that has always been a consistent position - there has been a 70% reduction in pelagic, which is shocking. It really will be devastating. As the Deputy said, our challenge is to establish the task force. I also hear the call of the inshore fishermen in terms of representation on that. I will talk to the Ministers in respect of that. More importantly, there will have to be a state aid programme or support programme from the Government to support fishers through this very difficult period.”
“I appreciate that the Deputy has been consistently advocating for law on this issue. We passed the 2023 Act largely as a result of the Deputy's advocacy and that of Deputy McAuliffe, and, I have to say, others in the House. It seems that for about 85% of that legislation, the regulations were then formulated to commence and then there was one aspect, the banning. There is a pursuit policy. As the Deputy knows, pursuit policies have to be balanced with avoiding any further danger and loss of life. On public parks and pitches, scramblers should of course be banned. That is what I hope to deal with today in our meeting. I do not hope to do so; I will deal with it.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I am familiar with the Fitzgerald camp barracks. I will talk to the IDA and respond to the Deputy. Personally, I think that if the IDA has purchased the site, it is potentially a site that could attract foreign direct investment, FDI, into the Fermoy and north Cork area, which is important, if that is possible. I remember people in Carlow asking me many years ago if the IDA site could be used for something else, for domestic purposes. I asked them to hold on and, thankfully, we did. Why? It is because Merck, Sharpe and Dohme came in and is now manufacturing the highest value cancer drug in the world, Keytruda, in Carlow. I know people see an empty facility or spare ground and ask whether it can be filled with all sorts of things. I will talk to the IDA to see what the potential is.”
“We did not gut it because the same funding was applied, and that additional funding was applied. Some local authorities were approaching it differently - there is no question that they were - with different applications that were unnecessary in my view. It tends to happen when funding and so on gets allocated like that. There has been engagement with the local authorities and the Minister, and we have a scheme in place. It is more focused and targeted now than it was.”
“Actually, the Government brought in the tenant in situ scheme and provided substantial funding. In some areas - I am not saying in Waterford - the scheme broadened and was used by local authorities for investments that should never have occurred. We had cases where some local authorities were spending €50,000 to €60,000 on the refurbishment of houses. The whole purpose of the tenant in situ scheme was to stop people going into homelessness immediately, so the house was purchased. Suddenly, the fund was getting used for much broader purposes. There was a need to review it and target it at those who were in an immediate danger of homelessness.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will have to talk to the relevant Ministers in respect of the autism innovation fund, which was recommended by the committee. I may have further discussions with the Deputy to see how best we can proceed with this and in what specific area. It has application across education, health, work and generally. Maybe it should be combined with some research and some broader analysis of the spectrum, if you like, and how best we can do better in respect of people who are on the autistic spectrum in terms of their participation in life.”
“I appreciate the very strong position that has been consistently articulated by Deputy Crowe in respect of this issue. It is fair to say that those gardaí have been acquitted by the courts. That is an issue on which we have to reflect. I will discuss the matter with the Minister for justice and the implications of that. It seems that a review of what transpired needs to happen because it impacted Garda morale more broadly and had a significant negative impact on the careers of the five gardaí and, as the Deputy stated, of others as well. The principle of discretion is important. An Garda Síochána has served us well. There have to be checks and balances in every system. There has to be accountability. There has to be perspective in how all of these issues are dealt with.”
“It is not simple. We have had experiences in the past where situations have been exploited or whatever. I will refer the matter to the Minister for Health and him to respond to the Deputy about the issue. I appreciate him raising it because obviously, it is an issue of concern to quite a number of people out there.”
“I have made my views known to him on previous occasions. It is reprehensible behaviour. What is happening with the prosecution of the Mayor of Budapest for organising and participating in the Pride parade is unacceptable. I have made that consistently clear, both as foreign Minister and as Taoiseach, to Prime Minister Orbán, as have others. There are fundamental issues here, as an EU member state, in terms of upholding basic values. As part of his campaign to seek re-election, Prime Minister Orbán is attacking the European Union, seeking to undermine it, engaging in name-calling and so forth. There are serious issues that the EU will have to come to terms with at some stage.”
“The Deputy raised the issue of storms. I want to make the point that we must protect life, property, businesses and the livelihoods of people. I would argue that, as a society, we have overdone it in terms of all the various consultations and so on that must take place to the detriment of getting flood relief schemes through local authorities and the planning process in a timely manner. The one in Enniscorthy was refused on the basis of the presence of the pearl mussel or whatever. That should not happen. The new legislation we are seeking to pass will deal with some of that, but it is an issue on which we need greater consensus across the House.”
“I did not hear that interview. The Deputy is correct to say that the severity and frequency of these storms is going to continue. Climate change is here now. We are investing in adaptation and mitigation efforts. We are contributing financially to that. We really need a debate on flood relief schemes in the context of getting them through the system. There is enormous consultation involved. Environmental considerations have to be taken into consideration. There is an absence of balance between the-----”
“As the Deputy knows, we have a significant set of objectives in the programme for Government that we wish to achieve. The most important of these is the removal of the income disregard and the means test. There are other measures as well. I will ask the Minister to respond to the Deputy on the specific issue she raised in respect of pension contributions.”
“I would like the Deputy to outline the powers and the basis for what she said. I have never been one for witch hunts. Notwithstanding the issues, I just do not like them. Governments have to do things properly and have to behave properly and appropriately. In terms of individuals, I have no relationship or whatever with Mr. Murrin. However, Bord Bia has performed exceptionally well. In total, Irish beef exports to 70 countries have increased over the past five years by €890 million. That is from €2.2 billion in 2019 to €3.1 billion in 2024. That is an increase of 40% in beef exports, and we are in here looking for the head of the person who was the head of the organisation that has achieved that. We need to have perspective in our debates.”
“I have convened a meeting for later today with the Ministers. I will have better clarity around the timeline after that, but it will not be a long timeline. The Attorney General will be at that meeting as well. This is something I want done very quickly. The parents who have lost their beautiful daughter in the most appalling of circumstances do not even have to ask for this. We want to make sure that something like this, in so far is as possible, never happens again. We can never say that with any great certainty and clarity because of the behaviour of people. On an amnesty, we are hearing feedback about some of these scramblers. I do not want to brand everyone, but we do not want to be rewarding people who do not need to be rewarded. I will ask the relevant Ministers to examine what the Deputy is saying.”
“We believe that the enforcement of existing legislation is a prerequisite and that the commencement of all aspects of existing legislation is something that should happen forthwith. As the Deputy stated, the seizure powers were commenced. Since then, about 300 scramblers and quad bikes were seized by gardaí over the past two years. Historically, scramblers were racing bikes intended to be used on courses. That is it. I have a very simplistic view about it. I know matters can get complex in terms of types of vehicles and all of that, but it makes it far easier for enforcement if it is a very straightforward law and a ban. They are not on public roads; that is it. That is what will happen and that is what we intend to do. We will keep a very close watch in order to ensure that we plug any other gaps that may emerge subsequently.”
“The law allows for that. I consulted with the Attorney General yesterday. Despite the different discussions that are under way, the Attorney General is very clear. The 2023 Act allows for the banning of scramblers and quad bikes from public roads. I intend, with my colleagues, to proceed with that. It is going to happen. The Minister for justice has met with the Garda Commissioner. He accepts that there needs to be an intensification of activity by the Garda in specific areas where this type of antisocial behaviour is a scourge, and particularly where scramblers are used on an ongoing basis. If any other areas are surfaced in terms of issues around confiscation or ownership, we will deal with those, preferably by means of existing legislation. If new legislation is required, however, we will bring it forward.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. She is correct in saying that the parents of Grace Lynch, Siobhan and Martin, have shown extraordinary courage and bravery in the context of the devastating loss of their beautiful daughter. I have spoken with them, as has the wider family. I have spoken with them. We are very clear in respect of this matter. I have discussed it with the Ministers for justice and Transport. There will be a meeting this afternoon with the relevant officials and the Ministers to discuss the commencement of the remaining piece of the 2023 Act. I said yesterday that this should have been done; it was not. If people do not have insurance or a driving licence, they are not meant to be on the road. That requires detection. It is far simpler if scramblers are taken off the public roads and not allowed on them.”
“You always find an excuse. I want to say this. In terms of our fundamental principles, we do not compromise. We have had a long historic relationship with the United States. It is family and the migratory experience. The Irish built America, along with others.”
“-----and if you do not like it, that is your problem. The bottom line is this. The Deputy and her colleagues have been consistent on Ukraine. They will preface remarks by saying "We're against Putin, blah, blah, blah" but move on quickly.”
“I do not believe in the Deputy's approach that we should not engage with anybody. If I was to apply her approach, there are many people in the world we would not be engaging with. She is very selective. Her party and group has an obsession with the United States. It does not have to be President Trump; it could be President Biden or President Obama.”
“-----or in terms of our position, for example, on the Middle East, where there was significant pushback. Ireland is recognised around the world as asserting its principled position. I salute what Prime Minister Carney said at Davos. It is exactly what we have been doing: application of principle and pragmatism. The principle is we believe in an international rules-based order. We have not compromised on that and will not. When it came to Greenland, we very firmly and calmly, along with our European partners and member states - Deputy Coppinger has no time for the European Union but I will say it anyway - did not compromise our core position in terms of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark. We did not compromise at all. That remains our position but I believe in engagement.”
“People on the other side of the House were sneaking regarders of the Maduro regime. It always strikes me as extraordinary that the main Opposition party attended his inauguration. That is the difference in the House here. Let us be under no illusions.”
“It was a regime of repression and that regime came for people. It created the largest migration out of Venezuela ever in that country's history. I met with migrants from Venezuela when I was at COP. They told me in a very sad way of the demise and destruction of their country by Maduro and Chávez before him.”
“President Trump was democratically elected by the American people in an emphatic electoral victory. The Deputy may not like that but she cannot actually dispute it. Maduro stole the election and had a regime of repression that was reprehensible.”