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 declaration focused on important issues considered during the South African Presidency, including disaster resilience, debt sustainability, financing the energy transition, access to critical minerals and securing inclusive economic growth. At the summit, I formally addressed sessions on inclusive and sustainable economic growth - leaving no one behind, and a resilient world - the G20’s contribution. In my contributions I advocated for economic growth to be inclusive, resilient and sustainable, and for support for the most vulnerable communities impacted by climate change.”
“Irish Ministers and officials attended over 130 meetings throughout the year, working on a range of issues including sustainability, climate, trade and economic relations, global development and development in Africa. Throughout the year, Ireland sought to make a positive contribution, based on our strong commitment to multilateralism and global development. The two-day summit I attended in Johannesburg in November was the culmination of the South African Presidency. It was the first G20 summit held on African soil, a very welcome development. The meeting adopted the Johannesburg G20 leaders’ declaration, in which we reiterated our unwavering commitment to act in accordance with international law, including international humanitarian law and the Charter of the United Nations.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 12, inclusive, together. I attended the G20 leaders’ summit in Johannesburg, South Africa on 22 and 23 November last. Ireland was among a small number of guest countries invited by South Africa to participate in the G20 during its Presidency, the first time for Ireland to do so. I take the opportunity to again thank the South African Presidency for this invitation and for facilitating our engagement at all levels over the course of its 12 months in office. The G20 brings the world’s largest economies together to discuss some of the most significant challenges we collectively face, including sustainable economic growth and development.”
“I do not mean that in a facetious way but it is a fact. I am not aware of the precise nature of what transpired but the entirety of the council is made up of councillors democratically elected by the people of Donegal. Councillors take decisions on a regular basis, either weekly or whenever they meet. We have to have some balance on the separation of responsibilities - I will not say powers.”
“I cannot be interfering in every single local authority in the country in respect of every procedural vote they have. We need to have some degree of balance in the House. I am not in the business of running Donegal County Council.”
“We want buildings brought back into use as quickly as possible. We have the living city initiative and so on. With the greatest respect, we have given clear policy directions to public agencies but, as Taoiseach of the country, I cannot start arbitrating on every single building in every single area across the country. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that. It should get moving on it and get it sorted.”
“The Department of Finance says we need €20 billion between public and private to get 50,000 to 60,000 houses per year. That is the challenge. We need to get the right balance between protection of tenants and facilitating further investment in the market.”
“That is an important point. I welcome the fact that the Deputy is at least the first person on the left to welcome the rent price register. Listening to everybody else, you would imagine Armageddon was about to befall us and there was nothing at all to be recommended. This Bill fundamentally strengthens rent protection and protects renters much more effectively than anything that has gone before this legislation. The catalyst for this was the recommendation by the Housing Commission for the reform of the rent pressure zones because they were a temporary, ad hoc solution. They were never going to sustain. We needed clarity for investment into the future. We need investment, so the reset is important. We need investment down the line. We cannot provide the €20 billion per annum. We are doing about €9 billion per annum on housing.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. At one level it is complex but, at another level, it is straightforward, if that makes sense. There are issues there. We will talk to the Minister and the HSE to see if this issue can be satisfactorily resolved, averting any necessity for further industrial action. We appreciate the work that is being done there.”
“I thank the Deputy. It is a very sizeable and important town. Thankfully, we are getting numbers through Templemore with good flow and recruitment. I will talk to the Minister for justice in respect of the presentation the Deputy has made today to see what we can do to get that to a 24-7 service.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue in respect of CIÉ pensions. He is correct; an agreement was arrived at. I have spoken to both Ministers. My understanding is that nothing is holding it up and the Minister for public expenditure is clear that he wants this delivered. I will get full clarity and precision for the Deputy in relation to that but I am pursuing it as well.”
“There is a pursuit policy there and obviously there are balances in regard to protection of lives and so on. I fully understand where the Deputy is coming from and the anger he has articulated on this.”
“-----if there is a necessity to strengthen the legislation. The new Garda Commissioner spoke to the Minister for justice this morning. The Minister rang him and met him to discuss this. The issue of enforcement will be intensified in respect of scramblers.”
“I thank Deputy Ellis and I fully appreciate his anger and that of the community he represents. Other Deputies have communicated that to me as well. First, the existing legislation is strong and needs to be implemented. If there is a need for further legislation, we will gladly work with the Deputy in that respect.”
“I will engage with the Minister, Deputy Foley, directly on the expansion and redevelopment of Drumlin House day services in Cootehill. I understand that an allocation of €7.5 million was provided towards the expansion of Drumlin House in 2024. I will further engage with the Minister in respect of that.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. Clogher House is a day activation unit premises based in Rathcorrick, County Cavan. The HSE advises that there is a comprehensive submission for capital funding for new day services and for premises to replace Clogher House, in line with the national HSE new directions policy for adult day services approved in 2024. HSE disability services and HSE Dublin and North East capital and estates concluded a tender process for a leasehold site in Cavan, which was approved in July of last year. Letters have now been issued to the successful and unsuccessful tenderers and once all outstanding issues are addressed, the HSE will look at engaging with the preferred provider on milestones and the programme of delivery.”
“As the Deputy will note if he checks, I finally said the Fine Gael leader and I would meet the leaders of the Independent component of the Government that evening to formalise the Government's position, so there was no change between my statement that morning and our decision later.”
“The Deputy's assertion about my statement in China is incorrect. He should look at the transcript of it. I said on that occasion that progress had been made on the insertion of safeguards into the Mercosur agreement. Safeguards were introduced by comparison with where things were over a year ago. Significant safeguards were introduced. That is all I said, and that needed to be acknowledged. I also said we had deep concerns in respect of Mercosur beef standards and referred to looking for further measures. The agriculture meeting was due to be held that day in relation to sanitary and phytosanitary matters and a potential regulation of the Commission in respect of pesticides, standards and so forth.”
“The Security Council has been paralysed for over two decades now. The situation has changed utterly. Where a country invades a European country, just as Russia has invaded Ukraine, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of young people, the devastation of civilian infrastructure, the destruction of energy infrastructure, and the freezing of the people, the Deputy is saying it should have a veto on where our peacekeepers should go. Cop on.”
“It is an absolutely ridiculous suggestion. We have a very honourable and proud peacekeeping reputation in this country. All Government parties are absolutely committed to that peacekeeping tradition. It is because of that tradition that we need to change the law. We cannot have Russia dictating when we enter a peacekeeping mission or not. That is the actual truth of it. The Deputy wants Russia, the US, China and the other P5 members to have a veto on when Ireland participates in peacekeeping.”
“I fully accept what Deputy Gannon said in relation to the courage, actions and compassion of Siobhán Lynch in terms of looking at the wider situation and making sure this will never happen again, and how devastating the loss of Grace has been for her mother, father and entire family. It is utterly devastating. The legislation passed in 2023 allows for the banning of such vehicles on public roads. That is something that will be done.”
“The Department of Social Protection will assist on the ground with households affected by flooding and provide immediate needs payments and other supports, where required. The Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment will activate the business and community flooding support scheme.”
“Storm Chandra has had very severe impacts. High winds and heavy rain are being experienced across the country, with very significant impacts in the areas the Deputy has outlined. That is fully understood. It is why the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's national directorate of fire and emergency management met with all of the local authorities and the other key response agencies in advance of Storm Chandra to ensure preparation ahead of the storm. Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford and Cork were significantly impacted, but it is fair to say that flooding impacts are across the country. Bunclody and Enniscorthy in particular have experienced severe flooding to homes and businesses. Local authority teams are on the ground assisting.”
“The Deputy is engaging in polemic and political propaganda. The bottom line is that the legislation will not have any impact on the 240,000 people who are currently renting. The bottom line is that for the 240,000 people currently renting, this legislation will not have any impact. It is only for new tenancies that start on 1 March. The core element of this is national rent regulation. What we are talking about is national rent control across the whole country. This will strengthen protections for renters through the introduction of tenancies of minimum duration. It will mean an effective end to no-fault evictions, the establishment of a rent-price register and arrangements to reset rent market rate only every six years. Why is the Deputy against this?”
“-----the level of information that is put forward and the avoidance of any over-restriction in terms of information that may be put forward. I would like to discuss this later with the Ministers for Health and justice and the HSE to get their perspective on it. There clearly are issues here. I readily acknowledge that they need to be pursued and that those who have lost loved ones as a result of horrific events of this kind need to be listened to and heard.”
“There are public interest issues and these issues are complex. It is my understanding that the new Mental Health Bill currently before the Seanad will provide for the appointment of a nominated person who can be involved in a person's care. However, I think the Deputy is talking more in terms of the inquest, the nature of that inquest,-----”
“In more recent times, we are witnessing parents coming forward or the family coming forward with very serious issues and who feel their concerns and issues are not being listened to by those in authority. On the other hand, there are also very clear issues of an ethical kind that are not immediately reconcilable with the need for 100% transparency. It is not simple; it is very challenging, but we have an obligation to listen and then to act in the best way we can to try to meet the concerns of those who have lost their children in horrific and very traumatic circumstances. I am open, and I know the Ministers will be too, to engaging with Mr. McGinley and others in terms of how we can move this forward.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising a very grave issue, particularly in the context of the deaths of Conor, Darragh and Carla McGinley. The Minister for justice met with Andrew in late November. We will reflect on what he has articulated very passionately. We are also conscious that this is a very challenging area in respect of the rights of all concerned but also the issues of mental health. I will seek an answer as to why the HSE took the position it did. The coroner has clear powers under the Act in terms of organising the conduct of the inquest and so forth. I acknowledge that there are issues here in respect of how we, as a society, deal with familicide and how we deal with these issues.”
“We need €20 billion a year to get to 50,000 to 60,000 houses a year. Let us put aside the soundbites and ask ourselves a question. How do we get to 50,000 or 60,000 houses per year because that is what is required?”
“That is why those kind of policies do not resonate with people because they do not see solutions there either. I acknowledge housing is a huge issue. It is an enormous issue. It is the number one issue facing our society. We are throwing the kitchen sink at it in terms of public sector investment. We are trying to get additional private sector investment in because we must. Deputy Cairns does not want to tolerate private sector investment and she is against it.”
“No, the point is this. It is clear the Deputy was not listening to what I was saying. She just has empty soundbites that she just pronounces. They are good. They sound well but there is a desperate lack of substance in what the Deputy is saying about housing. I equally argue the Social Democrats have not come up with solutions.”
“I did but I noticed the Deputy's supplementary question was pre-scripted. I have no issue discussing with the Deputy. Let us put the scripts away and let us debate it. Let us talk. I do not use scripts all the time. I am just saying that I made a few points-----”
“Already, the indications are quite positive in respect of both the budgetary measures on VAT and these particular reforms. It is also interesting in terms of a fairer system. Dr. Michael Byrne from the school of social policy, social work and social justice in University College Dublin has made the point that what is being missed in the current discussion is that the new legislation is designed, once established, to reduce the level of notices of termination.”
“I make the wider point that the Housing Commission recommended that we reform the rent pressure zones, RPZs. That was a very clear recommendation from the Housing Commission. Yes, we are balancing but there is very strong protective regulation here. We must also increase supply. I argue that what Deputy Cairns and her party have proposed for the past two or three years would dampen supply and disincentivise investment and would not have any significant impact in terms of reducing rent. That is inescapable in terms of the Deputy's idea of a rent freeze. It is all very popular but it would undermine the rental market very significantly and to such an extent that you would have a depression in supply. We want more supply and we need more supply, obviously.”
“The Deputy forgot to say that the tenancies of the over 240,000 people who are currently renting will not be impacted in any way by this legislation. Deputy Cairns just ignored that and spun it differently. She deliberately misled people by saying what she said, in terms of the spinning of it and so on. The measures are only for new tenancies that start from 1 March. That is very clear. In our view - Deputy Cairns may differ - this is the most significant improvement in rental protection in the history of the State. From now on, when tenants sign a lease, they can have far more confidence in terms of where they are living. They will be there for a minimum of six years. The restrictions are much more significant now than they would have been on landlords in terms of eviction.”
“First, I reject the spin the Deputy has put on the legislation the Cabinet approved today in respect of rent. Fundamentally, to summarise, what we are now looking at is national rent regulation and national rent control across the entire country. That is an outcome of this Bill. There will be strengthened protection for renters through the introduction of tenancies of minimum duration. That has not happened before. There is an effective end to no-fault evictions. It includes the establishment of a rent price register, which brings much needed transparency, and arrangements to reset rent to market rate only every six years. That is part of a wider set of measures the Government announced over the past 12 months, which have laid the foundations for significant movement and progress on the housing front.”
“I agree with the Deputy and I appreciate her offer of engagement and co-operation. The code of practice will be finalised and I know the Minister has spoken to the Garda Commissioner in relation to this. The newly appointed Garda Commissioner is very clear on the prioritisation we attach to this issue. That code of practice in respect of drones and their utilisation in detection and so on will be done now. Also, the commencement of the regulations on that last aspect of the 2023 Act, most of which has been commenced, will also happen.”
“People might have welcomed them some years ago, thinking they were a new mode of transport, but they are now a very significant danger to the public and to those using them. They have to be regulated. We have to take a really hard look at this because of the level of injuries to young people, in particular, who use such vehicles. The scrambler issue, for me, is very straightforward. Scramblers have no place on our roads. There is a lot of other activity related to them, as someone referenced during the day, in terms of illegal activity, perhaps, in some cases and the utilisation of scramblers in particular.”
“The third element is that the Department of Transport has been working with the Garda to finalise a straightforward ban in areas where they are being used. I am convening an immediate meeting between the relevant Departments to get this done. My view, and the advice from the Attorney General is very clear, is that it does not need additional laws to do this. It will be done. I have made that very clear to all Ministers and officials. There are significant powers in place to intervene, confiscate and prohibit such vehicles on our public roads. Related to that, we have to move with speed on e-scooters. The level of injuries being reported from consultants in emergency medicine, particularly brain injuries as well as physical injuries, is far too high.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I fully agree with what she said on the courage of Siobhán Lynch in respect of the loss of her daughter Grace and pursuing with great clarity the need for absolute change. The legislation has been passed by this House. I convened a meeting a number of years ago to set that in train and the legislation was passed. Additional powers have been given to the Garda and additional laws have been passed as a result of that. In particular, dangerous driving has become an offence everywhere, not just in public places. An Garda Síochána has been granted new powers of seizure and has used those powers. Close to 300 scramblers and quads have been seized as a result of that.”
“The more fundamental point is that the remaining part of this legislation has to be enacted and commenced to take these scramblers off our roads as is provided for, despite what gets said, in the primary legislation this House passed on 2023.”
“First of all, I do hear the anger from the community and we are going to act. Also, I know that the Minister for justice has spoken with the Garda Commissioner. He is attending to this immediately and treating this with the upmost priority in terms of the enforcement side of it. On the legislation in terms of seizures and so on, the Garda did act in a number of areas and despite what one hears, it was in a position to seize many of these. In terms of pursuing scramblers, there is a pursuit policy. I believe the Commissioner is going to review that with a view to taking a more intensive approach in relation to it.”
“There is no need for and there should be no scramblers on public roads. We have it within our power to make that happen, and it will happen. That said, nothing can ever ease the devastation the Lynch family have experienced as a resulted of the loss of Grace from that collision the other night. The Deputy can rest assured we are. I have spoken to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, this morning. That work needs to be completed. Progress was made on a number of fronts but that needs to be completed. Is uafás den scoth é seo. Tá sé uafásach ar fad. Is olc an scéal an méid atá tar éis tarlú i mbás Grace Lynch. Déanaimid comhbhrón lena clann ach ní leor é sin. Caithfimid an reachtaíocht a chur i bhfeidhm ina iomláine.”
“As a result of that legislation, in 2024 and 2025 about 300 scramblers and quad bikes were seized by the Garda. That is not enough. There is a third aspect to this. I am convening an immediate meeting of the Departments of Transport and justice. I had to convene a meeting in 2020 or 2021 to start the ball rolling and get the legislation to which I refer done. There was a degree of resistance at the time and claims to the effect that it could not be done and so on. It was done. However, the final regulations need to be dealt with. They should already have been. I am very clear about it. In my view, it will happen. It should have happened in terms of the formulation and dealing with of those regulations. I understand fully the anger of people in working-class areas, particularly Finglas.”
“As a result of that and of work involving the then Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, the Minister, Deputy Browne, and Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, legislative changes were brought through the House to tackle the scourge of dangerous driving and the antisocial use of scramblers and quad bikes. Those changes were introduced by means of the Road Traffic Act 2023, which dealt with dangerous driving becoming an offence everywhere not just in public places. It is difficult to comprehend that was not the state of play before that. An Garda Síochána has been granted new powers of seizure. There is also a power in that legislation to provide for the prohibition or the restriction of use of classes of vehicles in particular places.”
“I want to express my deepest sympathies to the family of Grace Lynch who was mowed down by a scrambler and who died as a result. No words can console the family. Nothing that I can say can in any way ease the devastation, the pain, the hurt and the anger that Grace’s family feels right now. I understand that anger, and I understand the devastation that they are going through. They have lost a beautiful daughter who should be going to school and who should be with her friends today. There is an investigation under way. We did act at the time in respect of legislation. I recall that Deputies across the House – including, on our side, Deputy Paul McAuliffe, in particular, and Deputy John Lahart – pressed for legislation to deal with the scourge of scramblers in our communities.”
“I will talk to those responsible in terms of the public disclosure process. As the Deputy knows, we have a fairly elaborate process for the management of public disclosures under a legislative framework. There have been various amendments to the legislation and so forth. I will follow up on that in terms of the specific case she referenced. The terms of reference for the evaluation are quite broad, but I have no difficulty in following that up with the Deputy.”
“Since February of last year, the panel has been reviewing and analysing wide-ranging data and information gathered from public consultation, stakeholders, experts, officials and research reports. These are focused on societal and economic impacts; health and care; rights, including the rights of children; and wider issues such as communication, education and public policy.”
“In our view, compared to the statutory inquiry model, this is far more effective, efficient and timely. The chair and panel have a lot of flexibility. There is quite a range of members, including Professor David Heymann, a medical epidemiologist; Dr. Nat O'Connor, an assistant professor of social policy at the school of social policy, UCD; Dr. Nora Strecker, an assistant professor and Ad Astra fellow at University College Dublin's school of economics; Professor Bert Gordijn, professor of ethics and director of the institute for ethics at Dublin City University; and Professor Sara Burke, associate professor and director of the centre for health policy and management at Trinity school of medicine. That is the panel.”
“We have established a Covid-19 evaluation. It is a fact-finding and lessons-learned approach. It has a far greater chance of being completed with wide co-operation of all the relevant players in a non-adversarial atmosphere and is likely to be concluded more quickly. That is my view. We know how long statutory tribunals of inquiry can go on in this country and they do not necessarily get the outcomes. A non-statutory expert-led after-action review offers speed and flexibility. It allows for public and private information giving. A lot of public consultations have been undertaken by this evaluation. There have been round-table events with stakeholder organisations. The proceedings of these round-table events are available to view on the evaluation's dedicated website, www.covid19evaluation.ie .”