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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“We agreed in particular on the then urgent need for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid at scale, as well as finding a pathway to a two-state solution for a lasting peace. We committed to continue to work together with the coalition of the willing to strengthen support for Ukraine and increase pressure on Russia to stop its war of aggression on the people of Ukraine. Deputies may wish to be aware that the First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, was in Ireland last week to mark the agreement of a new bilateral co-operation framework between Ireland and Scotland. The new framework includes six broad areas for future co-operation, including in the context of a strengthened Ireland-UK relationship. I also met with First Minister Swinney in Government Buildings during his visit.”
“The Prime Minister and I took note of progress on the UK-Ireland 2030 programme of strategic co-operation since the summit on 6 March on implementation across each of the programme’s four pillars of security, justice and global issues; climate, energy and innovation; growth, trade and investment; and culture, education and people-to-people links. We looked ahead to the second UK-Ireland summit, which Ireland will host in the spring of 2026. This work complements that undertaken under the British-Irish Council, which will meet in Wales later this week, and the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, which took place in Dublin on 17 November. The Prime Minister and I also discussed a range of international issues, including the catastrophic situation in Gaza.”
“I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 12 together. The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and I both attended the recent G20 Summit in South Africa. We had a number of conversations in the margins of meetings there, including on the situation in Ukraine, on which an informal meeting of the coalition of the willing took place. Previously, I met with Prime Minister Starmer at Chequers on 12 September. We discussed a broad range of matters, including the positive state of bilateral relations between Ireland and the UK. We also discussed the legacy framework - this was one of the reasons I went to Chequers - which was published subsequently on 19 September.”
“On the issue itself, I think the Deputy has brought legislation forward. We will examine that. All the parties will examine that legislation, as I have said. I think we have submitted a timed amendment on it. That is the approach that the political parties are taking.”
“The Deputy is focused on Dublin West. There is no question that the city centre has benefited hugely. That has had an impact. The good news is that numbers are increasing. The last intake into Templemore - 220 - was the highest ever. I was with the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, in Templemore recently when approximately 190 gardaí came out and passed through. In various parts of the country, including the Deputy's area, they are coming in now. The way the commission is doing it, with significant numbers for significant areas at a time, is probably more impactful, rather than dribs and drabs of numbers across the whole place. Over time, we will get there. I appreciate the Deputy's impatience and his advocacy for his community. I will articulate that to the Minister also.”
“Certainly, Deputy. I will have to discuss this with the Ministers for education and public expenditure to see what the issue is and whether it is ready to go. It is an ASD wing. We have put a lot of capital into special education in the past year or two to get more special classes built and so on. I will check with the Minister what is holding it up. The Deputy will have my support in trying to progress this project.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. He is correct when he says that this is a very serious issue. Access to the GMS in dental capacities is very restrictive. I will talk to the Minister for Health in respect of this. My understanding is that Cork university dental hospital used to take public patients in the past. That was always the tradition. I will certainly pursue that specific issue with the Minister to see if we can unblock that. It would facilitate additional capacity in a situation where there are huge pressures.”
“Again, there has been extensive consultation with the NTA on BusConnects across the country in Dublin, in Cork and everywhere. We have been strongly making the case to the NTA to engage with and listen to the public and society more generally. This new scheme has been in operation for four weeks. I understand there is a meeting tomorrow with the NTA and the local public representatives, is there not?”
“Sorry, it is not about mixed messages. It has always been the case that asylum is treated through the asylum system. People have never been allowed to work immediately when they are seeking asylum. It is not as if there is an open door; there is not and there never has been. Even though we were criticised by the far right for having an open door, there never was an open-door system in terms of asylum.”
“It is wrong to do it. These attacks occurred long before anything was announced this week or this month. It is not good enough that the Deputy would make those assertions. There is nothing wrong with a proper legal system of entering into the country.”
“As I said earlier, a national policy and strategy in respect of migration is being developed. I object to the conflation of racism and attacks on people because of their ethnic background and the Government's position. That is wrong.”
“I will engage with the HSE to bring the clarity the Deputy requires in respect of St. Brigid's Hospital and the centre there. Facilities should be used in terms of primary care. Again, I will have to engage with the HSE in respect of this to bring further clarity to it and get an updated position.”
“Obviously the identification of centres has been very problematic and challenging for communities and for the Government. I am not sure the appellation of "waste" can be applied to it in this context. The context is much different in terms of ordinarily procuring or acquiring buildings. I will talk to the Minister in respect of the site and seek an update in respect of it.”
“I thank Deputy Connolly. That is too long a time. We should know what is happening with particular sites. I would have thought that if the NTA or Galway City Council has possession, it should engage with the other council and make the site available. I do not know the full details but there are always ways of getting things done. Park and ride facilities do matter and they can be of significant value to a city in freeing up inner-city congestion. I will ask the Minister to engage with the National Transport Authority in respect of this and get clarity for Deputy Connolly and the people of Galway.”
“I thank the Deputy. I am very conscious of this issue. He has been advocating, as has Deputy Shane Moynihan who has been hotfoot onto me in respect of the timelines for this. DART+ South West is part of the broader DART programme. I will speak to the Minister. Permission was granted in November of last year. All of the benefits are there in terms of increasing capacity. We will work with the Minister to see whether there is flexibility in terms of how projects are delivered. There is huge investment in public transport as a result of the national development plan and the sectoral plan published by the Minister. The issue is whether we can get it all delivered as quickly as we possibly can. I understand and accept Deputy Neville's concerns in respect of this.”
“Our standards are among the highest in the world. It is interesting that in other trade deals some of the countries did not manage to export too much into Europe because of the SPS standards, which are often described as non-tariff barriers.”
“As I said earlier, I am very concerned about these reports. The European Union currently imports approximately 200,000 tons of beef from Mercosur countries annually. There was an assessment done some years ago on the proposed EU-Mercosur agreement that it would result in an additional 50,000 tonnes once it was fully phased in, but approximately 99,000 tonnes would benefit from an in-quota tariff of 7.5%. The fact is that Mercosur beef is coming into the country and it has been, and it is very worrying that carcinogenic hormones have been detected.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. My understanding, if it is the same issue, is that it arose prior to the budget and the then Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe, advised that, as we say in Irish, níl aon dul as. There was no way to deal with it other than to bring in new measures because of European Union monitoring and what it had assessed in terms of the existing scheme. I accept it is challenging for the broiler farmers but I am not clear there is an alternative pathway. I will bring the matter to the attention of the Minister for Finance. Sometimes in the implementation of new measures there can be space to see if anything can be done. I will talk to the Minister for Finance in respect of the issue.”
“These standards are among the highest in the world and are non-negotiable. I cannot give a longer answer but the European Union, in the context of the latest agreement, has committed to increasing the number of audits and checks in third countries and to strengthening the SPS controls undergone. The reports identified by the Deputy have raised concerns.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this question. I want to acknowledge his absolute consistent support and adherence to a high-quality food production system in this country and agriculture. At the moment, the European Union currently imports around 200,000 tonnes of beef from Mercosur countries annually. What is being proposed now is that the Mercosur countries will be granted a beef quota of 99,000 tonnes subdivided into 55,000 fresh and 45,000 frozen, with an in-quota tariff of 7.5% to be phased in over six equal stages. The Government has been actively engaged with like-minded European Union countries to voice Ireland's concerns in relation to the EU-Mercusor agreement. The Deputy is correct that the EU has very stringent standards, which are known as sanitary and phytosanitary standards, SPS, to protect human, animal and plant life.”
“-----but in terms of protection of whistleblowers, there is very comprehensive legislation to protect whistleblowers. That is there and there are good systems in place and avenues by which disclosures can be made, dealt with and responded to in a systemic way. I am not clear in terms of the Deputy's comment on civil servants knowingly breaching the law. The law is there to be enforced. If the Deputy knows people have broken the law, he should report it to the Garda, which can follow it up. We need to be careful, however. The vast majority of public servants work in the best interests of this country-----”
“I am not aware of that particular cut, but I will talk to the new Minister for Defence in respect of that. I did set up the office of the Reserve Defence Force. We really have beefed up the capacity behind it, all with a view to increasing the number of reservists because it is a very important dimension to our Defence Forces. My view is that we should be doing everything to incentivise the recruitment of reservists, not disincentivising it.”
“I ask Members of the House maybe to consult with me and we will engage with the survivors. I understand the Deputy is asking in good faith, but there is no need to go back or even contemplate it. Work is being done on this to flesh out what I committed to. The guarantee stands. The commitments stand. For anyone to have to go back on something like that would be very damaging to their health, so I would be very concerned about that. People's lives and quality of life into the future are at stake here because not taking food and so on can impact someone long after the protest is over. I will come back to the Deputies in respect of this.”
“I am shocked at how any leader and how President Putin can preside over such an appalling loss of life at a scale that is unimaginable to any human being.”
“Ireland has been a strong supporter of the establishment of the tribunal and will provide financial supports, as we have generally in the area of international jurisprudence and, indeed, the various international courts, such as the International Criminal Court, ICC, the International Court of Justice, ICJ, or any of them have been very strong supporters of those. I share with the Deputy the condemnation of these appalling attacks. In my discussions with President Zelenskyy yesterday, I was very clear on the enormous toll on young people in this war. Thousands and thousands of Ukrainians and, indeed, thousands and thousands of Russians have been dying on the battlefield. There is no need for it. It is an appalling denial of humanity and the importance of life itself.”
“I spoke to my officials yesterday again on this. I want to thank the survivors for the engagement I have had with them. There is absolutely no need to even contemplate going back on hunger strike. I will fulfil the commitments that I have made along with the then Minister for education. I wrote to the survivors, and I will fulfil those commitments as soon as we possibly can. We are putting together the detail and fleshing out the commitments I made in correspondence with them on these. I want to give the Deputy that commitment.”
“I fully agree that we have to continue. There is urgency there, certainly at Government level in respect of this issue. The expansion has been quite dramatic and significant but so has been the growth in the population, the need and the demand. The Deputy is correct in saying that we have to concentrate and focus our resources on the home and keeping people living at home for as long as we possibly can. That is in the interests of the individual, of course, the family and broader society. We also have to recruit qualified people. There has to be a degree of vetting involved here as well in terms of safeguarding and protection of people who need care. There is potential, which we discussed earlier, in terms of overseas recruitment and bringing more carers in who can provide the service that is required.”
“That report projects future demand for older people's services in terms of long-term residential care and home support to 2040. That will inform policy developments. The key issue is around recruitment and getting qualified people in place to meet the undoubted needs. As the Deputy said, there are about 5,000 plus on the waiting list. That includes about 2,200 new applicants and about 3,100 who are already receiving some supports but who require additional hours.”
“About 18.8 million hours have been provided this year to date, which is about 5% more than target and 7.5% more than the same period last year. The Minister is, in the first instance, delivering on the recommendations of the strategic workforce advisory group on home carers and nursing home healthcare assistants. The enhanced HSE home support authorisation scheme has been in place since August 2023 for payments to approved private and voluntary providers to deliver home support on behalf of the HSE. This delivers on commitments for sectoral reform, such as payment for travel time, for example, for home support providers, paying carers the national living wage at a minimum and bringing legacy rates in line with the new revised rates of funding. The ESRI's capacity review has now been published.”
“In terms of overall allocation, the 2026 investment in older persons' services now will exceed €3 billion compared to under €2 billion five years ago. That is a €1 billion increase. The home support is a priority, which I fully accept, with about €840 million provided for in 2025. That was an increase of €120 million on 2024 and a 70% increase compared to 2020. The resources are going in and 2026 will have a further €82 million, an 11% increase. It is more home support than has ever been delivered before. There is 43% more home support delivered now compared to 2020. The issue, however, is fundamentally in terms of the workforce and enabling us to recruit a sufficiency of people qualified to provide such home support.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising what is a very important issue which has been at the heart of Government for the past four to five years and has seen dramatic expansion of supports for home care. There is no question about that. That is part of the challenge. The broader perspective is that population growth and particularly the ageing of the population is a significant backdrop to what we are currently experiencing. I think the population of over-65s has increased by about 37% in the past decade, whereas the overall population has increased by 15% in the past decade. We have a challenge. That is why we set up the Future Ireland Fund, that is, to try to provide guarantees and security for the medium and longer term in respect of a population that will age dramatically over the next two decades. That is the backdrop to it.”
“This business of looking for more information is driving people nuts and decisions have to be taken on time in respect of the core economy. I fully accept that 200 jobs in rural Ireland is huge, particularly in that sector. They are good, high-value jobs and I fully accept that.”
“If the Deputy could put us in contact with that company, the Ministers, Deputies Peter Burke or Jack Chambers, would be interested in meeting. The first Minister, as Minister for enterprise, would maybe see if he could do anything to help it in its situation. Then, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, could do well to listen to that company in terms of the barriers it has faced. The Deputy said An Bord Pleanála is the problem. We have established a new planning commission, which has been substantially resourced, much more so than its predecessor. Certain systems have changed there because there was an inherited situation with An Bord Pleanála that was not good. The planning Act allows for timely decisions. There has to be statutory delivery.”
“With regard to measurement, the Deputy is correct. I was on farms a year and a bit ago where the whole flow is measured right to the estuary by Teagasc and the farmers. In fairness, it is measured every ten minutes. The only thing is that the estuary is still polluted. They are not totally disconnected so we have to be aware of that. In fairness, a lot of metrics from farmers on the ground are quite impressive with regard to what is happening on the farm and things are very more advanced in that regard. Agencies have to work more effectively; there is no question about that.”
“There will be clear instructions given to agencies to do their work. If they do not, a light will be shone upon them for not doing their work. We always have to keep in mind that the Environmental Protection Agency was established at the time for good reason. I remember it; I think it was back in 1989, 1990 or that period, if I am not mistaken. Why? There was a major incident in a pharmaceutical plant, if I recall. There would have perhaps been plans coming in relation to that but there was always a good rationale as to why agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency were established. We need a planning authority. That is required. The EPA was established in 1992 and I think there was an incident in Ringaskiddy, if I recollect. People cried out for protection. The public wants protection.”
“There is also a need for concurrent decisions by various State agencies, not sequential ones. In other words, when the planning is going on, the procurement should be going on and the other permits should be sought as well, not one after the other. There is much more in respect of that. We are also bringing in legislation. Yesterday, the Minister for climate and energy announced, for example, that there is a six-week consultation in respect of capping the fees for judicial reviews and how much the taxpayer ordinarily pays now compared to what should be the case into the future. There are a lot of measures; the issue for us is to implement them over the next 12 months and we are determined to do that. There will be timelines and there will be no hiding place for agencies either.”
“I thank the Deputy very much. That is why, this morning, the Government launched the accelerated infrastructure report. The Minister, Deputy Jack Chambers, has led the charge since this Government was established nearly a year ago with regard to an infrastructure division within the Department of public expenditure. He appointed an external task force led by Mr. Sean O'Driscoll and a number of people from the private sector or involved in State agencies who have first-hand knowledge of the challenges and barriers to development in this country. Its report is comprehensive and it is not any one measure that will change this but the sum of all the measures. We are going to pass legislation to establish a critical infrastructure Bill. We will also develop legislation around emergency powers being given to Government.”
“That is what I have picked up. Therefore, all that is happening right now is that fair, robust and timely procedures are being put in place. The best way to do things is through legal pathways. That gives sustainability for the individual as well.”
“I did not interrupt Deputy Cairns when she spoke, so I would appreciate the same facility and tolerance from the other side of the House in respect of this. There are legal pathways to work in Ireland. There always have been and we have a generous work permit system. There have also been visa-free arrangements with certain countries. Every country has a sovereign duty and obligation in respect of who comes into the country and who leaves it, or certainly whoever comes into the country. Every country has that. There are always limits and there always have been limits. The Deputy is suggesting there should not be any, it seems to me.”
“First, I disagree fundamentally. The Deputy is conflating the unacceptable behaviour of certain people in society with Government policy. That is wrong. The Deputy should not do that. She has been trying to do that now for a couple of weeks in the Dáil.”
“In terms of a campaign, a national policy is now being developed in respect of migration to update where we have come from. As part of that, there will be a communicative programme in terms of the importance of tolerance, inclusion and diversity and, above all, of explaining the phenomenon of migration and the benefits that have accrued to Irish society as manifested in our health service, in our education system, in services more generally and in our economy.”
“Ireland's population has been growing significantly. That is just a fact. Saying that does not mean we are inciting anything. We are not. It has been positive. My view is that since 1845 our population was in decline, right up to the 1980s nearly. It has been a transformative story from the early 1990s to the current day. That is a positive in my view. Even at that, the island is not back to the pre-Famine population status in terms of statistics and so on. It is an interesting perspective. In the past ten to 15 years, however, there has been very significant growth and that has created pressure on a whole load of services. I think the more legal pathways we create, the better for society and for our economy and so forth. I am concerned.”
“To conflate a Government seeking to create a fair and robust asylum-seeking process or programme with elements on the far right who are peddling hate is not fair and I think it is wrong. I would not conflate the two at all. People have had concerns about migration in society. There is no point in trying pretend, or put our heads in the sand, that people did not have concerns. They do. Our challenge is to articulate and engage with people with those concerns.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. At the outset, I would condemn unreservedly the attacks the Deputy has referenced in terms of the Brazilian delivery person. I have also read reports in terms of three Afghan asylum seekers reporting to the Garda that they had been viciously attacked in their car. There is, and has been a growing, atmosphere, largely fuelled by elements within society that are far removed from this House, let us be honest, who are seeking to gain electoral and popular traction in respect of their views. The responsibility of this House and all parties in it is to make sure those views do not hold sway or get a disproportionate influence. That is actually the challenge facing us.”
“-----although it was a European Union-wide directive, in terms of protecting Ukrainians and so on. The evidence shows it is not rhetoric but that Ireland responded in a generous manner to that situation but I thank the Deputy for raising it.”
“Again, I think we have shown political leadership in this country. Remember Brexit happened because of the migration question in the United Kingdom and it has had disastrous results for the British economy and British society as a result of that, so there has to be an intelligent, informed and balanced approach to the migration question. We have to deal with issues as they present themselves, and fears that people have, rightly or wrongly, or people who are influenced by those who want to spread aggression and hostility towards people of different ethnic backgrounds. The Government's leadership is in steering a course that is moving towards a more robust, fair and timely system for dealing with applications for asylum while also then dealing with the more legal pathways, as the Deputy has described.”
“I understand why, by the way, given what is happening in other countries around the world in terms of quality of life and economy, but these are the realities we have to deal with.”
“It is wrong to say the Government's desire to have a fair, robust, legal migratory pathway is somehow incentivising those attacks or contributing to that sentiment. That is a step too far. That sentiment was there long before any changes in the procedures the Government has announced. It is important to have a fair, robust asylum system that is also timely in terms of the consideration of applications and appeals. The absence of such a system would actually create the negative climate the Deputy speaks of. It is part of the issue. The origins of asylum are rooted in conflict, war and political suppression. I am trying to be careful but the evidence is that for quite a substantial number of those who seek asylum, the motivation is primarily economic.”
“They almost dismiss it as something that comes naturally. Migration has been an important part of Irish economic and societal growth. There is free movement within the European Union. Many people from the European Union come to live and work in Ireland. They are in many of our companies, in our health service and elsewhere. I condemn any attacks or any form of racism or targeting of people because of their ethnicity. Ireland is a very different country from what it was 30 years ago. I have met with young people whose parents came to Ireland. They clearly have an ethnic background, they said to us. They are Irish citizens but they have been subjected to intimidation and attack. I abhor that.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising a very important issue. I have been extremely consistent in advancing the positive reality and experience of inward migration into Ireland. There are many legal ways in which people can come to Ireland to work, live and reside. That is very clear in terms of our work permit system, for example, which has worked effectively and efficiently in respect of various sectors of our economy that require additional workers. Only last week, I was with Microsoft. It has 93 nationalities working with it in this country. It came to Ireland in 1985, when there was 17% unemployment. That is why this Government focuses on enterprise and economy a lot. I have never forgotten those days and it is a great motivating force to avoid the complacency regarding the economy that many people on the left have.”