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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“AI is an enormous issue of enormous consequence for the future of Ireland and the future of the world in terms of economy and society. Its impact will be as significant as the industrial revolution of the 19th century. I spoke to the Minister of State, Niamh Smyth, on this after the committee meeting. Certainly, we will give consideration to this. I did attend the AI summit in Paris. It was a significant and enormous event involving governments across the world and was co-hosted by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, and President Macron. There was also a lot of private sector involvement in the conference. I have met a lot of companies in the last while recently and there is absolutely no doubt that the impact of AI on work, behaviour and the economy will be profound.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. There is a lot of merit in what he is saying. The Government is endeavouring to develop greater flexibilities for people in rural Ireland in particular. I understand guidelines are under consideration in that respect to enable people to build their own homes. With the vacant grants and the grants to restore derelict houses, we have facilitated quite a number of people in rural Ireland, and young couples in particular, to establish homes. However, I know what the Deputy is saying, in that many people have the wherewithal to build a house. We just need to facilitate and enable them to do that.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It is obviously a matter of real concern to people in Ardgroom, Eyeries and Castletownbere. I have had discussions but not specifically on this issue. I did not realise the Deputy was going to raise the matter this morning, but I will follow up on it. I have asked Uisce Éireann, in respect of rural communities in particular, to develop bespoke solutions to deal with water supply and wastewater treatment under the umbrella of standards and facilitating an inspection regime subsequently. If the Deputy can send on the details, I will follow up.”
“The Deputy has to acknowledge that. The Minister for justice has moved on that matter legislatively. I do not have the background in respect of the NPWS and how it is dealing with this, but I will find out and come back to the Deputy.”
“It provides unprecedented incentives to encourage the planting of trees. This can provide a valuable addition to farm income and help to meet national climate and biodiversity objectives. The forestry programme offers a very generous package to farmers, with premiums increased by between 46% and 66% and the length of premiums increased to 20 years. One licence is required now to plant a forest. There are strong environmental requirements around planting, particularly on peatlands, so that will not be there. Then there is the protection of the hen harrier, breeding waders and high nature value farmland. The Deputy could be a bit more serious in her analysis of forestry.”
“In respect of the cost of living, fundamentally, since Covid and the war in Ukraine, there has been volatility, uncertainty and turbulence in world markets. Supply chains have been disrupted. That has been a factor in the very high inflation we experienced in the immediate aftermath of Covid and during the energy crisis caused by the war and the Russian invasion. One of the problems now is with the tariff policy adopted by the US Government. The latter is creating further uncertainty and volatility in markets, which does not help to settle the situation in respect of pricing. There are fundamental market issues here-----”
“-----then their livelihoods will go down. I do not understand Sinn Féin's position of opposition to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, CETA, particularly as it would damage Irish farming.”
“Ireland is very strongly supportive of the Common Agricultural Policy. The EU Commission will publish the multi-annual financial framework proposals later today. This is only the beginning of a long process. The Presidency that Ireland will hold in the latter half of 2026 will be important in the context of finalising issues around the multi-annual financial framework. There is a long road to travel yet. We believe in ring-fenced funding for the Irish agriculture industry, just as we believe in good, strong, robust trading agreements with countries like Canada, Japan and others all over the world. If Irish farmers do not have markets to sell their beef, their milk, their poultry and their pigs to-----”
“All I can say is that the Cork hurlers will do everything they possibly can to make it a most enjoyable occasion for him.”
“I fully take on board what the Deputy is saying about the need to expand the current strategies and for a new public awareness campaign on this issue. I will speak to the Minister for Health and other Ministers about the matter. We will take a cross-departmental approach. On the criminal justice side, there have been some strong and successful interventions by An Garda Síochána, which must be acknowledged, particularly in the context of its international collaborations. It has had good results in seizures and so forth. The health-led approach has worked historically at the level of the individual and community. It is a society-wide response. We will be pursuing those issues along with the European Union in the context of its drugs strategy. May I take the opportunity to wish the Deputy the best of enjoyment next Sunday at Croke Park.”
“It has, as the Deputy said, commissioned an independent evaluation of the outgoing strategy, which will be published shortly. We can get that to the Deputy. That evaluation will inform the next national drugs strategy, as will the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use and the views of the re-established Joint Committee on Drugs Use. The Department has undertaken in-person consultations on the successor strategy with relevant stakeholders. More than 250 people have attended consultations, including civil society organisations and people and families with lived and living experience.”
“Cocaine was the most common drug reported in 2024, comprising close to 40% of all cases. There was a 7.4% increase in 2023, from 4,923 people to 5,289. Cocaine remains the most common main drug among new cases, accounting for almost one half in 2024. Of those reporting crack cocaine as the main problem, 45.6% were female, 7.2% were employed and the median age was 40. Of those reporting powder cocaine as the main problem, 22% were female, 38.8% were employed and the median age entering treatment was 32. Those are alarming trends in cocaine use. The national drugs strategy and its successor strategy will have to focus on this key issue. The Department of Health has commenced the preparation of the successor national drugs strategy.”
“A number of projects have been funded in the Dublin region, including projects that work specifically with women who use cocaine and crack cocaine. The HSE is running a Reduce the Harm awareness campaign on cocaine use in conjunction with community-based drug services. The campaign raises awareness about the dangers of using cocaine powder and crack cocaine and how to reduce the harm associated with snorting, smoking or injecting through online resources and posters. The Government in May established the Joint Committee on Drugs Use to consider recommendations in the report of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use and make a reasoned response to each recommendation. The growth in the use of cocaine is shocking. The data from the Health Research Board is a real wake-up call for all of us.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising what is an important and serious issue facing Irish society. The Government is acutely aware of the terrible damage that drugs can do to individual users, their families, communities and society as a whole. We are committed to a health-led approach to drug use that reduces the harms associated with drugs and supports recovery from problematic drug use. In 2024, over 13,000 people sought treatment. That represented an increase of 50% in the number of cases since the national drugs strategy commenced in 2017. This is a worrying trend and, clearly, much more must be done. The Department of Health is providing funding on a recurring basis to the HSE to expand drug services for people with problematic cocaine use across the country.”
“The Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, along with the NCSE, met recently with parents and advocates from the Equality in Education campaign in order to address a number of key issues. I understand parents have been kept updated on available places for the year ahead. The whole objective is to help parents to secure the right place for their child as quickly as possible.”
“In Carignavar in Cork, alterations are being made to an older school building to facilitate a new special school. In the interim, the Gaelscoil, which is no longer in use, is being used as an alternative location until the building is complete. It will be completed before the end of the year. That is my understanding. That is what I referred to in response to the Deputy. I reiterate that five new special schools are being established. It is our aim that no child will be without an appropriate place by September. That is what we want to do. We are going to work might and main to make sure that becomes the reality. We will work with parents, schools and the NCSE to attend to those children who do not yet have definite clarity in terms of school places. We want every child to have a school place by September.”
“For next year and the year after, we are looking at bringing forward the application dates to make sure that there is better identification of need earlier in order to plan for the subsequent year. A pilot programme is under way in respect of the common application system that would ease the burden for parents.”
“The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, have both been working extremely hard on this matter. As the Deputy knows, we are close to establishing an in-school therapy service. This will begin in special schools in the country and will provide in-school therapists for children in special schools. We will then expand it to the entire cohort of special schools and to mainstream education after that. A huge effort has been made to get places in position by September. This is being done in conjunction with the NCSE, which, in turn, works with and liaises with schools. Five new special schools are being established. Some will not be entirely ready by September, although temporary alternatives are being provided in respect of those where building works are being carried out.”
“I have established a Cabinet subcommittee on disability more generally. I have also established a disability unit within my Department to drive change and transformation in respect of all aspects of disability in Irish society. More specifically, in terms of special education, 407 special classes are being created this year, with close to 2,700 new special education placements for the 2025-26 school year. An additional 1,200 places are available due to student movement, bringing the total number of available places close to 4,000 for the 3,275 students who are seeking them. The key issue will be in terms of geography and making sure that children have access to schools close to them. That is an important consideration.”
“First, I welcome James Maloney, who is in the Gallery with his wife Deirdre. James is an elected member of the Parliament of Canada and is affectionately known there as "the minister for Ireland". I had the pleasure of meeting with him when I was last in Canada. I hope he enjoys his visit to the Oireachtas and to Ireland, particularly as he has been a great friend to Ireland in Canada. Every child is entitled to and has a constitutional right to an education. It is the Government's job to vindicate that right, especially for children with additional educational needs. Schools and parents consistently highlight the value of special schools and classes, particularly where there are challenges in the system with the provision of a broader range of disability supports. This is a key priority of the Government.”
“In terms of divesting from Jordanian and other debt, we are talking about small amounts of money which could not fund any genocide. I ask the Deputy to withdraw the assertion that the Irish Government has funded genocide. That is wrong.”
“-----before the ICJ under the Genocide Convention. Very few countries in the world have done that. The record is there with regard to the decisions taken by the sovereign Irish Government at every single forum, be it the European Union or the United Nations itself. That is fundamentally where we are as a Government, and we will continue to do that. The more fundamental issue is how we get Israel to stop the war, and it is very clear to me-----”
“I met Mr. Filippo Grandi this morning, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. What did he say to me? He said: "Your voice matters. We thank you for how you have articulated in respect of the Middle East and other issues." That is what international people are saying about Ireland - that Ireland has taken a strong position in respect of the Israeli war in Gaza, and also a strong position regarding the atrocities committed by Hamas on 7 October against innocent people and civilians. We have been very consistent approaching this through the lens of humanitarian law and we will continue to do so. We are the only country that has initiated legislation to ban goods coming from the illegally occupied territories. We have sponsored UN resolutions in respect of decisions at the International Court of Justice, ICJ.”
“Surely Deputy O'Callaghan knows that when he meets Palestinian representatives in this country. The Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, met the deputy foreign minister yesterday in Europe, and what was the response of the Palestinian deputy foreign minister? To thank Ireland for the role it has played in terms of the Palestine question.”
“The Deputy knows Government does not get involved in investment decisions by any fund that is established. He knows that is the case. In terms of this specific issue the Deputy raised this morning, I will follow through on that. I ask him not to make the assertion because he must understand and know that this Government is fundamentally opposed to the Israeli war in Gaza.”
“The single-stage approval process for all social housing projects under €200 million has been decided on by the Minister and also the RPZ reforms, which the Deputy opposed. That is an action the Government took that increased, by the way, protection nationally but that will also increase greater investment for the private sector.”
“-----a viability gap. There will have to be a range of house and apartment types built. There will simply have to be to cater for different elements of the market. Some people have said outside of Government that this will be positive with regard to single people seeking housing and apartments also.”
“It cannot become a mechanism to be deployed more generally for acquisitions, with a view to moving the emphasis in local authorities away from new builds to just acquisitions. We will allocate further funding for social housing to increase the record level of social housing we are already providing.”
“If one looks at first-time buyers, for example, the percentage of first-time buyers has been steadily increasing, from about 25% of all purchases in 2015 to just under 40% in April 2025. Real progress has been made, through the help to buy scheme and first home scheme, in enabling first-time buyers to get into the market and get their first homes. About 119,000 first-time buyer mortgages were drawn down in the five years to the end of quarter 1 of 2025. In the first quarter of this year, there was an 8% year-on-year increase in first-time buyer drawdowns, at 5,308 for the period. That represents progress. In the past six months, an additional €700 million has been allocated, €325 million of which is for the tenant in situ scheme. That scheme needs to be targeted and focused on those in imminent danger of homelessness.”
“The Government is simply saying we are maintaining and increasing public investment in housing from the State, the largest actor in housing right now, while also creating the conditions to facilitate far greater private sector investment in house building and apartment building in particular, which needs to increase. The fundamental way to deal with housing is to increase supply significantly over the next number of years. We have gone from a situation pre-2020 when about 20,000 houses were being built per annum, which was too low, to about 33,000 now. We need to get to 50,000. That will not happen with tinkering or spending a year or two setting up a new State agency, as the Labour Party wants to do.”
“The fundamental difference between the Government and the Opposition is that we are action-focused and get things done on housing. I do not like to put this to the Deputy but I have seen nothing in the Labour Party's policy proposals on housing that would build anything extra. All the policy instincts of the Opposition is to oppose any measure the Government has introduced in the past six months. The same pattern happened in the past two or three years. I put the more fundamental point to the Deputy that if we want to get to 50,000 or 60,000 houses a year, we need about €20 billion, made up of public sector and private sector finance. No one on the Opposition side has come forward as to how to deal with that.”
“More fundamentally, the Deputy ducked and dived on the question of the free trade deal between Europe and Canada. It has brought huge benefits to working people in multinationals and Irish-owned companies.”
“In the forthcoming budget, this Government will respond to those most in need. We will test Sinn Féin. This morning, I heard Sinn Féin's spokesman talking about universal benefits for the high rollers. That is what its spokesman, Deputy Doherty, said this morning, that he wants universal energy credits for the high rollers. I will test you and your commitment and principles. Will Sinn Féin agree to targeting and prioritising those in child poverty in the forthcoming budget? We will target and prioritise those most in need.”
“We were doing about €900 million in exports in 2016. We are now doing €4.1 billion, which is bread on the table of Irish working families. That is how you deal with cost of living, not being against trade deals of that importance and scale, which have real impact on the working lives of people.”
“Sinn Féin is a party of Opposition with no limits on what it would spend. In terms of expenditure, it does not matter. It is just whatever turns up on any day, it will spend a billion or two billion euro on it. That is its philosophy and mindset.”
“That is a positive but we have to provide for that as regards our water infrastructure, housing, energy infrastructure, public transport and roads. We are going to do that but there are limits to what any government can do.”
“It is also important, however, that we invest in people's future. We are going to transform infrastructure in this country because people need it with the population growth we have, which has been phenomenal in this country over the last two decades. For the first time ever now, we are back to the pre-Famine population on the island of Ireland.”
“We did that a number of years ago and the finality of it will be this September. Every school now has free school meals. These were things that, up to three years ago, were not on the agenda and Sinn Féin ignores that. We have improved the situation regarding carer's allowance. What we intend to do in the next budget is to mainstream provisions that will help people to deal with what is a high-cost of living, particularly in food prices. That said, inflation is coming down. It is at about 1.6% or 1.7%. We have the third lowest inflation rate in the European Union. We are mid-table in the European Union in respect of food prices, even though prices are still high and very high for beef and various other essential products people have to buy on an ongoing basis. That is acknowledged.”
“We are well-placed to deal with it because of the surpluses we have and so on. We have taken fundamental measures such as the free book scheme, which Sinn Féin never mentions for some reason. That was a game-changer in terms of the costs that people have going back to school.”
“This Government intervened, more than any other government in Europe, to alleviate pressures on households through cost-of-living packages and also through additional measures within budgets. We are facing a very difficult scenario in terms of the economic situation globally. The Deputy seems to be oblivious to the threats that are coming our way in respect of tariff wars or a dislocation in the global economy.”
“Admhaím go bhfuil brú. Gan amhras, tá brú ar dhaoine agus ar chosmhuintir na tíre maidir leis an gcostas maireachtála. Tá an-chuid déanta ag an Rialtas go dtí seo chun an brú sin a ísliú. An rud is tábhachtaí sna míonna atá le teacht ná cinneadh a dhéanamh infheistíocht a chur isteach in infreastruchtúr, cúrsaí tithíochta agus a lán nithe eile chun an brú sin a ísliú. Beidh sé sin á dhéanamh againn sa cháinaisnéis a bheidh againn i mí Dheireadh Fómhair. I dealt with this again yesterday. Deputy McDonald's assertion that the Government does not get it is wholly wrong. The Government understands there has been pressure since peak inflation of 10% coming out of Covid and as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.”
“The national development plan will give a new capital framework for housing over the next five years. I have spoken about the tenant in situ scheme already. Deputy Lawless referenced a whole range of schemes that he said were not delivering. I note that he said there were hundreds of applications in for the vacant grant and dereliction scheme. Obviously, grants take time to be paid down. It has been a popular scheme and very well received. It is proving to be effective.”
“We are absolutely focused on supporting affordability and getting more affordable homes, particularly for those, as the Deputy said, who are above the social housing income threshold but do not have the financial resources available to purchase a home. That is a very significant group of people who need attention and supports. With regard to Deputy Heneghan’s question, a statement was issued today on the private wires. A number of areas have been identified where this will be applied and legislation will be forthcoming from the Minister. That will be an opportunity to maybe broaden out some aspects and the breath of the proposal. Deputy Ó Murchú raised CAS funding. There are a range of Government funding schemes available to housing, and there will continue to be.”
“Of those on the homeless lists, as I think that is what Deputy Tóibín was referring to, close to 50% are from the EU or the EEA. We have a growing population. The timelines as to when people come on to the emergency accommodation lists are a matter that needs to be examined in the context of the needs of people when they arrive in. The growing population has created new demands and pressures on our system. Of that, there is no doubt. To respond to Deputy McGrath, while the Government is focused on affordable housing, it has to balance that with social housing. Getting more people out of the private rental sector and into social housing would take pressure off the private market.”
“In terms of the tenant in situ scheme, a total of €325 million was allocated this year to local authorities the length and breadth of the country to buy second-hand properties. Tenant in situ social acquisitions are focused on tenants in receipt of HAP and RAS who receive a notice of termination. There are other mechanisms as well. This funding for second-hand acquisitions is part of a wider amount of €2 billion in total. These are supports for local authorities and AHBs to deliver new social homes.”
“A range of house and apartment types and sizes will be developed to meet the different needs of those seeking housing. Not everyone has the same housing need. Positives will come out of this for certain parts of society that require smaller units. Houses will still be built. Two- and three-bedroom apartments will be built. It is a range of construction. Deputy O'Rourke raised the issue of water infrastructure. I spoke to his party leader earlier on this. The Government is focusing on investment in public infrastructure, and water infrastructure in particular. I will pursue the issue in Duleek with the Minister and alert him that the Deputy raised it. To respond to Deputy Coppinger, the help to buy and first home schemes have been very effective for new-time buyers.”
“Deputy Sheehan referred to the size of apartments and the change in the guidance and standardisation in terms of design and so on. That is not being done at the behest of developers. There is a well recognised and analysed viability gap in terms of the construction of apartments in cities and, indeed, across the country. It is well documented that there is a fundamental issue in terms of cost and viability. This is just one measure of a whole range of measures we have taken to try to bring private sector investment into the private rental market and into the apartment area, on top of the huge public sector investment in housing. At present, the main burden of investment in housing is being taken up by the State. The planning Act introduced a major overhaul of the planning laws. An Coimisiún Pleanála has been established.”
“We are currently developing a new housing plan that will be aligned with the outcome of the national development plan, NDP, review process currently under way. It is clear that we have many significant challenges, especially with the viability of apartment development. We will pursue every action possible and be creative in our thinking as we move to step up housing delivery. These decisions, which will be reflected in the revised plan, will allow us to drive forward and ensure momentum across all different areas of housing delivery over the lifetime of this Government.”
“The Land Development Agency, LDA, has proven very successful in delivering social and affordable homes to date. We believe it can do even more, which is why we have agreed to an expansion to its remit. Earlier this month, we agreed to introduce a single-stage approval process for all social housing projects, up to a value of €200 million. This will cut red tape and support local authorities and approved housing bodies, AHBs, to increase and speed up the delivery of much-needed homes. The Government has also agreed reforms to rent pressure zones which, among other things, will strengthen the rights of tenants and will help to stimulate increased investment and development over the longer term.”
“The Government has also approved changes which will allow current holders of planning permissions for housing developments that have not yet commenced to apply for an extension of up to three years. This is about getting things moving and ensuring we do not lose out on the delivery of thousands of potential homes. As a further measure to encourage the supply of much-needed homes, Government has published new guidelines which will strike a balance between ensuring apartment development meet the needs of society in terms of standards and quality, while promoting an increased level of delivery overall. In publishing these guidelines, we are taking decisive action without compromising on any essential regulations to ensure apartments are viable to build.”