This is about Ukraine.
TDs / Micheál Martin
Micheál Martin
Taoiseach
Portrait: © Houses of the Oireachtas (Oireachtas (Open Data) PSI Licence) · source file
0
questions asked
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them
688,766
words spoken in the chamber
686,628 as a minister, 2,138 as a TD
197
votes recorded
Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
From the Dáil chamber only: committee meetings are not in this archive.
Members of the Government answer parliamentary questions rather than ask them, so this page lists none of theirs.
Month by month
Low months are usually recesses, when the Dáil does not sit. The archive runs to 22 October 2026.
Contributions to debates 6,546 in all
Dec 2024Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Contributions |
|---|---|
| December 2024 | 11 |
| January 2025 | 6 |
| February 2025 | 438 |
| March 2025 | 518 |
| April 2025 | 317 |
| May 2025 | 426 |
| June 2025 | 424 |
| July 2025 | 344 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 146 |
| October 2025 | 375 |
| November 2025 | 291 |
| December 2025 | 281 |
| January 2026 | 326 |
| February 2026 | 529 |
| March 2026 | 229 |
| April 2026 | 385 |
| May 2026 | 474 |
| June 2026 | 425 |
| July 2026 | 181 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 198 |
| October 2026 | 222 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 6,426 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Cork South-Central 29 November 2024 to now
- party Fianna Fáil 29 November 2024 to now
- office Taoiseach 23 January 2025 to now
I thank all the Deputies for raising those various issues. Deputy Brennan raised the key issue of Ukraine's accession process. Ukraine has responded very well to the framework that governs accession. Basically, it involves reform. Ukraine has carried out a lot of reforms, which the Commission has acknowledged to the membership of the EU Council. The Commission has also stated that Ukraine has been extremely positive …
-----in ending this war.
I regret that I had to interrupt Deputy Murphy, but I just noticed his language. He deliberately ignored what I said earlier, namely that we had made it very clear to the coalition of the willing that we would not be part of a reassurance force. I said that in the House. Then I said that we would be willing to be part of a peacekeeping force if it was to monitor the ceasefire line, for examp…
That is what you are saying.
You said, "send Irish troops to war".
No. You know the presidential candidate. I have no doubt that she was talking about a peacekeeping role, but you just choose-----
Then you use language like "I oppose". What about the term "I condemn"?
Grand. Keep going.
Yes, but it is very formulaic. I have noticed it over the years. Look at how many times you guys talk about Russia in the House. You will talk about the United States until the cows come home. You will talk about the European Union until the cows come home-----
----- but you do not talk about Iran, about Russia or about all the others.
Again, the Ukrainian people have decided. They decided a long time ago that they want to belong. That is the other bit of language you used. You said that it is up to Ukraine to decide, as if there is an issue. Ukraine has decided on its self-determination. You guys have never been sympathetic to Ukraine, if the truth be told. That is the bottom line. Sinn Féin was with the People Before Profit-Solidarity in 2014 whe…
-----about Nazis in Ukraine and all the rest of it. You guys had a soft underbelly for the Russians for a long time.
What Deputy Quaide said was unfair on Deputy Fitzmaurice. I thought Deputy Fitzmaurice was reasonable in what he presented. There is a tendency on the Opposition's side to be intolerant. I saw how they all interrupted Deputy Fitzmaurice on Leaders' Questions. He raised legitimate points. He said there should be a debate. I did not get the sense that he was deliberately trying to stir up fear or hatred. I have been ve…
That view is out there.
There are a lot of people out there who feel they cannot talk about migration. We cannot just dismiss people's fears and anger. What happened last evening will create fear.
One hundred per cent, but I genuinely do not think Deputy Fitzmaurice misrepresented the matter. We can disagree on it, but I just do not think that was where he was coming from. We need to be careful. Everyone has the right to speak in the House. There is a tendency that if people say certain things on the issue of migration they get shouted down straight away. It is a very complex issue, and it is very difficult. W…
Apologies. We will go through the programme for President Zelenskyy when he confirms a date. He is anxious to come. He has indicated he wants to come. I think we have a timeline and certainly that address would be on the agenda. Have we run out of time again?
Never, Deputy. I always encourage our engagement.
Ní aontaím leis an méid atá ráite leis an Teachta maidir leis an méid atá á dhéanamh ag an Rialtas ó thaobh an bhrú atá ar chosmhuintir na tíre maidir leis an ardú sa chostas maireachtála. Admhaím go bhfuil ardú ann, go háirithe i gcúrsaí bia agus cúrsaí fuinnimh. Tá cinneadh déanta ag an Rialtas cóir agus tacaíocht a thabhairt do dhaoine ar ioncam íseal agus atá ag brath ar leasa shóisialaigh.
The Government is ver…
The Deputy is operating from a prepared script. That is obvious.
I have just outlined the measures we have taken to help people, particularly those on low incomes. I am sure the Deputy agrees, by the way. I am sure she acknowledges the increase in the fuel allowance and its expansion into the working family payment cohort, and the reduction of the VAT rate to 9% for the next five years. I am sure the Deputy welcomes all of that-----
-----and acknowledges that those are decisions the Government has taken. We will continue to help people who are in difficulty, in particular.
With the greatest of respect-----
The Deputy thinks she lives in the real world-----
-----but there are times when I think she lives in a political bubble. She should not be casting aspersions on other people in the House.