They are just bad news and they will damage the world economy if this continues. There is terrible uncertainty and volatility, and the result of all that is a pause on investment decisions, which is also a critical outcome so far of what has transpired over the last six months.
To be fair, I disagree further with the Deputy. The Irish position, until now, has been to avoid any escalatory response by Europe.
I have …
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
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| 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 |
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| 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
The Deputy described me as the king of deflection. As a true republican, I never did royalty and do not propose to do so now.
In this matter, we have not failed in any respect. Europe has avoided retaliation, notwithstanding a fair degree of provocation by way of the imposition of tariffs. There has been an effective 10% tariff for the past number of months. Europe has avoided overreacting to this and has gone down …
We acknowledge fully the exposure of this country to damage from any tariff imposition because we are a small, open economy. I am glad the Deputy has embraced that. There were times when he did not.
We have no issue with being a bridge with the US.
Taking the pharmaceutical sector, for example, Ireland is not isolated in that.
Up to ten EU countries have joined together in respect of the pharmaceutical sector.
That is not true.
That is not true.
No appeal has been lodged.
I pay tribute to Jacqueline Connolly who has demonstrated remarkable courage and resilience in the aftermath of the tragic murder of her sister Clodagh, and also Mary Coll, her mother, who met with the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, as the Deputy said, back in February and previously with the then Minister, Deputy McEntee. The Attorney General also received correspondence for solicitors representing the family but he …
-----regarding the publication of the serious crime review, my understanding is that one has never been published before-----
-----but the Minister for justice and I will engage with the Garda Commissioner on the matter to see if we can get it published.
First, the situation is very volatile and is very uncertain. It is because of that we are facing a very difficult background to the development of the NDP, completion of the national development plan, which is capital expenditure on water, energy and so on, the Estimates process with the Government and line Ministers and then the budget itself in October. It is very difficult to forecast and we have to be prudent. We…
The Deputy, unfortunately, and his party engage continually in the politics of slogans, not action. We are taking action. The Deputy mentioned two; we have taken about 15 actions since the beginning of this Government in relation to housing alone and will continue to take action on housing. There will be housing types of different size. By definition, that is okay. They will not be dark shoeboxes.
There are sensible provisions. Different people look for different types of accommodation at different stages of their lives.
We will build, predominantly, more houses. We need more apartments. We need more-----
-----private sector investment. The Deputy does not want any private sector investment, it seems.
The Deputy just attacked the funds.
The Deputy does not want funds in, for example. I would love to know how the Social Democrats would get to 300,000. How is it going to get the 50,000?
The Social Democrats have not. That is not going to give what we need.
As the Deputy knows, the pay issue was resolved. There was a full and final settlement with Fórsa in terms of school secretaries. They play an essential and very important role in terms of the organisation and smooth administration of schools. Dialogue is the best way to deal with these issues. The Department officials are fully open to engaging with Fórsa to try to reach a solution on this matter. I hope we can get …
I was going to say you could do with a pint after all that.
There are approximately 7,200 pubs in the country. That still is a substantial amount. The rural pub does play a very important social role in rural communities and, indeed, for the urban community to visit rural communities and enjoy the ambiance, relaxation and engagement with people.
We fully acknowledge that. I think there have been a lot of changes in…
If we are honest, and rightly so, successive governments in the past had to introduce drink driving laws and all of that, all of which reduced capacity for people to get to the pub at night. There are lots of factors and behaviour has changed as well.
I would recommend a good, long-----
I will not, so, or I will get into trouble.
First, I thank the Deputy for his comment. I think it is a very fair point in terms of the need for a forward planning unit in the Department of children. There is one now to identify the gaps and the needs of a growing population for childcare services. It will be resourced. It has been a success and impactful in the Department of education relative to the situation prior to that, when perhaps there was not as focus…