-----on housing, which we held on Monday.
TDs / Micheál Martin
Micheál Martin
Taoiseach
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0
questions asked
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them
705,467
words spoken in the chamber
703,329 as a minister, 2,138 as a TD
198
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.
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Contributions to debates 6,677 in all
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|---|---|
| December 2024 | 11 |
| January 2025 | 6 |
| February 2025 | 438 |
| March 2025 | 518 |
| April 2025 | 317 |
| May 2025 | 426 |
| June 2025 | 424 |
| July 2025 | 344 |
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| October 2026 | 222 |
| November 2026 | 131 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 6,554 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
First of all, the differences in our policy platforms on housing are clear. Sinn Féin would do away with supports for first-time buyers.
We are going to double down and continue our supports for first-time buyers in particular.
In the first weeks of this Government we have substantially increased allocations for social, affordable and cost rental by an additional €450 million.
Now the big issue facing the country is outturn.
We are not misleading anybody, Deputy.
Is this going to be a constant-----
Deputy Ó Broin, I have heard your leader speak, through the Chair-----
This is a constant behavioural tactic of Sinn Féin to prevent the Government side of the House from at least presenting its position.
The main point I was going to make is there are a number of options facing us. We have to get the private sector involved much more, as we know from all the lobbyists Deputy Ó Broin met. I also take the point that was made earlier-----
-----in respect of public expenditure.
We need to increase public expenditure-----
-----on housing.
We have to try to do both.
Whether it is a tax-----
This is not satisfactory, a Cheann Comhairle.
It is not satisfactory.
Admhaím go bhfuil brú ar na seirbhísí éigeandála, go háirithe ar na hospidéil. Bhí sé sin le feiscint ar Lá Fhéile Bríde agus an deireadh seachtaine sin. Níl sé sásúil agus tá sé sin ráite ag an Aire Sláinte. I acknowledge first of all the very significant challenges facing emergency departments, especially over St. Brigid's weekend, the pressure on people and the distress that causes to people waiting long hours in …
There have been some successes on that front.
Some hospitals, like Waterford, Tullamore and Connolly, for example, had zero or low trolley numbers as well. There is therefore a management issue as well as one of resources.
We need an increase in resources and we have been recruiting extensively. Funding has been allocated for further recruitment of staff this year, especially medical staff, nurses and allied healthcare professionals. These are issues we need to discuss and engage on with hospital management and representative bodies. It is not just about increases and increases on their own. We have to analyse deployment and ensure we …
First of all, there is ongoing recruitment. There are now 25,000 more people working in the health service since 2020. That includes nurses and consultants. The number of consultants employed in our health service has gone up 42%. We are continuing to recruit, there is ongoing recruitment and funding was put into the Estimates for additional numbers in 2025. However, the attendances are also going up. An ageing popul…
-----and elective facilities such as surgical hubs and elective hospitals.
Deputy O'Callaghan is correct insofar as I identified the provision of a schools-based multidisciplinary therapy service, particularly in special schools, as a core priority and red-line issue of mine. We are pursuing it. I have already had meetings with my officials and we will be convening a meeting with all relevant Ministers and agencies in respect of delivering on that. There were attempts at a pilot initiative …
We are not prepared to allow the current situation to continue. All focus will be on improving access to therapies, for children in particular, and turning around the entire approach from the earliest days of a child coming out of paediatric services. There is not a sufficient link between coming out of paediatric services and follow-on services. In some cases, however, the needs of children will not be immediately a…