Latest news with #TAOISEACH
The Irish Sun
23-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
I will ‘definitely not' run for presidency, says Taoiseach Micheal Martin as he discusses National Development Plan
TAOISEACH Michael Martin has said he will "definitely not" run for Irish presidency this year. Speaking to Morning Ireland Advertisement 2 Minister Peter Burke has been calling to cut VAT rate for the hospitality sector Credit: � 2025 PA Media, All Rights Reserved Mr Martin said he was elected to "lead And an Asked if he would consider putting his name forward, Advertisement Read more in News "I have that obligation to the public. No disrespect to the presidency, but I gave commitments to the people that I will serve for the next five years and that's what I'm going to." There are a lot of names floating in association with Fianna Fiall in He added: "Party will consider that over the next number of weeks." Mr Martin also discussed the revised version of NDP which was announced yesterday with a total investment of €275.4 billion. Advertisement Most read in Irish News Latest It adds more than €40 billion for housing and water services, €22.3 billion for It also cited €2 billion to be delivered to Tetchy scenes in Dail as Micheal Martin accused of calling Mary Lou McDonald liar in Irish Mr Martin has explained that the money allocated to the NDP investments in the public sector comes from the government's projections of surpluses over the next number of years. He continued: "There is the additionality of €14 billion from the receipts from Advertisement "Now allocations have come from, it would be specifically dedicated to the metro which is clearly a climate infrastructural piece, because obviously the more people we can get on public transport the better in terms of climate. "I can't see KEY PRIORITIES The Government also promised to cut the VAT rate for the hospitality sector in the Mr Martin added: "Nothing yet is finalised in terms of the budget. Advertisement "We will be prioritising disability and we will be prioritising child poverty. "We will be targeting our measures and social protection to those most." Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke has been calling to cut VAT rate for the hospitality sector. The Minister said the cut is a "jobs measure to sustain employment" in the sector. Advertisement Speaking on RTE's "At this point in time, over 200,000 people are employed in it. It's a €9 billion sector. And it's so important to try and keep that sector sustainable. 'VIABILITY MEASURE' "This is a jobs measure to sustain the employment in that sector, which is critically important to me as Minister for "It is a viability measure, they are under significant pressure." Advertisement Mr Burke added: "We've had a lot of additionality from government, part of it over the last three years, in terms of regulatory requirements in the trajectory to a living wage and sick pay in so many areas that have put significant pressure on the sector and have reduced their margins. "We've pushed 90,000 jobs into the economy over the last 12 months. "And considering when we're at or about full employment, to put 90,000 extra households with additional income into them with more jobs is very significant." 2 Michael Martin has said he will 'definitely not' run for Irish presidency this year Credit: Collins Photos Advertisement
Irish Post
20-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Taoiseach opens new Dublin office of American multinational infrastructure firm AECOM
TAOISEACH Micheál Martin has opened the new Dublin office of American multinational infrastructure firm AECOM and welcomed its continued focus on expanding in Ireland. Headquartered in Dallas and with offices around the world, AECOM hopes its new Dublin 4 site will unite its Irish workforce in the capital following a recent recruitment drive in the country. Currently employing more than 750 people at offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast, AECOM plans to hire around 100 new people across all career levels. "We are excited to announce the official opening of our new Dublin office, bringing our workforce in the capital together in one location," said Richard Whitehead, Chief Executive for AECOM's Europe & India region. 'Long and proud history' AECOM says the move will foster knowledge-sharing and collaboration among staff, while also reinforcing its commitment to the Irish market. It will also help support project delivery in Ireland with wide-ranging global expertise from delivering infrastructure and building projects across the world. The new office at One Burlington Plaza is strategically situated in a central location adjacent to the Grand Canal and Wilton Place, close to public transport and active travel amenities. It has been designed on a single-floor plate, with meeting rooms forming a central spine across the floor, and includes numerous breakout rooms, pods and booths to foster collaboration. The external walls are fully glazed, creating a bright and open environment with views of the city and Dublin Mountains. "This carefully designed space will foster collaboration among our multi-disciplinary teams as we continue to deliver key infrastructure and building projects for our clients in Ireland," said Mr Whitehead. "AECOM has a long and proud history in this country, and today is the latest in a long line of notable moments for our company." Meanwhile, John O'Regan, Country Leader for AECOM in Ireland, added: "Today's proceedings underscore AECOM's commitment to increasing our presence in Ireland, further supported by our ongoing recruitment drive, as we look to continue to build on the deep bench of skills and experience of our Ireland team." 'Focus on growth in Ireland' Speaking at Wednesday's opening, the Taoiseach said AECOM would play a 'leading role' as Ireland's growing economy boosts the need for greater infrastructure. "I am delighted to officially open this new facility for AECOM in Dublin," said Mr Martin. "I am particularly heartened by AECOM's continued focus on growth in Ireland and their creation of jobs right across the island in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Belfast. "Infrastructure is critical to the functioning of our economy and our communities. "This Government is committed to delivering a step-change in infrastructure to match our growing economy and population. "I have no doubt that AECOM will continue to play a leading role in infrastructure projects going forward with the development of this new office." AECOM is currently working on some of Ireland's most important projects, including the Dublin Airport Enhancement Programme and the surgical hubs programme for the Health Service Executive. The company partners with both public and private-sector clients to create innovative solutions throughout the project lifecycle from advisory, planning, design and engineering to programme and construction management. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm that had revenue of $16.1bn in the 2024 fiscal year. See More: AECOM, Dublin, Micheál Martin
The Journal
03-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Taoiseach warns trade ban on Israeli settlements could hit Irish companies under US anti-boycott laws
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said the government must tread carefully when considering the expansion of its proposed trade ban with Israeli settlements, stressing that including services could inadvertently harm Irish-based multinational companies due to US anti-boycott legislation. His comments come after Tánaiste Simon Harris last week published a fresh outline of the Occupied Territories Bill, which seeks to prohibit the import of goods produced in illegal Israeli settlements. The bill will affect imports from the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights – territories occupied since 1967 and widely recognised under international law as illegally held. While the current draft focuses on goods only, Harris has signalled that he wants to include services in a future version of the bill. However, Martin expressed concern about the legal and economic risks of doing so. 'That's an issue we have to factor in, because we don't want any companies or multinationals in Ireland inadvertently being caught up in this,' he said, referring to US anti-boycott laws. Martin made the comments today during a visit to Japan. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'We do have to factor in the presence of American legislation, the boycotting divestment legislation, which is already passed by numerous states in America, which would penalise any company that, from an American perspective, participates in boycotts.' Martin said that several US states have passed anti-Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) laws, which penalise companies seen as boycotting Israel or Israeli-controlled areas. More than 30 US states have passed so-called anti-BDS laws that penalise companies or entities seen to be boycotting Israel or Israeli-controlled territories. These laws often apply regardless of whether the boycott targets Israel itself or the settlements specifically – something Martin said poses a risk of misinterpretation. 'Whilst we're just involved in the Occupied Territories, not Israel as a country, there's a concerted campaign in terms of misrepresenting the Irish position, so that's an issue we have to factor in,' Martin said. Advertisement Martin also addressed criticism that the government is backing away from the moral argument in favour of protecting economic interests. 'It's not commercial, like it's putting bread and butter on people's table,' he said, noting the presence of 'hundreds of thousands' of jobs in Ireland linked to multinational employers. 'The object of the exercise here is to put pressure on Israel, not to disadvantage Ireland unduly and that's a factor.' The Taoiseach acknowledged the symbolic importance of the legislation, but said it was important to be 'clear-eyed' about its potential impact. 'There's no point in Ireland coming out worse if it has no impact on Israel. That's the only point I'm making, we have to be clear-eyed in terms of the impact. People should know about the impact.' He also raised practical concerns about how a ban on services would even be enforced. 'How do you actually detect, how do you punish the offence, the practicalities around all of that. Those are real and the bill is fundamentally symbolic, it's important.' The Occupied Territories Bill, first introduced in 2018, proposed banning the import and sale of goods and services originating in illegal settlements, as well as the extraction of resources from those areas. The revised version of the bill, now known as the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill, would criminalise only the importation of goods, under the Customs Act 2015. Services are not currently covered, though Tánaiste Simon Harris has said he is seeking further legal advice and wants to bring services into scope where possible. 'There isn't another country in the European Union that you can visit today and ask a government minister about their bill to ban trade and the detail of it, because they don't have one,' Harris said last Wednesday. 'Ireland is leading – but we have to do this properly.' The bill is expected to go before an Oireachtas committee for pre-legislative scrutiny later this year. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
02-07-2025
- Health
- The Journal
Taoiseach says there ‘could be link' between falling alcohol consumption and increased cocaine use
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN has said there 'could very well be a link' between declining alcohol consumption and increased cocaine use in Ireland. He added that such a connection 'would be very worrying'. Martin was speaking to reporters in Japan ahead of the opening of a new Irish Embassy in Tokyo. Yesterday, two men were arrested after they were allegedly caught bringing a huge quantity of cocaine ashore in west Cork. The incident happened off Broad Strand, Courtmacsherry and an estimated €30m worth of suspected cocaine was seized following a two-day drugs interdiction operation. Martin was asked about this seizure, in addition to figures showing that Ireland is one of the biggest cocaine users in Europe. Cocaine was the main drug in almost 40% of cases of treatment for problem drug use last year – a 7% increase on 2023's figures – according to a report by the Health Research Board. Ireland also has one of the highest prevalence rates of cocaine use in Europe, with 8.3% of adults reporting that they had tried cocaine in a 2019 survey. But while cocaine use is rising, alcohol consumption has been trending downwards for 25 years. A report commissioned by the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland showed that average alcohol consumption per adult fell by 4.5% last year to 9.49 litres of pure alcohol. This is a drop of more than one third (34.3%) since 2001. When asked if there is a link between falling alcohol consumption and increasing drug use, Martin said 'there could very well be a link between the two and that would be very worrying'. He added that there needs to be 'more scientific analysis' of the issue. Martin was also asked if cocaine use is becoming an 'epidemic' in Ireland, and replied: 'I believe it is.' He added: 'From what I hear anecdotally, the use and prevalence of cocaine use has grown significantly and that is very worrying in terms of the health of the nation, for younger people in particular. 'It's very bad for one's health, apart from behavioural traits that can grow from it.' And while Martin welcomed the 'significant' decrease in alcohol consumption over the past 25 years, he noted that there 'clearly is an increase in drug use'. 'Drugs kill people and we have to look at that from a Drug Harm Reduction Strategy and work with the Ministers for Health and Justice and others to try and really focus in on this issue.' Meanwhile, Martin said that the cocaine seized in Courtmacsherry was headed for Britain and remarked: 'It's not just Ireland, it's everywhere.' He also noted that yesterday's cocaine seizure in Courtmacsherry is 'not the first time this location has seen a huge consignment'. In 2023, the largest seizure in the history of the State saw 2.2 tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated €157 million seized from the MV Matthew in Cork. Martin also praised the co-operation of gardaí, the Naval Forces and the Defence Forces in this week's Courtmacsherry seizure. 'What's wonderful is the integration and coordination of all the agencies, working with European agencies as well,' said Martin. 'Multidisciplinary teams are the best in any field of life – breakdown the silos and if you work together, you can really catch traffickers and this has been a highly effective operation.' Advertisement Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Commemoration service to mark 40th anniversary of Air India disaster taking place in West Cork
TAOISEACH MICHEÁL MARTIN will attend a commemoration today to mark 40 years since the Air India disaster in West Cork. In June 1985, Air India Flight 182 was brought down off the coast of Cork in what was the worst aviation disaster in Irish and Canadian history. Some 329 people were killed, including 29 families, the majority of whom were Canadians of Indian descent. The plane crashed as a result of a terrorist attack, and was the worst aviation act of terrorism until the 11 September attacks. An annual commemoration is held at the Ahakista Memorial in Cork. At the 20th commemoration of the disaster, Paul Martin became the first Canadian prime minister to visit the memorial. On RTÉ's Morning Ireland this morning, retired Irish Navy captain James Robinson spoke about how he and his crew helped to recover some of the bodies from the scene. He told the programme that they were working close to Co Kerry at 8am that morning when they picked up a radio message from Valentia Island that an aircraft had disappeared from radar screens. Advertisement The memorial commemorating the Air India disaster in Ahakista, West Cork. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo 'We straight away, headed towards the scene, not knowing at the time, as we went out there what nature of tragedy had taken place,' Robinson said. He said in the couple of hours it took them to reach the scene, they were preparing to rescue survivors. 'We were taking blankets out of the stores. I recall soup was being put on the stove in the galley, to warm people up. When we got to the scene, we very quickly became aware that we were in the business of recovering bodies and wreckage.' Robinson, who is attending the commemoration this morning, said he and his crew did not feel the impact of what had taken place right away as 'we had a job to do'. It was subsequently that the enormity of what had taken place dawned on us. There was a lot of anger that this devastation could be wrought on so many innocent civilians. 'But also, I felt very great pride in my crew. They were young Irish people who did a remarkable job and asked for nothing in return.' When Taoiseach Micheál Martin offered his condolences to the families of those killed after an Air India plane crashed earlier this month, he drew comparisons between the two tragedies. 'All of us who experienced that had a sense of trauma that people go through when crashes of this kind happen,' he said. The 2025 Air India flight struck a medical college hostel in a residential part of Ahmedabad, killing 241 of the 242 people on board. The sole survivor was Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, 40, who said it was 'a miracle' he survived. With reporting from Press Assocation Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
