Results 121-140 of 19,991 for speaker:Micheál Martin in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121, 123 and 124 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has reviewed the applications, taken action as appropriate and contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service has issued 450,000 passports to date this year and is on track to have issued half a million passports by the end of this month. Virtually all complete passport applications are being processed within advertised turnaround times. The Passport Service is well-staffed and is in an excellent position to deliver the demand forecast for the rest of this year. Ensuring...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I co-chaired the most recent meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference alongside the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris in London on 29 April. Although issues relating to immigration were not items on the formal agenda of this meeting, I had the opportunity to discuss the matter with the Secretary of State. We also discussed the issue in a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: After many years of significant difficulty, I am glad to report that the UK is now more fully meeting its commitments to the European Union. In particular, the UK is actively implementing the terms of the Windsor Framework agreement last year, which has helped underpin political and economic stability in Northern Ireland. While there are a number of areas where the EU would like to see a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have been engaging intensively with EU, regional and international partners, including the US, since the beginning of this crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. During all of these engagements I have conveyed the same message: there is an urgent need for an immediate and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire; the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza;...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is a strong supporter of EU enlargement, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary conditions for membership. We recognise the value of enlargement as a transformative driver for stability, peace and prosperity in candidate countries. I am pleased to report that there continues to be positive momentum on EU enlargement. On 08 November 2023, the European Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Bodies (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: As indicated in the Commission’s ‘2023 Rule of Law Report, the rule of law situation in the European Union’, under the rule of law, all public powers always act within the constraints set out by law, in accordance with the values of democracy and fundamental rights, and under the control of independent and impartial courts. The rule of law includes principles such as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Bodies (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Lying at the heart of Europe, and surrounded by EU Member States, continued peace and security in the Western Balkans is of strategic importance to the European Union and its Member States, including Ireland. Given the wider geo-political situation, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East, we can ill-afford any insecurity in the Western Balkans. I am extremely proud of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Addressing the difficult situation of undocumented Irish emigrants in the United States and working to secure legal pathways for Irish people seeking to live and work in the US continues to be a key priority for the Government. Ireland continues to raise immigration issues at every appropriate engagement with the United States Government and Congress. The Government actively supports the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs’ mission network plays an important role in promoting Irish trade throughout the world. Ireland's network of embassies and consulates is central to the Team Ireland approach, which sees Government Departments and State Agencies working closely with other Irish stakeholders to strengthen Ireland's international reputation and drive the development...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Asylum Seekers (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the very large numbers of men, women, and children who have tragically lost their lives in dangerous attempts to cross the Mediterranean, and that this number is increasing. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the number of migrant deaths and disappearances in the Mediterranean has grown steadily over the past years: 2,048 in 2021, 2,411 in 2022 and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: At the outset, I wish to make it clear that no decision to locate or partially relocation Cathal Brugha Barracks has been made in respect of the sole operational military barracks in Dublin City Centre. My Department has conducted a cost benefit analysis and feasibility study, with involvement from the Defence Forces, to assess the viability or otherwise of relocating existing core Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Following the publication of the Report of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality issues in the Defence Forces in March 2023, I set out my priority to develop one Strategic Framework for the transformation of the Defence Forces, fully understood by everyone, that has the appropriate governance and reporting mechanisms, and is properly resourced. The purpose of the Strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: At the outset, I wish to make it clear that no decision to locate or partially relocation Cathal Brugha Barracks has been made in respect of the sole operational military barracks in Dublin City Centre. My Department has conducted a cost benefit analysis and feasibility study, with involvement from the Defence Forces, to assess the viability or otherwise of relocating existing core Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland signed up to the Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware ahead of the third Summit for Democracy in the Republic of Korea in March. Upon joining, Ireland issued a national statement (www.gov.ie/en/press-release/485aa-ireland-joins-internation al-efforts-to-counter-the-proliferation-and-misuse-of-commer cial-spyware/), which made clear...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (8 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ambassador Cunningham and the staff of the Irish Embassy in Riyadh maintain ongoing contact with the Saudi authorities at different levels on a range of different issues. These contacts would normally be with senior officials, as well as with Vice Ministers or Deputy Ministers as appropriate. Ireland's Ambassador in Saudi Arabia has also engaged with the Foreign Minister on a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued a passport to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service has issued over 430,000 passports to date this year. Virtually all complete passport applications are being processed within or ahead of advertised turnaround times. All passport applications require supporting documentation to some degree, whether it is a photo uploaded online for an adult's renewal application, or documents necessary to validate the identity and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has reviewed the application, taken action as appropriate and contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (8 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I can confirm that one civil servant in my Department is suspended at present while a disciplinary process is underway. The person concerned has been suspended for 14 months. There are no bodies under the aegis of the Department.