Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We should endeavour to be fair, straight and honest with people. I have never deviated. I have been consistent from the outset about how the ICJ operates. We have been consistent with how we responded to the Ukrainian situation. Sinn Féin's motion talked about Ireland indicating a willingness to file. I made it clear that first South Africa needs to file its memorial, and that takes time. Everything to do with international courts takes time. I would argue that people in the House gave a wrong and false impression that this could all be done in 24 days, that we could join the case and so on. That was not being straight with people, however. There was political work afoot in that. I have an obligation to be honest with people and explain how the ICJ works. It is important that we are credible in how we file interventions.

South Africa will file a substantive case and it asked for this length of time. We need to see the substantive case submitted by South Africa and then make sure our intervention is at least informed by the South African substantive case. We have also been working on how one would file. It has to be done under Article 63 or Article 61. Our legal advice is that we would not get a hearing under Article 61. The issue of broadening the parameters and definitions around which the court can make its decision is a significant move by us. We are preparing the ground for that. There is no reluctance or slowness on our part.

See this speech in context