Results 2,181-2,200 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has had extensive diplomatic and political relations with Canada since the foundation of the State, celebrating 85 years of diplomatic relations in 2024. There has been significant bilateral high-level political engagement, the bedrock of good diplomatic relations, in recent months. Last month, the Taoiseach had a call with Prime Minister Trudeau and then met in person with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The domestic political situation in Russia has descended into authoritarianism in recent years and has deteriorated even further since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian authorities continue to crack down on opposition politicians, civil society organisations, independent media and other critical voices with the use of repressive legislation and politically motivated prison...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 54 together. The United States has a key role to play in the Middle East, with regard to security in the region as a whole and as regards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the situation in Gaza. I welcome the very clear position of President Biden that a diplomatic solution is the only path to lasting security between Israel and Lebanon. I also...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 49 together. The conflict in Sudan is causing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Almost 26 million people - over half the country’s population - face acute hunger. More than 755,000 people are now experiencing famine conditions. Over 12 million people have been forcibly displaced inside Sudan or have fled to neighbouring countries. The two...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 31 and 42 together. Ireland has been providing support to Ukraine both bilaterally and through the EU budget since the launch of the Russian full-scale invasion. Ireland makes extensive use of the multilateral system, and works with trusted partners on the ground to ensure a harmonised approach and enable the fast delivery of sustainable support. On 4...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 47, 48, 57 and 63 together. The ongoing crisis in the Middle East continues to be a central focus of my engagement at EU and international level. I have had frequent and intensive engagement with EU counterparts over recent weeks, including at the informal meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council in August and September, as well as an emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Two and a half years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine continues to face immense challenges. On 4 September, I announced with the Taoiseach a significant new package of supports for Ukraine and its neighbours, worth €36 million. This builds on the extensive political, humanitarian, military and economic support provided since February 2022 and will provide...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 35 together. Engagement with third-country counterparts is a central part of my work and that of my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Regarding my engagement with the Israeli government in the past year, I met with then Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on 16 November 2023, during my visit to the region. During this visit, I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland remains steadfast in our support for the people and Government of Ukraine. Recent escalations in the conflict have driven more people from their homes adding to the 3.6 million already internally displaced. As Ukraine faces into another winter, Ireland's humanitarian funding continues to target the most vulnerable, including women and children, displaced persons and those closest to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland joined the EU, G7 and international partners in supporting the Joint Declaration of Support for Recovery & Reconstruction of Ukraine on 25 September 2024. This declaration reaffirms our strong commitment to helping Ukraine meet its urgent short-term financing needs, and to supporting its long-term recovery and reconstruction. At the invitation of Presidents Biden and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland’s membership of the United Nations is at the heart of our foreign policy. We take seriously our obligation to translate the values and principles of the UN Charter into action. Ireland has a long-standing policy of engagement throughout the entirety of the Opening of the General Assembly at the United Nations. In practice this means our seat is occupied for each day of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I attended the UN General Assembly High Level Week in New York from 22- 25 September. My programme focused primarily on three key foreign policy priorities: the Middle East (particularly Gaza and Lebanon), Ukraine, and Sudan. In this context, I addressed the UN Security Council Open Debate on Leadership for Peace dealing with all three issues. I participated in several meetings and events...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Online service allows citizens to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Passport Online is an award-winning, user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times up to four times faster than paper-based passport renewal applications. Over 90% of passport applications are made through Passport Online, which is available to 99.9% of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The prohibition of the unauthorised carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft is an international rule, as set out in Article 35 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, 1944, known as the Chicago Convention. Article 35 of the Convention provides that no civil aircraft may carry munitions of war in or above the territory of a state without that state’s permission. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will attend the next Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), which will take place in Luxembourg on Monday 14 October. The meeting comes ahead of the European Council, which takes place on 17-18 October. Since February 2022, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has been discussed at each meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. The meeting next week will be an opportunity to discuss the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned by the situation in the West Bank, including the ongoing large-scale military operations Israel is conducting, resulting in casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. Regarding the wider situation in the West Bank, Ireland welcomed the Advisory Opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice in The Hague on 19 July, which largely confirms the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Co-operation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 58 together. The Shared Island Initiative, which I established as Taoiseach, is a whole of Government endeavour that aims to deliver practical benefits for the whole island by working with all communities for a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. While the Shared Island Fund is administered by the Department of the Taoiseach, my...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are currently 15 officers at the Embassy of the Russian Federation who have been notified to my Department under Article 10 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations – 6 Diplomatic and 9 Administrative and Technical staff. Despite our fundamental opposition to Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, the Government's view is that diplomatic channels...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Respect for the rule of law and other EU fundamental values is enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU). It is a primary responsibility of each EU Member State to uphold these values. Not only is the EU a union of values, respect for the rule of law and good governance are cornerstones for the proper functioning of the internal market and for a healthy business...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports. So far in 2024, the Passport Service has issued over 883,000 passports. Forecasts indicate that the Passport Service will issue over 1 million passports this year. Thanks to significant investment by the Government and the work of the Passport Service staff, virtually all complete passport applications are processed...