Results 2,221-2,240 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland has always been, and remains, a strong supporter of EU enlargement, provided that the candidate countries meet the necessary criteria for membership. We believe that it is through EU membership that peace and prosperity can best be ensured across our continent. Furthermore, the change in geopolitical circumstances brought about by Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, and the...

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

Micheál Martin: There are currently nine candidate countries for EU membership. Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia applied for EU membership in 2022. Ukraine and Moldova were granted candidate status in 2022, and accession negotiations were opened earlier this year. The screening of the acquis for both countries is continuing. Georgia was granted candidate status in 2023, although progress on its candidacy has...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 30 April last, Government approved the proposal to draft the General Scheme of a Bill to govern overseas deployments into the future. Work on drafting those proposals, including consultations with the Office of the Attorney General, Government Departments and key stakeholders, has progressed, and a draft General Scheme has been prepared. It is Intended to revert to Government with the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Over the past number of days, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) increased their activity in South Lebanon and breached the Blue Line in several areas, including in the vicinity of the Irish Battalion UN Post 6-52. These activities have included incursions of equipment and personnel to which the Deputy refer. These are violations of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701. As of 8th...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Reviews (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: A review of the Department of Defence under The Organisational Capability Review (OCR) Programme, managed by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, was conducted in 2021. A range of staff and external stakeholder engagements took place between May and November 2021, including workshops and interviews. The Report was published in April 2022 (Organisational Capability...

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

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service has issued over 886,000 passports to date this year. All passport applications are subject to the requirements of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. First-time applications are the most complex applications due to the necessary checks involved to verify the identity and citizenship status of the applicant. The turnaround time to complete first-time online applications is...

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

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned about the surge of violence in Lebanon in recent days, including continuing Hezbollah rocket fire on Israel, Israel's massive aerial bombardments and ground incursions across the Blue Line by the Israeli Defence Forces. Recent developments in Lebanon represent a further dangerous escalation in an already tense and fragile region. I call for an immediate ceasefire,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (9 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland’s long-standing position on Western Sahara is one of full support for the UN-led process, including the MINURSO Mission, and the efforts of Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to achieve a political solution to this long-standing dispute. UN Security Council Resolution 2703, adopted on 30 October 2023, extended the mandate of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (9 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland uses various platforms to raise issues in respect of Cuba. These include through our Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York, and through our EU partners, whenever appropriate. Ireland also engages with the Embassy of Cuba in Dublin, through our Embassy in Mexico, to which Ireland is accredited to Cuba, and through the various dialogue mechanisms that are provided under...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (9 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Since his appointment in July, I have had a number of engagements with the Secretary of State on legacy issues. I spoke to him on his first day in office, and have met with him in Belfast and in Oxford. I also discussed legacy with the Foreign Secretary on the day of his appointment, and met with him in Dublin on 3 October. I welcome the British Government's stated intention to repeal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (9 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Reconciliation Fund, administered by my Department continues to make a vital and effective contribution to peace on these islands through its support for reconciliation based projects in a range of sectoral and geographical areas. The Fund continually seeks to broaden its reach in terms of organisations funded. At the beginning of 2024, the Reconciliation Fund team engaged in a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (9 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, it is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory, without being granted an exemption to do so by the Minister for Transport. In considering any application for such an exemption, the Department of Transport consults with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (9 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in...

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

Micheál Martin: The Government’s legal advice is that the Occupied Territories Bill is not compatible with EU law, as the EU has exclusive competence for external trade. The Government’s approach has not changed since the matter was considered by the Oireachtas in 2018 and 2019 and it has not been the focus of any recent engagement on my part, with Israeli or other counterparts. Engagement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (9 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions which include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not...

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

Micheál Martin: The Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out a programme of project delivery for the years 2023 to 2027. Under the programme, the following capital works in the DFTC, (Curragh Camp, Kildare) are completed or nearing completion:Cadet SchoolEngineers Logistics OfficeEngineer StoresNew Electric Target RangeUpgrade of Accommodation at Plunkett Barracks The Deputy may also...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together. At the outset I want to assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to support all of the Defence Force personnel who are serving in Lebanon during these very volatile times. The situation in Lebanon is still tense and unpredictable. Both I and the Government are deeply concerned about the surge of violence in Lebanon and...

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

Micheál Martin: The granting of Annual Leave to members of the Permanent Defence Force is governed by Defence Forces Regulations. I am advised by the Military Authorities that under these Regulations, a member may carry forward annual leave not granted or availed of in the leave year concerned, to a subsequent leave year, subject to a maximum of 24 days in the case of Commissioned Officers; 19 days in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The first ever Ireland House in Chicago will be located in the Equitable Building on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago’s commercial district. The fit out of the premises is currently under way. A competitive procurement process was launched in March 2024 to identify a building contractor to undertake fit-out works for the project. Tender documents were issued to six general...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Provision or Services) Act, 1993, empowers specific staff, serving abroad, to perform any notarial act that a Notary Public can perform in the State. This includes witnessing statutory declarations. In circumstances where the services of a solicitor, notary public or those authorised to take statutory declarations are available in the country of...