Results 3,141-3,160 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: In the context of whatever happens after the British general election and a new government being formed, we stand ready to engage with a new government to press these issues and to get resolution to them. We have consistently raised the provision of original documents with my British counterpart since taking office. I recognise that governments have a responsibility to protect national...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will absolutely do that. I agree with the Deputy that this has taken far too long. We recently had the Seán Brown case, for example, which I have raised with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. I hope that with the new British government we will be able to revisit the legacy Act because the Operation Kenova report points in the right direction. It is a hugely significant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: People can cross departmental lines. People move from other Departments into the Department of Foreign Affairs. For example, our ambassador in China would have been a Department of agriculture vet originally, which was very useful in the recent issues in China relating to veterinary matters, Irish beef and so on. Her experience was clearly on hand and very valuable. This is my second...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I repeat that there are many pathways into the Department of Foreign Affairs and into ambassadorial positions. For example, people who would have worked in the area of development aid initially have moved into the Department and brought that experience to bear as ambassadors in Africa, the Middle East and so forth. We have very good examples of that also within the Department. I have been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: European Union (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: At the Foreign Affairs Council on 24 June, I met with my counterparts from the western Balkans to discuss shared challenges for Europe in foreign and security policy. The EU and the western Balkans have built up a positive track record of co-operation in foreign and security policy. We discussed the region’s high rate of Common Foreign and Security Policy, CFSP, alignment, and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: European Union (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his remarks. He asked earlier about the enlargement agenda. This week the EU will confirm that Montenegro has made all of its interim benchmarks on rule of law reforms. This is a significant achievement and clears the way for Montenegro to close additional negotiating chapters confirming its position as accession front-runner. I hope this acts as an inspiration to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Bodies (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: This is challenging for the court. We have long been supportive of the court. Ireland committed additional voluntary funding to the ICC of €3 million to assist it in its work across all situations, including with regard to Palestine. At the Munich security conference earlier this year I met the ICC prosecutor in respect of the challenges the prosecutor and the team face. Ireland...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Bodies (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The EU is quite steadfast and strong in supporting the ICC and in respecting its independence. That was again very evident at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Monday. I make the point that, as the Deputy knows, the application for arrest warrants in respect of Prime Minister Netanyahu and defence minister Gallant has elicited a very negative reaction from Israel and the United States....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for tabling this question. I do not propose to change the criteria for the selection of Irish ambassadors. The legislative framework for diplomatic relations is governed by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, an international treaty that provides a framework for diplomatic relations between states. The Vienna Convention was ratified by Ireland in 1967...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: To be fair, the passport service has a system in place whereby applications do not go to the back of the queue, to respond to a previous question, following a request for further documents. When the passport service receives the required additional documentation from the applicant, the application is prioritised for checking and, as a result, does not go to the back of the queue. Online...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is not bad. People have come to us after using that one-day appointment service, in Cork, Dublin and so on, and said it has been effective.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I am deeply concerned by the rising tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. It is vital all parties work to de-escalate the situation. We strongly support international efforts to mediate a resolution between Israel and Hezbollah. Since October, I have raised my concerns and the need for urgent de-escalation on several occasions...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: On citizens, our advice is clear that people should leave Lebanon. There is an ongoing danger of significant escalation. An estimated 100 Irish citizens and dependants remain in Lebanon, many of whom are long-term residents and, as I said, do not plan to leave unless the situation deteriorates significantly. If it does deteriorate significantly, in essence if there is a war between...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have no updates on the procurement of that aeroplane, which is on schedule as far as I know, given that I have heard nothing to the contrary. Again, because of the nature of Lebanon and of any attack that could take place if a war happened, it seems the air option would be very limited because of the dangers and so on. The best advice, therefore, that we can give to citizens is to leave...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Bodies (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the first permanent international court with the power to prosecute international crimes, the ICC has a crucial role to play globally in fighting impunity for atrocity crimes. The court provides a means of bringing to account the perpetrators of these crimes. In this way, it promotes and upholds the international rule of law and contributes to the cause of international peace and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have repeatedly condemned the bombardment of Gaza. We in Ireland have taken a number of steps to move towards a political pathway and a ceasefire. We have worked with the Arab partners like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Qatar and others to try to develop a peace process and a proper peace initiative. They have published that. We have engaged with them and also...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has been steadfast in supporting the courts and upholding their jurisdiction.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for acknowledging the performance of the Passport Office and the passport service. The passport service has issued more than 625,000 passports this year. Virtually all complete passport applications are being processed within or before advertised turnaround times with the majority of adult online renewal applications issuing within two working days. There currently...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: We keep the whole service under constant review. The passport service is in third place in the Henley global passport index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 193 countries. We are up there as one of the best passport services in the world. We ran a multimedia campaign again this year reminding citizens to apply for their passports on time and online. The successful...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Union (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: President von der Leyen did not give a green light to genocide. The Deputy needs to reflect on those assertions.