Results 3,181-3,200 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my answer to his previous Question on this issue (reference number 20884/24).

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Co-operation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: This year marks the 25th anniversary of North South cooperation under strand two of the Good Friday Agreement, which takes place through the vehicle of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) and the work of the six implementation bodies - Waterways Ireland; the Food Safety Promotion Board, Safefood; the Trade and Business Development Body, InterTrade Ireland; the Special EU Programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I welcomed the agreement reached at EU level last month to set aside the extraordinary revenue generated from immobilised Central Bank of Russia assets and to transfer this to support Ukraine, including through the European Peace Facility. I have repeatedly stated that Russia should be held accountable for the appalling damage caused by its illegal invasion in Ukraine. The agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Court of Human Rights (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 17 January 2024, the Government filed an inter-State case against the United Kingdom with the European Court of Human Rights. In its application, the Government argues that certain provisions of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 are incompatible with the United Kingdom’s obligations under the Convention, including Article 2 (right to life),...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 57 together. The Passport Service has issued over 625,000 passports to date in 2024. Virtually all complete passport applications are being processed within or before advertised turnaround times and there are no backlogs. The Customer Service Hub is responding to over 12,000 calls and 3,000 webchat queries per week and the average wait-time for a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Russia’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally altered the security situation in Europe. The direct threat posed by Russia against neighbouring countries, including the increasing use of hybrid activity, has led to a much greater focus on security and defence in many EU Member States. More broadly, Ireland and our EU partners find ourselves in an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Co-operation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 62 together. On 20 June, I launched the call for applications to the third round of the Shared Island Civic Society Fund, which will make €1.5 million available to civic society and community organisations for projects enabling practical North South cooperation and engagement, thereby fostering new cross-border links and deepening existing ones....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Since taking up the role of Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs in December 2022, I have had over 20 meetings with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. These engagements have taken place within the structures established under the Good Friday Agreement, and outside those structures, with meetings in Dublin, Belfast and London. With the Secretary of State, I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The loss of life by migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean is a great tragedy. Such tragic events highlight the urgent need to deal with migration in a comprehensive and holistic manner. Ireland regularly engages with Greek officials, as well as officials from all EU Member States, working in partnership to ensure humanitarian and international legal obligations are upheld. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (27 Jun 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. I hope that these efforts will help achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable political...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Nuclear Proliferation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Nuclear non-proliferation is a key foreign policy priority for Ireland. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is central to global efforts to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation, playing an indispensable role in ensuring that nuclear material is used and held in accordance with the appropriate international safeguards. My Department works closely with the Department for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has been unequivocal that the deportation or forcible transfer of children may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity. The large-scale deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia and Belarus is part of a coordinated effort to erase Ukrainian identity. These children face Russian “re-education,” vilification of their nationality, forced adoption, and coercion...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Summit on Peace in Ukraine, which took place in Switzerland on 15-16 June, was an important first step toward building support for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine. The Taoiseach represented Ireland, delivering the national statement, and participating in a working group on the return of deported Ukrainian children. I welcome that 101 delegations from all continents attended the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I refer the deputy to my replies to Parliamentary Question No. 87 of 9 May and Parliamentary Question No. 72 of 7 March 2024. Ireland remains fully committed to supporting and funding civil society organisations and human rights defenders on the ground as a key part of our support for the Palestinian people. As I previously stated, Ireland repeatedly expressed serious concern on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government is gravely concerned by the situation in the Gaza Strip. We are calling for an immediate and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages and for full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. I have repeatedly called for Israel to adhere to international law, including international humanitarian law. The Government has been clear that the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Child Abduction (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I can assure the Deputy that officials in my Department have been in regular contact with the Irish citizen in this case and are continuing to provide consular assistance. A senior official has been appointed as her dedicated case manager and is in very regular contact with her. I have met with the citizen in November 2023 to discuss their case and I continue to engage with my officials...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have been following the developments in the relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia closely, and especially in the context of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. However I would note that the bilateral relations of the United States with other countries are a matter for the Government of the United States. Ireland has a constructive relationship with Saudi Arabia and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cybersecurity Policy (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Russia’s hybrid campaign targeting the EU and Member States, including through malicious cyber activity and the deliberate spreading of disinformation, is completely unacceptable. The Government takes the risks posed by Russia’s hybrid activity extremely seriously. In this context, Ireland has actively supported agreement on a range of measures set out in the EU Strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: As I set out in response to a similar question from the Deputy last month, the Government intends to file a Declaration of Intervention in the case initiated by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice after South Africa has filed its Memorial. South Africa initiated its ICJ case by filing an Application with that Court on 29...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Bodies (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I regularly discuss the situation in Georgia with my EU counterparts. Most recently, at the Foreign Affairs Council earlier this week, we discussed Georgia’s current trajectory and the European Union’s response. Ireland deeply regrets the Georgian government’s decision to pass the ‘On Transparency of Foreign Influence’ law. The law is a clear attempt by...