Results 3,381-3,400 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Pre-legislative scrutiny could change it. I will undertake to discuss this with the Deputy.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for the clarification.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: In fairness, I did not give the Deputy any rote response the last time and I and not going to give him one now.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: Neither am I going to accept the amendment. I indicated to the Deputy I would be introducing the most comprehensive legislation in terms of command and control within the Defence Forces. In the period between Committee and Report Stages, I have already approved a paper that my officials had done some work on in respect of CHOD, in respect of the recommendation the commission came forward...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 42 and 43 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The standard Irish passport issued to adults is valid for 10 years. Passport fees were last updated in June 2019 and set out in Statutory Instrument No. 259/2019 - Diplomatic and Consular Fees. At that time the fee for adult passports applied for through the Passport Online service was reduced from €80 to €75. The fee for passports applied for through postal service providers...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has specific responsibility for engagement with: The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC); The General Affairs Council (GAC); and The Foreign Affairs Council (Development) (FAC Dev). Since 27 June 2020, there have been a total of 60 FAC meetings, 46 GAC meetings, and 15 FAC (Dev) meetings. The information requested on format and attendance is provided in tabular...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Flexible Work Practices (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to ensuring a positive and productive working environment, and to sustaining strong standards of performance and delivery on our high level goals for the people we serve at home and abroad. In this context, my Department recognises the shift to flexible and remote working that has taken place in Ireland and globally over the last number of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Meetings (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: During each European Union Presidency, both formal and informal meetings of Defence Ministers are held within the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union. There is no separate Defence Ministers' Council within the Council of the European Union. In the period from 27 June 2020 to date, a total of twenty EU Defence ministerial meetings have taken place. Of these, ten were Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Flexible Work Practices (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: In line with the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations, my Department launched its Blended Working Policy in late October 2022. Approximately 85% of Department of Defence staff are currently availing of blended working, and are required to attend the office on a minimum of 2 specific days each week as agreed with their manager. The only State body currently...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 38 and 39 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, further supporting documents for this application were received on 22nd May 2024. Turnaround time from the receipt of further supporting documents is 15 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to promoting and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace which is reflective of modern Ireland, protects the rights of all staff, and ensures staff are supported to deliver strongly for the citizen. The Department is committed to the same values and standards in respect of the services we provide for customers, at home and abroad. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government Legislation Programme of the current parliamentary session was published on the 16th of January 2024. That legislation programme does not include any bills in preparation within the Department of Foreign Affairs and officials of my Department are not progressing any specific pieces of legislation prior to the Dáil summer recess. The Department’s Statement of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 24 May, the Ambassadors of Ireland, Norway and Spain were called in to the Israeli Foreign Ministry to discuss the consequences of these three countries formally recognising the State of Palestine. During this meeting, the Ambassadors were shown footage of Israeli soldiers taken hostage by Hamas. The Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv was not told in advance that this meeting would be attended by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: A Passport Online application is valid in the Passport Service system for a period of 6 months from when the application is made. From the time that the required supporting documents are received, the Passport Service works with the applicant to process the application and ensure all required documents have been submitted to prove the applicant's entitlement to Irish citizenship, to verify...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service initially requested further supporting documents from the applicant on 23 April 2024. The final set of further supporting documents were received from the applicant on 23 May 2024. The turnaround time following receipt of additional documents is 15 working days. This application is within the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: At my Department’s request, the Public Appointments Service will launch a recruitment campaign for Third Secretaries in the coming months. Whilst it is not possible to accurately determine the number of vacancies arising during the coming period, my Department has so far recruited more than 55 Third Secretaries from the 2022 Third Secretary competition, which may give an indication as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: As set out in my reply to PQ 24028/24, Ireland works closely with a number of other militarily neutral and non-aligned countries in Western Europe that are not members of NATO, namely Switzerland, Austria and Malta. Last December, a non-paper and accompanying letter was prepared addressing the partnership and engagement by the four countries with NATO. There are no plans to publish these...