Results 5,221-5,240 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foreign Conflicts (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: For many years, Ireland has been actively engaged in supporting Colombia’s peace process through political support, advocacy, and by regularly engaging with relevant institutions, organisations and communities. These actions have served to consolidate Ireland’s long-standing reputation as an honest, trusted and credible interlocutor with all parties to the Agreement. Our key...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foreign Conflicts (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: During my recent visit to Colombia on 10-11 January 2024, I had the opportunity to discuss the peace process in meetings with Defence Minister Iván Velásquez, Vice Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Francisco Coy and Elizabeth Taylor Jay, and representatives of the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace (OACP). In these meetings, we discussed the significant progress that has...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Engagements (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 62 together. 21 and 32 together. Türkiye is an important regional partner and candidate country for EU membership, with which Ireland continues to maintain a productive relationship across the full range of our shared priorities. I met with my Turkish counterpart, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, in the margins of the UN General Assembly in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Human Rights (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 54 together. Türkiye is a fellow member of the Council of Europe and a candidate for EU membership. Ireland has made clear our concerns for human rights in Türkiye, including in relation to prisoners and the implementation of rulings of the European Court of Human rights. Minister of State Burke discussed the matter during a meeting...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: EU Regulations (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has always been a strong proponent of multilingualism and encouraging of the greatest possible access by all EU citizens to the EU and its Institutions and highlighted this at the General Affairs Council in September 2023 where the proposal from the Spanish Government was first discussed. It was clear at that meeting that further consideration of all potential implications, including...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Diplomatic Representation (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Coherent with a common EU position, neither I nor my Department undertake actions that would serve to confer the appearance of legitimacy onto the military junta. In keeping with that principle, we have not held bilateral meetings or engagements with the military authorities. It is Ireland’s practice to recognise states and not governments. I remain deeply concerned by the ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Human Rights (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I remain deeply concerned by the ongoing crisis in Myanmar and wish to reiterate in the strongest terms my condemnation of the February 2021 coup. I am appalled by the escalation in violence, the displacement of large numbers of people and the dire humanitarian and human rights situation. Together with our EU partners, Ireland continues to call for the restoration of legitimate, civilian...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Diplomatic Representation (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Officials in my Department engage on a regular basis with representatives of Bangladesh, both in Dublin, through the Embassy of Bangladesh, and through the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi, which is accredited to Bangladesh. Under the Government's refreshed Asia Pacific Strategy, Ireland is committed to deepening its footprint in countries across the region, including Bangladesh. A new...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Repatriation Costs (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs provides Consular Assistance within the remit of the Department's Consular Assistance Charter. The Charter sets out in a clear and accessible manner the assistance that the Department can provide to Irish citizens in difficulty overseas, including in cases of serious injury or illness. With regard to air ambulances specifically, this is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foreign Conflicts (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Over 12 years of conflict in Syria has caused severe levels of hardship and suffering for the Syrian people. Hostilities continue in northern Syria, and ongoing military action has resulted in a needless loss of civilian life. I am particularly concerned by the escalation of conflict in recent months, including by Turkish forces. This comes at a time when humanitarian needs are greater than...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Middle East (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: A public health disaster has been unfolding in Gaza in recent months. In addition to mass displacement of 85% of the population of Gaza, the World Health Organisation has confirmed that the healthcare system has largely collapsed as a result of the conflict. As of 30 January, the WHO estimate that just 13 of 36 hospitals in Gaza were partially functioning. As of 31 January, just 4 of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foreign Birth Registration (14 Feb 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 or Naturalisation. Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foreign Birth Registration (14 Feb 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 or Naturalisation. Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Referendum Campaigns (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The only State body under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 to provide for the payment of pensions, allowances and gratuities in certain circumstances to members of the Defence Forces. Any funding provided to the Army Pensions Board will be used solely for the purposes...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will appreciate that given the sensitive nature of the information requested, it would not be appropriate for security and operational reasons to disclose the detail sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Military Authorities advise that the end of year effective strength of the RDF, from 2020 to 2023, is the follows: RDF Effective Strength Establishment 2020 2021 2022 2023 Army Reserve (AR) 3869 1463 1373 1415 1323 Naval Service Reserve (NSR) 200 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: As at 31 December 2023, the latest date for which such figures are available the strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 7,550 personnel i.e. 6,136 Army, 689 Air Corps, and 725 Naval Service. The current agreed establishment of the Defence Forces is 9,589 i.e. 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps, 1094 Naval Service, and 89 additional positions to facilitate the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: As at 31 December 2023, the latest date for which such figures are available, the number of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force was 559. The table below sets out the number of women in each branch, and the number of discharges from the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 31 December 2023. Army ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Under the Defence Acts, 1954-2015, the Department has civil and military elements. The civil element is headed by the Secretary General and the military element by the Chief of Staff. Both elements provide supports to the Minister in the management of defence. The civil element of the Department is led by the Management Board which comprises the Secretary General, five Assistant Secretaries...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development...