Results 6,101-6,120 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: We are deeply concerned about the situation in the West Bank and there is an urgent need for all parties to cease all unilateral measures that impede peace, including illegal settlement activity. In February of this year, the UN Security Council underlined that Israeli settlement activities are dangerously imperilling the viability of the two-State solution based on the 1967 lines. Within...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: At the end of September 2023, the Israel Prison Service was holding 1,310 Palestinians, including children, in administrative detention. Since the Hamas attack on October 7, I understand that has increased to more than 2,000. Ireland has called on the Israeli authorities to end the practice of administrative detention completely. We have also repeatedly highlighted the applicability...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: Autonomous Weapons Systems raise important challenges with respect to human control and judgement over the use of force, as well as humanitarian, legal, security and ethical perspectives. It is our position is that human beings must make decisions with regards to the use of force. Systems that do not incorporate human control must not be developed, deployed or used. Ireland is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Communications (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs operates accounts on X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. None of these accounts are verified through a subscription fee. Operators of these accounts use the Department’s Social Media Handbook as a guide for all social media usage.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: Requests to establish resident foreign diplomatic missions in Ireland are considered by the Government on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 and those of the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967. Based on a review of the records held by my Department and compiled in the time available, a list of the seventeen...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: There are currently 67 resident foreign diplomatic missions in Ireland employing some 581 staff across diplomatic, administrative and technical, and service categories as notified to the Department of Foreign Affairs under Article 10 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. A list of all the foreign diplomatic missions in question and their respective Ambassadors as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: On 9 November, Ireland voted in favour of a resolution on “The Occupied Syrian Golan” at the Fourth Committee. This resolution was approved by a recorded vote of 146 in favour, including Ireland and other EU Members, to 2 against and 23 abstentions. This resolution is scheduled to be voted on again in the UN General Assembly on 7 December. Ireland will again vote in favour of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to the United Nations Digital Library Website, digitallibrary.un.org/?ln=en, which provides a full record of the list of resolutions adopted by the General Assembly and the Security Council, and the position taken by Ireland in each instance.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my reply of 22 November. I can clarify that the Department has no plans to issue an advisory along the lines suggested.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs uses public awareness campaigns primarily to promote essential services to citizens at home and abroad such as passport and consular services. In recent years, public awareness campaigns in relation to COVID-19 travel restrictions and Brexit have formed a significant part of advertising costs. As with other Government Departments, the Department of Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (5 Dec 2023)

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 for 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 Defence: Naval Service (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Travel (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) provides the Government and the President with an independent and flexible air transport service to assist in meeting national and international obligations. MATS is delivered primarily by the use of the Learjet 45 aircraft, which came into operation in 2004. Where it is unavailable, the CASA 235 and/or other Air Corps aircraft may be used....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 Section 4 is the primary legislation governing service overseas. The authority to mandatory select personnel for overseas service is governed by Defence Forces Regulations, and subject to the administrative process contained in Administration Instruction CS5 – Administration of Overseas Service, which details the circumstances and eligibility for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Military Authorities advise that it is not possible to collate the required information in the time available. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the information is made available to me.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The so-called "triple lock" mechanism sets out the requirements for the deployment of Defence Forces' personnel for peacekeeping operations overseas. These requirements are provided for in legislation, in particular the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960 and the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006, as amended. The Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 also provides for a series of other circumstances in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: In January of this year, the Government approved the participation by the Defence Forces in the German-led EU Battlegroup in 2024/2025. This will be the eighth occasion on which the Defence Forces have been part of an EU Battlegroup and the first since 2020. The Battlegroup will be stood-up during 2024 and will be on standby throughout 2025. Battlegroups are a key component of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Communications (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department, the Department of Defence operates an X account, primarily used to highlight significant announcements and to support Department promoted events. X is the main social media account operated by the Department of Defence and this account is not verified through a subscription fee. My Department has a Social Media Policy Guide in place. This guide advises users when sharing and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Honours (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 155 together. The awarding of medals is a matter for the military authorities. As the Deputy may be aware, Defence Force Regulation (DFR) A9 sets out the qualifying criteria required to be awarded such Defence Force Medals. I am advised that, in general, medals are awarded to members of the Defence Forces on the basis of various criteria such as...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Advertising (5 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department has spent the following on advertising on the X/Twitter website. This was done by the Office of Emergency Planning to highlight the Be Summer and Be Winter Ready Campaigns. The OEP has not advertised with X (formerly Twitter) since March 2023. Year X (formerly Twitter) 2019 Nil 2020 Nil 2021 ...