Results 6,521-6,540 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Our Common Agenda (OCA) is the UN Secretary-General's vision for the future of global cooperation. It calls for inclusive, networked and effective multilateralism, and for turbocharging action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to better respond to and deliver for people and planet. It outlines possible solutions to address the gaps and risks that have emerged since 2015, calling...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is deeply concerned at Russia’s failure to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative. This initiative was vital in delivering life-saving food products from Ukraine to countries most impacted by food insecurity. We support efforts of Turkey and the UN Secretary General to restore the deal and put on a sustainable footing. Ukraine has since made some progress in pushing back the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: This year marked the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a transformative moment for the people of this island, the islands of Ireland and Great Britain, and the people of Northern Ireland in particular. The Agreement set a new, democratic framework for relationships between and within these islands. The principles of the Good Friday Agreement underpins the work to restore...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 55 together. It is deeply disappointing that 18 months on from the last Assembly elections, Northern Ireland's political institutions remain blocked, and as a result the North-South Ministerial Council is also prevented from fulfilling the responsibilities mandated to it by the Good Friday Agreement. In my engagements, I have underlined the importance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 81 together. I have addressed the wider issues relating to Ireland’s approach to the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory on frequent occasions over recent weeks so I will focus my response on issues relating to diplomatic clearance for military aircraft. Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: On 27 October, the President of the General Assembly reconvened the tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly, following a request by Jordan and Mauritania in their respective capacities as Chair of the Arab Group and Chair of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation. This emergency special session was first convened in 1997 in accordance with Resolution 377(V) of 3 November...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Respect for international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, is the bedrock of international peace and security. This will continue to be the guiding principle for Ireland’s approach to foreign policy in general, and in the context of Ireland’s response to the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Respect...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The British Government's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act received Royal Assent on 18 September. I am seriously concerned about the Act's impact on the fundamental work of reconciliation in Northern Ireland, and about its compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights. The incorporation of the Convention into Northern Ireland law was an explicit...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have engaged at a bilateral level with several partners in the region. I have spoken with my Iranian counterpart and urged him in the strongest terms to bring his influence to bear in avoiding regional escalation and in insisting on the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. I have also spoken with the Defence Minister of Lebanon, Maurice Sleem. I underlined our concern about the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Addressing the current situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory is a central priority for the Government. Finding a path to an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza; to the immediate release without preconditions of all hostages; and avoiding any further or wider escalation in the region have been the central focus of engagements I have undertaken in recent weeks in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports and has issued over 880,000 passports to date in 2023. Between 2,000 and 3,000 passports are being issued every day. All turnaround times are at or ahead of target and there are no backlogs. More than half of simple adult renewals issue within two working days or less. Direct costs and revenue for the Passport Service for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to supporting the Government's external economic objectives and the promotion of Ireland's trade and investment objectives, including through the work of the State’s network of embassies and consulates abroad. The Department's approach is firmly guided by the Government's Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026: Value for Ireland, Values...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is committed to achieving a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians, based on a two-State solution, in line with international law. I have repeatedly made the point in both my bilateral and multilateral meetings that it is necessary to reinvigorate a peace process and continue to engage at the European Union and United Nations on initiatives centred on the achievement of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Western Balkans lies in the heart of Europe. Its future is within the European Union. In light of this, Ireland has a clear strategic interest in fostering good relations between the communities in the Western Balkans, and between the region and the EU. We do this in numerous ways. First, by facilitating intra-regional dialogue, such as the EU-chaired Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland actively speaks out against all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls across the globe and is committed to integrating gender equality across all of our humanitarian and development interventions, and in our wider foreign policy. The UN Secretary General’s Report on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) draws attention to the increasing number of women and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports and has issued over 880,000 passports to date in 2023. Between 2,000 and 3,000 passports are being issued every day. All turnaround times are at or ahead of target and there are no backlogs. More than half of simple adult renewals issue within two working days or less. The Passport Online service offers Irish citizens the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Russia’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally altered the security situation in Europe. It has also demonstrated the need for Ireland and our European Union partners to work closely together to deal with the serious security challenges that we face. In this context, work is continuing at EU level to further strengthen the EU’s Common Security and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is a strong supporter of EU enlargement, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary conditions for membership. We recognise the value of enlargement as a transformative driver for stability and peace in candidate countries. On 08 November 2023, the European Commission published its annual package of enlargement reports, which assess the progress made by candidate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have been clear from the start that any response by Israel to the brutal attacks of 7 October must comply fully with International Humanitarian Law. This means that the response must comply with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. I issued statements on 9, 15, 18 of October and 1 November, expressing my deep concern at the situation in Gaza and underlining the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have had regular engagements with my EU counterparts since the beginning of the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Immediately following attack by Hamas, I attended an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council on 10 October, alongside my EU counterparts and the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, to discuss the ongoing violence on the ground in Israel and the...