Results 121-140 of 20,466 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service has issued over 650,000 passports to date this year. Virtually all complete passport applications are being processed within or before advertised turnaround times with the majority of adult online renewal applications issuing within two working days. There currently no backlogs and 95% of applicants apply through Passport Online. The Passport Service takes its...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has longstanding ties with Singapore and Malaysia and this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with both countries. In line with the Government’s Asia Pacific Strategy, my Department aims to deepen its engagement with countries in South East Asia, including Malaysia and Singapore. In this context, an additional posted staff member was assigned to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Since Ireland's Consulate General was established in Manchester, North of England, in 2021, the Consul General and Vice Consul have engaged extensively with a wide range of figures from across the region to strengthen political, commercial, community and cultural ties between Ireland and the North of England. These ties are significant, as was evidenced by President Higgin’s recent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Sanctions (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland implements both sanctions as adopted by the United Nations Security Council, and EU restrictive measures adopted within the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The sanctions adopted in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine are the most expansive and hard-hitting in EU history, including extensive import and export bans, travel and transport bans, asset freezes, and media...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service has issued over 650,000 passports to date this year. Virtually all complete passport applications are being processed within or before advertised turnaround times with the majority of adult online renewal applications issuing within two working days. There are currently no backlogs and 95% of applicants apply through Passport Online which is now available to 99.9% of all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has reviewed the application and progressed as appropriate.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have been advised by the military authorities that no competitions for the Defences Force School of Music have been held to date in 2024. A recruitment campaign for instrumentalists resulted in 7 instrumentalists being inducted in September 2023. A Captain level (Conductor) appointment is anticipated from the Conductor campaign which closed in December 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Travel (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The competitive process for the purposes of delivering a replacement aircraft for the Ministerial Air Transport Service is well advanced with the restricted Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ) stage complete and a number of aircraft manufacturers having passed to the Invitation To Tender stage, which is ongoing at present. A Civil Military Project Team comprising Officials from my...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that there is one person currently undertaking the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) Officers Course and their expected qualification dates are as follows: ATC Qualification Estimated Qualification Date Tower Q3 2024 Radar Q4 2026 A new Air Traffic Controller cadetship competition was...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (4 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that there are currently 24 trainee pilots, comprised of 11 cadets completing military training which is required before they commence their Pilot Wings course, and a further 13 officers undertaking pilot training. The table below provides the details requested by the Deputy: Air Corps Class / Course Number of Personnel ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Co-operation (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am conscious of the very challenging situation in relation to managing and reversing the poor water quality in Lough Neagh. Lough Neagh has been discussed in North South Ministerial Council meetings. At the NSMC plenary meeting in April 2024, which included the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, Ministers discussed environmental challenges including those facing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Protection (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: In November 2023, my Department received an invitation from the Department of Justice to provide observations on a review of the Safe Country of Origin list for applications from Algeria under the International Protection Act 2015. My Department provided comments on a number of potential factors including, domestic stability; security challenges; the asylum and protection framework;...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (3 Jul 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: Defence Forces (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together. The Department's Litigation Branch manages the administration of litigation claims taken against the Minister for Defence. In doing so, the Branch works closely with both the State Claims Agency (SCA) and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO). It should be noted that Civil claims arising from incidents involving the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (3 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Capital investment in Defence is primarily directed at providing sufficient military capabilities, across land, air, maritime and cyber domains, to meet specific roles assigned to the Defence Forces. In the main, this investment is for the acquisition of defensive equipment and the construction or upgrade of barracks infrastructure. Defence Equipment capital expenditure projects are often...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his question. There is no place in the Defence Forces for an individual those attitudes. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the conditions for entry to and service in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), including the methodologies used for assessments, are subject to continuous review and modification having regard to the needs of the organisation and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: Since 2020, members of the Defence Forces have benefitted from a range of pay increases associated with national pay agreements. In addition to these pay increases, members of the Defence Forces have further benefitted from specific recommendations arising from recommendations in the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF), which was established by Government in December 2020. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 103 together. Military management has advised that 75% of the volunteers are secured with 139 EU Battlegroup appointments made to date out of the 186 personnel committed. The expectation is that the remaining posts will be fully filled in the coming months, in advance of the first EU Battlegroup 2025 training exercise in Germany in the autumn. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 101 together. I remain deeply concerned by rising tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. The potential for further regional escalation remains high. Reports received from UNIFIL indicate that the situation in Irish area of operation remains dynamic and unpredictable with kinetic activity continuing to emanate from North and South of the Blue Line....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Neutrality (2 Jul 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 140 together. On 30 April last, Government approved the proposal to draft the General Scheme of a Bill to govern overseas deployments into the future. Work on drafting those proposals is well underway. This involves, where required, further consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and across Government Departments and key stakeholders. ...