Results 1,801-1,820 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 to 81, inclusive, together. I am aware of the reports of concerns about the Bahraini prison system and the continued imprisonment of human rights defenders. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Human Rights Committee expressed concerns about reports of prison conditions and facilities, particularly in Jau prison. Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: The recent first EU-GCC Summit meeting was an important step in further developing the EU's relationship with an important group of countries in a volatile area in the EU's immediate neighbourhood. The joint statement was an agreed document between all participants, rather than a reflection of every view expressed. A number of leaders, including the Taoiseach speaking on behalf of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 to 86, inclusive, together. To date this year, the Passport office has issued over 936,000 passports. 900,000 applications have been received in 2024. This year, 92% of passport applicants applied through the Passport Online channel. 6% of applicants have applied by post, while 2% of applicants have applied through the public counter of the Passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, under which Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth, by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (5 Nov 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 Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Equipment (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department has spent the following amounts on mobile phone handsets and billing in Ireland in the period 2022 to date. Year Number of Devices Total Cost (Handsets + Billing) 2022 551 €229,847 2023 598 €265,055 2024 (Jan -Oct) 596 €143,533 ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the application about which the Deputy has enquired, the number provided is not a valid application number. The passport service has contacted the Deputy’s office for clarification however without the correct application number the Passport Service cannot comment on the Deputy’s query. The Passport Service Customer Service Hub has dedicated agents to deal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's Consul General in Los Angeles has not been in direct contact with the Governor of Hawaii in 2024 However, the Consul General visited Hawaii in September 2023 in the aftermath of the devastating fires on Maui. In addition to meeting with members of the Irish community affected by this tragedy, the Consul General met with the Lt. Governor of Hawaii, Sylvia Luke, as well as the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland’s Embassy in Washington DC, as our representative office in the United States, leads on Ireland’s political, economic, and people-to-people relations across the United States. In addition to the Embassy’s engagement on a national scale, it also has consular responsibility for Washington, DC and the surrounding states of Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs does not recruit for the civil service grade of Solicitor. However, in order to work as a Legal Adviser or Assistant Legal Adviser in the Department of Foreign Affairs, officers are required to have been called to the Bar of Ireland and be enrolled as a barrister in the State or have been admitted and be enrolled as a solicitor in the State. There are 14...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (5 Nov 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: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: The table below shows the number of vacancies by grade at the end of August 2023 and at the end of August 2024. Grade Number of Vacancies 2023 Number of Vacancies 2024 Principal Officer 2 0 Assistant Principal Officer 3 2 Higher Executive Officer 4 2 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: As a critical component of the measures taken to ensure the security of Óglaigh na hÉireann, security vetting, for both Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) and Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) applicants, is conducted to ensure the suitability of candidates to occupy the role for which they have applied. This vetting is conducted with the assistance of An Garda Síochána (AGS). ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: It has not been possible to provide a response in the time allocated for PQs. I will revert to the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will appreciate, for security and operational reasons, given the sensitive nature of such matters it would not be appropriate for me to disclose details of surveillance operations undertaken by the Defence Forces. However, I wish to advise the Deputy that in relation to the Defence Forces' military intelligence function, there are a number of statutory provisions on which they...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are a number of civil servants in my Department who have availed of career break in accordance with the provisions of Circular 4/2013. I can confirm that a total of 4 civil servants availed of a career break in 2023, 2 Executive Officers and 2 Clerical Officers and one further Clerical Officer availed of a career break in 2024, none of which exceeded a period of 5 years or more.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Civil Service (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I confirm that the provisions of Circular 4/2013 are strictly complied with in all cases where civil servants avail of a career break in my Department. As per the Circular, the onus is on each individual to notify the Department of their intention to return to work at least two months in advance of the end of their career break. My Department facilitates a return to work as soon as a vacancy...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: l am advised that Defence Forces personnel on overseas tours of duty are debriefed before repatriation and informed of the supports available to them should they experience issues upon return home. Personnel are also examined by a military medical officer prior to repatriation and may raise any concerns at that examination. In the event of further care being required, personnel have...