Results 39,801-39,820 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: We are one of the largest contributors to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, UNRWA, on a repeated basis, which assists both Gaza and Palestine. We have raised it. UN Secretary General Guterres has praised Ireland. He pulled me aside at a European Council meeting to thank Ireland for its assertiveness on the Security Council in respect of the Middle East and Palestine. It is very...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I do not justify what happened in Iraq either, but what is happening now in Ukraine-----

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: -----is a reckless, illegal, immoral invasion of a neighbouring state. The stock response of the Deputies is to ask what about this and what about that. Can they not very straightforwardly condemn Russia?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Murphy raised the financing of climate change. Again, Ireland has been to the fore in respect of the global financing of countries in particular those that need supports. We have been very strong on helping small island states, for example, and their need for adaptation in respect of climate change and how it will impact on them immediately. We pushed very strongly at COP26 for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 to 15, inclusive, together. The well-being framework is a programme for Government commitment to measure how we are doing overall as a country and improve our understanding of quality of life in Ireland. It does this by bringing economic, societal and environmental impacts together under one framework. It also places a particular focus on equality and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Brady raised the specific case of Ms Geraldine Lavelle. I am not familiar with the case in its entirety. I agree, however, that the more independent living services and facilities we can provide, the better. As the Deputy knows, we have different opinions from time to time in terms of closing residential care or evolving people from a residential care environment or integrated care...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I am not familiar with the background to that case in terms of the notice that issued to all 35 tenants.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I do not know whether the Deputy has spoken or written to the Minister in respect of this.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Strategies (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I do not know what the local authority's view is with regard to this matter. In the first instance, the local authority has to respond if it feels it is the right approach and, indeed, the Minister as well. There are various frameworks to try to get issues like this resolved. I do not know what the situation is respect of the owner. I do not know the background at all, but I will raise...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take questions Nos. 16 to 23, inclusive, together. The international section of the Department supports my work at an international level, beyond Europe, to promote Ireland's foreign and economic policy objectives and develop and maintain strong bilateral and multilateral relations. Working closely with other Departments, especially the Departments of Foreign Affairs and...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: A number of Deputies including Deputies Haughey, Brady and Bacik have raised the Iranian situation. The death of a number of women and girls and the underlying human rights situation for women and girls in Iran stand to be condemned. It is of deep concern. The Minister, Deputy Coveney, has twice raised the specific case of Mahsa Amini and the unjustified response to peaceful protestors...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: We are not doing that at all. I reject the claim in its entirety. The Deputy will hate me for saying this, but over the 45 minutes we have been here this afternoon, he has done what he does, which is to attack everyone else and to attack Ireland. He is attacking us now in the context of the Government and the Ukraine war. He is not attacking Russia.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Murphy says it and then he speeds on quickly.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The point is the Deputy spent the past three or four minutes saying the Government is trying to breach neutrality. That was of more concern to him than the fact Iranian drones are raining down on Ukrainian civilians. Why did the Ukrainian Government ask us for help in regard to training? I met the Prime Minister the week before last at a meeting of the European Political Community. What...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I suggest we have a citizens' assembly in the fullness of time but not now in the middle of this war.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: The point I am trying to make is that, where we can help and where we should help, is with what Prime Minister Shmyhal said is a real problem for Ukraine, which is that as Russian forces vacate areas, there are mines left behind.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: We knew this when we were involved, with Norway and the Vatican, in leading on the Convention on Cluster Munitions more than ten years ago. We know armies like the Russian army leave stuff behind them, which will lead to children having their legs amputated when they step on mines and so on. Ukraine has asked us for help with demining. I think we should train Ukrainians if they seek help...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: Other European countries are free to do what they want within their laws. We can only do what can be done within the framework we have set ourselves in terms of the triple lock and so on. We are not participants in the war because of our neutrality policy.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: That has been made crystal clear to Ukraine. Our military neutrality has been made crystal clear to all parties. That is accepted. Please do not try to throw fog in the way or throw confusion about the place by accusing us of actions we are not engaged in and alleging motivations that are completely untrue.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Offices (25 Oct 2022)

Micheál Martin: I want to give Mr. Sunak time to draw his breath. I have not called him yet.