Results 40,761-40,780 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy's general comment about how Russia has behaved in recent years. There were many warning signs but I thought the poisoning of people in the United Kingdom, in Salisbury and London, provoked too lame a response from the West. This was an appalling public health attack, as well as the murder of individuals. It was a public health attack that put many people in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 119 together. I thank the Deputy for his kind comments. Since assuming my new role, I have had the opportunity for constructive exchanges with both the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, and the newly appointed US special envoy to Northern Ireland for economic affairs, Joe Kennedy III. During my recent call with the Secretary of State, we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his comments. The response of the US and the White House to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine has, fortunately, been balanced. That was the case when the US wanted to avoid the war. It has also done everything possible to support Ukraine in its pursuit of its entitlement under the UN Charter to self-defence. The US has done that in a way that avoids, if at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his comment and agree with him. I hope that if outstanding issues are resolved, we could create a platform for further investment in the economy of Northern Ireland. Historically, it has not done as well as other regions on the island. The cessation of violence and the Downing Street Declaration helped economic development in the North and it has improved...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy. In Ukraine last July, I heard first-hand accounts from civilians of the brutality and violence visited upon men, women and children by occupying Russian forces. Where Russia's forces have been pushed back, we have seen wanton destruction and the uncovering of mass civilian graves in towns and villages. Ireland supports initiatives to bring to account the individual...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The principle of accountability is very important. At the commencement of and during all wars in the past, accountability has seemed a long way off and appeared an almost unachievable proposition. We should know from history that accountability can and does happen in the aftermath of terrible wars. We saw that recently in the Balkans. We must pursue those who perpetrate war and engage in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Early last year, the Estonian Prime Minister was the first to put forward the idea of utilising Russian assets that have been frozen to facilitate reconstruction in Ukraine. When this suggestion was put forward at the European Council, there was not a big take-up in respect of it. I gave support to Prime Minister Kallas of Estonia and stated that we needed to pursue the matter. Momentum...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I was very pleased to launch the shared island civic society fund earlier this month. The fund forms part of the Government’s shared island initiative, which I established more than two years ago, and will build on all of the progress already made on infrastructure, research and community projects. Through the shared island dialogue series, we learned that civic society groups across...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy. Applications are invited from a range of civic society community organisations, business and trade union representative groups and regional or national representative bodies. Of course, we are also including the under-represented voices of women, young people, older people, ethnic minorities, the LGBTQI+ community. Applications will have a North-South dimension....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The deadline for applications for the current funding round is Monday, 27 February, so the Deputy had better get the application in. Officials in my Department are happy to engage with anyone who has a query regarding the eligibility of a specific organisation or project. Further funding rounds will be scheduled and will take account of any learnings gained from the first call for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: As I said earlier, I am very concerned by the demolitions and evictions in the occupied Palestinian territory. Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian property and humanitarian aid accelerated in 2022, which saw a record number of Palestinians affected by demolitions, evictions and confiscations. I have been consistently forthright in voicing my opposition to Israeli settlement activity,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is doing everything it can within its diplomatic and political capacities, particularly, as I said earlier, in multilateral fora such as the United Nations Security Council, where we have consistently raised these issues. Our position was most recently reiterated on 19 December at the meeting of the UN Security Council which focused on the issue of Israeli settlements, and we were...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The annexation by Israel of any part of the occupied Palestinian territory would be a clear violation of international law. It would have no legitimacy, and would not be recognised or accepted by Ireland, or by the international community more generally, and would be deeply damaging to the two-State solution. I am concerned by the statements of some Israeli officials regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the report published by Amnesty International last year, entitled “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity” (February 2022) I note also that the issues outlined in this report have also been raised in a number of other reports from UN Rapporteurs and from civil society organisations. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 124 and 131 together. Since taking up my role as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have engaged on legacy issues, in particular our opposition to the Legacy Bill, as a matter of priority. Prior to this, as Taoiseach, I raised this issue with Prime Minister Sunak. I have engaged formally with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 80, 90 and 106 together. The full implementation and effective operation of all of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, including the devolved power-sharing institutions provided for under Strand One and the restoration of the North South Ministerial Council, is of upmost importance to the Government. The refusal by one party to nominate a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, I travelled to Lebanon last week. While there I met with both the Lebanese Foreign and Defence Ministers. I also met with UN Under-Secretary General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix who is currently in the region. I visited our UNIFIL contingent in Camp Shamrock and conveyed my sympathies and those of the government to the colleagues of Private...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Thanks to significant investment by the Government and the dedicated work of the Passport Service staff, substantial improvements have been made during 2022 and all passports are being issued within the advertised turnaround times.  The current processing times are as follows: Online adult renewal - 10 working days Online child/complex renewal - 15 working days Online first...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: British-Irish Co-operation (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 121 together. A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) took place at Farmleigh House, on 19 January 2023. The Government was represented by myself, Minister Ryan and Minister Harris. The British delegation was led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, and Ministers of State Steve...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) provides for continued trade and cooperation between the European Union and the United Kingdom. While the seamless pre-Brexit relationship with the UK cannot be replaced, the TCA provides for tariff- and quota- free goods trade between the EU and the UK as well as cooperation in a wide range of areas of importance to Ireland such as energy,...