Results 41,421-41,440 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware, the Defence Forces are currently excluded from the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which transposed the EU Working Time Directive into Irish Law. The Government, however, has committed to amending this Act and bringing both the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána within the scope of its provisions, where appropriate, given the nature...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Sector Pensions (8 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The implementation of pension increases for Defence Forces (DF) pensions is a significant administrative undertaking for the Department and our payroll provider the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) due to the unique nature and structure of DF pensions. Military pension rates are not based on the usual generic service/salary decimal calculations, but on a multiplicity of flat...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (9 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has been unable to locate the application using the application number provided. The Passport Service has contacted the Deputy's office directly for further details.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (9 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has inquired, the Passport Service contacted the applicant on 27 February 2023 to advise on what is required to progress the application. If the applicant has a query on the documentation required, I encourage the Deputy to advise the applicant to contact the Passport Service Customer Service Hub, where he can speak to a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together. In the last five years, the Defence Forces participated in one NATO-led training exercise - the "Cyber Coalition" training exercise in Estonia in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. The aim of this exercise is to enhance coordination, cooperation and information sharing across the Cyber Space domain. Cyber Coalition presents a very real...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248, 249, 250 and 251 together. In all, over 550 Irish Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed overseas. The main overseas missions are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 344 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 133 personnel. The Department of Defence and the Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (9 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: There are seventy-seven (77) residential type properties under the remit of my Department. Ten (10) properties are in Cork, Five (5) properties are in Dublin and sixty-two (62) properties are in Kildare. I am advised that none of these properties can be occupied without considerable refurbishment and were built before the Building Regulations and associated standards arising from same came...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Vacant Properties (9 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: There are seventy-seven (77) residential type properties under the remit of my Department. Ten (10) properties are in Cork, Five (5) properties are in Dublin and sixty-two (62) properties are in Kildare. I am advised that none of these properties can be occupied without considerable refurbishment and were built before the Building Regulations and associated standards arising from same came...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned by the significant increase in settler violence on the West Bank. Ireland condemns in the strongest possible terms all acts of violence committed by settlers against Palestinian civilians. Ireland uses all available opportunities to make this point, including within the European Union and at the United Nations. The Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv also makes our position...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The attack on Huwara was particularly shocking in its scale and intensity and the sense of impunity. Israel has clear obligations to protect Palestinian civilians from such attacks. As the Deputy is aware, the Israeli and Palestinian security officials met at the summit in Aqaba, Jordan, last month, and again at Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday. I met with the Jordanian foreign minister on this...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: To be honest with the Deputy, as I said, we are all basically agreed on the issues here. Ireland has a consistent position. We used our position on the Security Council to consistently bring the Israeli-Palestinian situation to the table, as well as at the General Assembly in terms of supporting the resolution, for example, on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----and comments like those by the Minister, Mr. Smotrich, in particular, which are quite racist.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is absolutely unacceptable that any Minister would say that about Palestinians within Palestine.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I accept what the Deputy is saying in respect of where we are going or where the Israeli Government is going here. It has been our long-standing position that policies and practices of successive Israeli governments relating to illegal settlements and their expansion, as well as expulsions, forced transfers and demolitions, undermine prospects for a two-state solution and are a major...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: My point is that we remain steadfastly supportive of a two-state solution.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am extremely concerned, just as the Deputy is, at the way things are turning out.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I do not disagree. I do not get the strategic approach - if one could call it that - from the Israeli Government. It ultimately undermines the security of the Israeli state itself. Israeli policy has marginalised moderate opinion within Palestine. Israeli decisions seem almost tantamount to creating fertile ground for hard-line extremist positions. That is in my view counterintuitive in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I would argue that we have been using the United Nations very effectively.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: We must continue to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, as well as non-governmental civil society in Palestine and those who defend human rights. I apologise, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle; I am not used to the ministerial time limits.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: That is the strategy we have been following. We engage with the neighbourhood, which is particularly important, including Jordan and Egypt, as well as with the United States. 9 o’clock The issue has to be raised in terms of the engagement of the United States of America and the European Union with Israel. There are very serious issues arising around the behaviour and the...