Results 41,921-41,940 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, can supply a timeline in regard to that. The bottom line is that the Government has resources and has allocated substantial resources to deal with the cost of living to try to help people deal with what have been exceptional increases in the cost of living due to the war in Ukraine and energy crisis. I take the Deputy's point on the need to reduce costs and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. In terms of age more generally, there needs to be more reflection on the regulatory framework governing age in terms of qualifications for things like driving because chronological age does not correspond to medical fitness or health. Someone could be aged 72 or 73 and be very fit, while someone who is aged 55 could be very unfit. Deputy Kenny is...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am a bit off it yet. I read recently that lifespan in Ireland has increased by 25 years over the past 100 years. Otto von Bismarck introduced a retirement age of 65, thinking that there would be no one alive at 65 and, therefore, pensions would not be a significant cost. We are now in a situation whereby there are people aged 75 doing marathons. We will stick to bus drivers for the time...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: To be fair, it is excellent infrastructure. It is designed to facilitate the hordes of Waterford supporters who will come to Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday to play Cork. It will mean a faster slipstream into the Jack Lynch tunnel, aptly named after one of our greatest hurlers and a man who won six all-Irelands in a row. Inflation happens and costs go up. There is no doubt that piece...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I do not think we should pit one against the other. There has been an overall increase in the allocation for infrastructure. I hear what the Deputy has said regarding those specific projects. On the bill, we will hand the Deputy the bill when we get it. There is a framework that we agreed already, which has gone through a huge examination by the Department of Public Expenditure, National...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: That is a very fair point. As we move online and increase the digitalisation agenda, we should always look out for those who are not as efficient online or who find it very difficult. I will ask the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, who has responsibility for local authorities to follow up on that. Local authorities and councillors should also...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Minister inherited a difficult and challenging situation in An Bord Pleanála. Resources have been allocated to increase staffing, to the order of 60% of an increase. The challenge when one wishes to rapidly increase human resource capacity is to recruit at the right pace and with the right quality. In the planning area, like everywhere else and every other sector, there is a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has a wide-ranging relationship with China, which covers political, economic, cultural, and people-to-people links. The Government takes a holistic approach to this engagement; Ireland's relationship with China is not considered separately from our values and priorities when it comes to human rights. In this context, Ireland consistently raises points of concern directly with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: Prime Minister Ana Brnabic visited Ireland from 19 to 21 April, her first visit here as Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia. I was pleased to welcome her to Iveagh House on the afternoon of 20 April, where we had a wide-ranging exchange. Prime Minister Brnabic also met the Taoiseach and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment during her visit. We spoke, in particular,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The visit by President Biden to Ireland was a truly historic occasion which reinforced the close bonds and historic links between our two countries. I accompanied President Biden to Co. Louth, which included a visit to his ancestral home in the Cooley Peninsula and engagements with community groups in Dundalk. In Carlingford Castle, we saw from where James Finnegan, the President's...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 42 and 64 together. The Government continues to consistently communicate its deep concerns about the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy & Reconciliation) Bill currently before the UK parliament. I have engaged with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on legacy issues at every available opportunity, including at the British Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 61 together. Ireland has consistently supported the adoption of strong sanctions in response to Russia’s illegal actions in Ukraine. The EU has adopted ten sanctions packages in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Measures introduced include asset freezes, travel bans, trade restrictions, the deSwifting of Russian banks,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland takes a very active role in supporting human rights defenders, indigenous communities and civil society space in Colombia. Engagement on these issues is a strong component of our bilateral relations with Colombia and our support to the Colombian Peace Process. Since the signing of the Colombian Peace Agreement in 2016, Ireland has provided over €20 million in funding...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is consistently engaged at the European Union and United Nations in response to Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression. The European Union and its Member States have collectively pledged assistance of over €67 billion to Ukraine and its people, including financial support, humanitarian assistance, budgetary support, military assistance, and the hosting...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 24 together. On 24 March, the EU-UK Joint Committee which oversees the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement met to formally adopt the Windsor Framework. This finalised the agreement in principle announced by Commission President von der Leyen and UK Prime Minister Sunak on 27 February The focus is now on the implementation of the agreed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 51 together. The issues raised by the Deputy are of vital importance. Access to justice is an important human rights issue. I am aware of the ongoing delays that persons awaiting trial in Northern Ireland are experiencing. The issues identified by the Deputy are the responsibility of the authorities in Northern Ireland, including the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I remain extremely concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given his ill health. I can assure the Deputy that the citizen's release remains a strong priority for me and my Department. To that end, there continues to be extensive engagement by the Government with the authorities in Iran on the case. I have discussed the matter with the Foreign Minister of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 39 and 53 together. I reiterate the comments made in my reply to Deputy Connolly to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 21 March 2023. Our position remains unchanged. Ireland is committed to supporting a just and sustainable peace on the basis of a two-State solution. I have not yet spoken to my Israeli counterpart, Foreign Minister Cohen, though hope to do...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: We are currently in the busy season for passports, as citizens prepare for their upcoming summer travel plans. Thanks to the staffing and operational plans implemented for 2023, the Passport Service is successfully responding to the current high demand, and has issued almost 350,000 passports to date this year. All turnaround times are at their target level and there are no backlogs. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The international security environment has changed significantly over the last year. In order to build a deeper understanding of the threats faced by the State, and the links to, and between, our foreign, security and defence policy, I have convened a Consultative Forum on International Security Policy to discuss the issues involved. The Consultative Forum will take place in three...