Results 43,481-43,500 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Níl an t-eolas cruinn agam ó thaobh cén am a bheidh an Bille réidh. Tá siad ag obair ar an mBille agus déanfaidh mé fiosrú air sin. Tá a fhios agam cad atá á rá ag an Teachta. Ina thuairim bhí an dealramh ar an scéal go mbeadh na toghcháin ar siúl leis na toghcháin áitiúla agus go mbeadh an...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will discuss with the Minister for Social Protection the continuation of the statutory instrument.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Consular officials in Dublin, our Representative Office in Ramallah and our Embassy in Tel Aviv are aware of the case and are providing extensive consular assistance.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround times and has not yet reached its issue by date. I encourage the Deputy to advise his constituents of the advantages of using the substantially more efficient online service, which is now used by more than 90% of applicants worldwide.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (19 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I unreservedly condemn the attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October. The deliberate and systematic targeting of civilians can never be justified. The taking of hostages, including young children and the elderly is unconscionable and I call for them to be released immediately. I concur with the statements of President of the Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in this regard. Israel’s right...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Senator Ardagh raised several issues. There must, ultimately, be a political solution to the whole Middle Eastern situation. Notwithstanding the difficulty and viability issues, we believe the two-state solution is the only one that can really give some degree or horizon of security, harmony, peace and co-existence because the territories we are talking about here are very small. No matter...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Stanton spoke first there, agreeing with the need for a humanitarian pause. The term "humanitarian pause" is a standard term in conflict and has meaning within the international framework governing conflict and so forth to allow aid in the first instance. The conversation with the Iranian foreign minister took about 50 minutes. There was no resiling from Iran's position in terms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Again, there are international definitions as to what constitutes ethnic cleansing but I do not believe there is a premeditated attempt to eliminate the Palestinian population. I think there is a different issue in terms of proportionality and bombing urban conurbations. What happens when you do that is that innocent people get killed and I do not agree with that. I think we need to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Again, I thank the committee for inviting me to address it today in my role as Minister for Defence. This is a welcome opportunity to discuss the ongoing transformation process and positive measures which have been implemented in the Defence Forces. Before I do so, may I take a moment to acknowledge the bravery and dedication of our Defence Forces. An essential element of their work is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: This brings me to the core point I was going to make. I will be meeting RACO and I will be making this point. What struck me most and worried me most in RACO's presentation to the committee was the concern articulated about my position of me saying that I prioritise cultural change above all else. RACO articulated an unhappiness with that. There has been some resistance to the idea that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: There was mediation and there was conciliation. On the working time directive, we have put a significant amount of effort into this in recent months. There is a lot of engagement. It is a priority of mine. We will eventually make a call on this in terms of settling. The Senator referred to the issue of time, and clocking in and clocking out. The military will say it has its systems....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: When I received the recommendation that the military and the Army Ranger Wing should board the vessel, I did so on the basis of the best military advice. The Chief of Staff recommended it and I trust him in his assessment and the team that was with him. This is the context here. They knew what they were dealing with. There are certain situations where it would be preferable to have more...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (24 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department is aware of this case and is in contact with the family and providing extensive assistance.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (24 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate. Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months from receipt of all required...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Communications (24 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Sustained engagement with senior US interlocutors is a manifestation of Ireland's close relations with the United States, and remains a priority for the Government, with a steady rhythm of high level visits in both directions. So far this year, there have been over 20 visits to the US by Irish Ministers, in addition to visits to Ireland by senior figures in the US administration and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (24 Oct 2023)

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. Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Bodies (24 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs does not have any agencies or bodies under its aegis. I wish to assure the Deputy that officials of my Department continue to stand ready to assist with any and all queries that may be fielded to them by members of the Oireachtas and that the relevant contact details for submitting all such queries are available on the Departmental website www.dfa.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (24 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Since my appointment as Minister for Defence, I have been in contact by correspondence with a number of my EU colleagues. I have also engaged with my EU counterparts in-person in the format of formal and informal meetings of EU Defence Ministers, which also provide the opportunity for short bilateral discussions. I attended the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Defence configuration,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (24 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have provided the following details in relation to the vacancies in the Defence Forces School of Music, as at 19 October 2023: Rank Lt Col Comdt Captain Lt CS CQ Sgt Cpl Pte Strength 1 1 3 0 3 1 32 26 43 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Bodies (24 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: The only State body currently under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 and consisting of a chairman and two ordinary members. The Secretary to the Board is provided from the staff of my Department. Any queries from members of the Oireachtas in relation to that body, as...