Results 43,601-43,620 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The British Government's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act received Royal Assent on 18 September. I am seriously concerned about the Act's impact on the fundamental work of reconciliation in Northern Ireland, and about its compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights. The incorporation of the Convention into Northern Ireland law was an explicit...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have engaged at a bilateral level with several partners in the region. I have spoken with my Iranian counterpart and urged him in the strongest terms to bring his influence to bear in avoiding regional escalation and in insisting on the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. I have also spoken with the Defence Minister of Lebanon, Maurice Sleem. I underlined our concern about the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Addressing the current situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory is a central priority for the Government. Finding a path to an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza; to the immediate release without preconditions of all hostages; and avoiding any further or wider escalation in the region have been the central focus of engagements I have undertaken in recent weeks in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports and has issued over 880,000 passports to date in 2023. Between 2,000 and 3,000 passports are being issued every day. All turnaround times are at or ahead of target and there are no backlogs. More than half of simple adult renewals issue within two working days or less. Direct costs and revenue for the Passport Service for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to supporting the Government's external economic objectives and the promotion of Ireland's trade and investment objectives, including through the work of the State’s network of embassies and consulates abroad. The Department's approach is firmly guided by the Government's Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026: Value for Ireland, Values...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is committed to achieving a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians, based on a two-State solution, in line with international law. I have repeatedly made the point in both my bilateral and multilateral meetings that it is necessary to reinvigorate a peace process and continue to engage at the European Union and United Nations on initiatives centred on the achievement of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Western Balkans lies in the heart of Europe. Its future is within the European Union. In light of this, Ireland has a clear strategic interest in fostering good relations between the communities in the Western Balkans, and between the region and the EU. We do this in numerous ways. First, by facilitating intra-regional dialogue, such as the EU-chaired Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland actively speaks out against all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls across the globe and is committed to integrating gender equality across all of our humanitarian and development interventions, and in our wider foreign policy. The UN Secretary General’s Report on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) draws attention to the increasing number of women and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports and has issued over 880,000 passports to date in 2023. Between 2,000 and 3,000 passports are being issued every day. All turnaround times are at or ahead of target and there are no backlogs. More than half of simple adult renewals issue within two working days or less. The Passport Online service offers Irish citizens the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Russia’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally altered the security situation in Europe. It has also demonstrated the need for Ireland and our European Union partners to work closely together to deal with the serious security challenges that we face. In this context, work is continuing at EU level to further strengthen the EU’s Common Security and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is a strong supporter of EU enlargement, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary conditions for membership. We recognise the value of enlargement as a transformative driver for stability and peace in candidate countries. On 08 November 2023, the European Commission published its annual package of enlargement reports, which assess the progress made by candidate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have been clear from the start that any response by Israel to the brutal attacks of 7 October must comply fully with International Humanitarian Law. This means that the response must comply with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. I issued statements on 9, 15, 18 of October and 1 November, expressing my deep concern at the situation in Gaza and underlining the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have had regular engagements with my EU counterparts since the beginning of the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Immediately following attack by Hamas, I attended an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council on 10 October, alongside my EU counterparts and the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, to discuss the ongoing violence on the ground in Israel and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department has regular contact with the Israeli Embassy in Dublin on a range of issues. The Department raises issues of concern directly with the Embassy where appropriate. In relation to the comments made by an Israeli Embassy official on social media, I understand that they were deleted and a clarification was issued by the Embassy noting that the comments did not represent the position...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The British Government's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act received Royal Assent on 18 September. How the Act will impact on the fundamental work of reconciliation in Northern Ireland, and its compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights, are of serious concern. The incorporation of the Convention into Northern Ireland law was an explicit requirement of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department is aware of the case of an Irish citizen believed to be held hostage in Gaza and is providing extensive consular assistance to the citizen's family. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, it is not possible for me to comment further at this time as it would not be helpful to do so. I reiterate my call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is open to looking at ways to improve the implementation of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). We believe it is important that we continue to explore ways to make the EU run as effectively as possible, delivering benefits for all its citizens. Article 31 (3) of the Treaty on European Union (commonly referred to as the passarelle clause) states that the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The expenditure of €6,073,768 set out in the reply to PQ Ref 48042/12 dated 7 November was incurred in respect of six separate contracts. One contract for travel services related to UNIFIL in Lebanon was below national thresholds.One contract for ground handling charges at Ben Gurion Airport was below national thresholds.One competition to procure Ground Surveillance Radar equipment...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have provided me with a table showing the estimated number of personnel who will be required to retire on age grounds from next year up to 2028, if they serve their full contract term. It should be noted that many personnel leave the Defence Forces before reaching mandatory retirement age. The table outlining projected mandatory retirement figures, which should be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I gave that figure, which is net 400.