Results 44,561-44,580 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I can assure the Deputy that officials in my Department have been in regular contact with the Irish citizen in this case and are continuing to provide consular assistance and guidance. I met the citizen recently and I fully appreciate that the circumstances of this case are difficult for all concerned. I have engaged with my counterpart in the jurisdiction on the case and the Embassy of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Engagement between my Department and the Palestinian Ambassador is routinely carried out at senior official level. Such engagement is frequent and is particularly important in the context of the crisis that is currently unfolding in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. I have had the occasion to meet directly with the Palestinian Ambassador-Head of Mission, Dr Jilan Wahba...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The headline objectives of the Government's Shared Island Initiative and of the PEACEPLUS programme are complementary. The Shared Island Initiative is funded by the Government of Ireland. The PEACEPLUS programme is funded by the European Union, the UK government, the Government of Ireland and the Northern Ireland Executive and is separate and distinct from the Shared Island Initiative. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: During my visit to Colombia on 10-11 January I met with Colombia’s two Vice Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Francisco Coy and Elizabeth Taylor Jay. We discussed Ireland's strong support for the Colombian peace process, particularly the 2016 Agreement and the Government’s Total Peace policy. This included Ireland's role as guarantor in the dialogues with the Estado Mayor Central...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Since the start of this crisis my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit from Gaza of those Irish citizens, and accompanying dependents, who have expressed a wish to leave. The Government, through our Embassies in the region, has consistently sought clearance for all Irish citizens who wish to exit Gaza to do so. We continue to advocate with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued a passport to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service requested further documents for the application on 22 December. Documentation was received 9 January which was incomplete, the Passport Service has requested these documents again. The application cannot proceed until the required supporting documents have been received. I encourage the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Travel (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I travelled to Berlin last week, where I met with German Federal Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, Minister of State for Europe and Climate, Dr Anna Lührmann, and the Chair and Members of the Bundestag Committee on EU Affairs. I also delivered a keynote address, ‘Navigating Europe: Ireland's Voice in Shaping the Future of the EU”, at the Jacques Delors Centre in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The passport card was launched in October 2015 and offers Irish citizens the convenience of travel to 31 countries including the EU/EEA member states, Great Britain and Switzerland, with a credit card sized travel document. While passport books and cards are often applied for at the same time, they are in fact separate identification documents issued with different passport numbers....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 160, 161 and 164 together. I thank the Deputy for his questions. Respect for human rights and the promotion of human rights is a cornerstone of Irish foreign policy, and Ireland contributes strongly to United Nations and European Union efforts to prevent, monitor and eliminate human rights violations and abuses. Last year saw the celebration...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 159 together. I thank the Deputy for his questions. The particular human rights violations and abuses encountered by women and children, including sexual and gender-based violence, crosscuts all of Ireland’s engagement on both conflict and human rights. Violence against women and girls constitutes a serious human rights abuse, a form of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports. All turnaround times are at or well-ahead of target and there are no backlogs. Currently the majority of child online renewal applications are issuing within 6 days and online adult renewal applications are issuing within 2 working days. First-time online applications are being processed within 18-19 days. The advertised...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland continues to strongly support EU enlargement. 50 years of EU membership has transformed our economy and society, and increased our global influence. We believe that all European countries deserve the same opportunities, provided that they meet the necessary criteria. The EU provides a range of supports to candidate countries in order to assist them with the necessary reforms in...

International Court of Justice and Genocide in Gaza: Motion [Private Members] (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I move amendment No. 2: A. To insert the following after "ongoing bombardment of Gaza by Israel;": "reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of the brutal terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on 7th October, 2023"; B. to delete "call on Israel to immediately implement fully" and substitute "reiterate its call on Israel to immediately implement fully"; C. to delete "file a declaration...

Seanad: Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus le Baill an Tí as ucht an deis seo labhairt leo faoin ábhar ríthábhachtach seo. I thank the Cathaoirleach and Members for affording me the opportunity to bring this very important matter to the House. They will recall that last April we discussed the report of the independent review group established to examine dignity...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of ongoing unrest in parts of Pakistan, including the south-western province of Balochistan, which has witnessed violent insurgencies and ethnic conflict in recent years. Ireland engages regularly with Pakistan on political and human rights issues in the country, at both bilateral and multilateral level. Senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs held bilateral and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department engaged the consulting services of the named company for a fixed period which ran from 30 May to 4 July 2023 at a total cost of €6,098.35. The consulting services were engaged on matters relating to the administrative and operational activities of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I note the outcome of the parliamentary elections in Bangladesh on 7 January, which saw a resounding victory for the ruling Awami League party. I fully support the EU statement of 9 January regarding the elections, which reiterates that the EU-Bangladesh partnership is underpinned by the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. I join with EU partners in regretting that not all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am very concerned by allegations of fraud and mismanagement during the local and parliamentary elections in Serbia on 17 December 2023. The joint observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and the European Parliament (EP) noted in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of ongoing unrest in parts of Pakistan, including the south-western province of Balochistan, which has witnessed violent insurgencies and ethnic conflict in recent years. Ireland engages regularly with Pakistan on political and human rights issues in the country, at both bilateral and multilateral level. Senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs held bilateral and...