Results 46,101-46,120 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I co-chaired the most recent meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference alongside the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris in London on 29 April. Although issues relating to immigration were not items on the formal agenda of this meeting, I had the opportunity to discuss the matter with the Secretary of State. We also discussed the issue in a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: After many years of significant difficulty, I am glad to report that the UK is now more fully meeting its commitments to the European Union. In particular, the UK is actively implementing the terms of the Windsor Framework agreement last year, which has helped underpin political and economic stability in Northern Ireland. While there are a number of areas where the EU would like to see a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have been engaging intensively with EU, regional and international partners, including the US, since the beginning of this crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. During all of these engagements I have conveyed the same message: there is an urgent need for an immediate and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire; the unconditional release of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza;...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (9 May 2024)

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, peace and prosperity in candidate countries. I am pleased to report that there continues to be positive momentum on EU enlargement. On 08 November 2023, the European Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Bodies (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: As indicated in the Commission’s ‘2023 Rule of Law Report, the rule of law situation in the European Union’, under the rule of law, all public powers always act within the constraints set out by law, in accordance with the values of democracy and fundamental rights, and under the control of independent and impartial courts. The rule of law includes principles such as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Bodies (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Lying at the heart of Europe, and surrounded by EU Member States, continued peace and security in the Western Balkans is of strategic importance to the European Union and its Member States, including Ireland. Given the wider geo-political situation, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East, we can ill-afford any insecurity in the Western Balkans. I am extremely proud of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Addressing the difficult situation of undocumented Irish emigrants in the United States and working to secure legal pathways for Irish people seeking to live and work in the US continues to be a key priority for the Government. Ireland continues to raise immigration issues at every appropriate engagement with the United States Government and Congress. The Government actively supports the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs’ mission network plays an important role in promoting Irish trade throughout the world. Ireland's network of embassies and consulates is central to the Team Ireland approach, which sees Government Departments and State Agencies working closely with other Irish stakeholders to strengthen Ireland's international reputation and drive the development...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Asylum Seekers (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the very large numbers of men, women, and children who have tragically lost their lives in dangerous attempts to cross the Mediterranean, and that this number is increasing. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the number of migrant deaths and disappearances in the Mediterranean has grown steadily over the past years: 2,048 in 2021, 2,411 in 2022 and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: At the outset, I wish to make it clear that no decision to locate or partially relocation Cathal Brugha Barracks has been made in respect of the sole operational military barracks in Dublin City Centre. My Department has conducted a cost benefit analysis and feasibility study, with involvement from the Defence Forces, to assess the viability or otherwise of relocating existing core Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Following the publication of the Report of the Independent Review Group on Dignity and Equality issues in the Defence Forces in March 2023, I set out my priority to develop one Strategic Framework for the transformation of the Defence Forces, fully understood by everyone, that has the appropriate governance and reporting mechanisms, and is properly resourced. The purpose of the Strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: At the outset, I wish to make it clear that no decision to locate or partially relocation Cathal Brugha Barracks has been made in respect of the sole operational military barracks in Dublin City Centre. My Department has conducted a cost benefit analysis and feasibility study, with involvement from the Defence Forces, to assess the viability or otherwise of relocating existing core Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland signed up to the Joint Statement on Efforts to Counter the Proliferation and Misuse of Commercial Spyware ahead of the third Summit for Democracy in the Republic of Korea in March. Upon joining, Ireland issued a national statement (www.gov.ie/en/press-release/485aa-ireland-joins-internation al-efforts-to-counter-the-proliferation-and-misuse-of-commer cial-spyware/), which made clear...

Dublin and Monaghan Bombings: Motion [Private Members] (14 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am pleased to confirm that the Government will support this motion. There are moments in time when we are confronted with the sharpest of contrasts in human nature - the contrast between decency and depravity, between good and evil, between love and hate. On 17 May 1974, this country faced such a moment. On a Friday evening, bright with the promise of early summer, decent people,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Acting Chair and committee members for the invitation to brief them on developments at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council and at the United Nations since I last briefed them on those issues in October, as well as our relationship with NATO. As might be expected, discussions and decisions in all of these formats have been heavily focused on the crises in Ukraine and the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: As regards the European position on the summit in Switzerland, which has been some time in the making, President Zelenskyy over a year ago, I would say, published or produced his ten-point peace plan, and it is on that framework that European member states, particularly Ireland, will be focused. The Taoiseach discussed the summit with President Zelenskyy during their recent phone call, on 9...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Thirty-three. It is a platoon size. That was on the advice of military leadership in the context of force protection.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I would not use that language. Our contribution to UN peacekeeping changes. We do not stay in the same places all the time, bar maybe in Lebanon. There was a time, if I am not mistaken, when we took time out, but we have been in many parts of the world. We do not stay in certain locations forever. We are participating in an EU battlegroup. We have been engaged in EU battlegroups since...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: But I would not use that language.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council, UN Matters and Individually Tailored Partnership Programme with NATO: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (14 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Right now, yes, but that can change in the next six or 12 months.