Results 46,761-46,780 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: You would have to have four or five bodies on it then-----

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: As it stands, section 24 provides the statutory basis for the Minister for Defence to authorise the Permanent Defence Force representative associations to associate with ICTU. This is very positive and represents a significant step forward. I am already on record as clarifying that the amendments proposed by the Deputies would remove the mechanism by which associate membership of ICTU would...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: We are affirming the right to representation; there is no going back on that. What we are talking about is an advance on the position that obtained prior to the introduction of this legislation. The purpose of this legislation is to put on a statutory basis defence representative associations’ right of association with ICTU. I anticipate that will advance even further in years to...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will respond to Deputy Howlin's point first. He knows that when we frame legislation, we have to create a framework for eventualities in the future when certain things may happen that we cannot yet comprehend. There must be some framework over the process of association to cover potential future eventualities. Suffice to say that the direction of travel is clearly one of representation...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: On Deputy Berry's point, there may be merit in allowing the appeal to go through to get ultimate clarity. I have no intention of bringing forward amendments to any further legislation. It might be useful all around if clarity was brought to the question through the appeal. There is merit in going ahead. I would like to get finality for everybody's benefit, including that of the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 42 and 43 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The standard Irish passport issued to adults is valid for 10 years. Passport fees were last updated in June 2019 and set out in Statutory Instrument No. 259/2019 - Diplomatic and Consular Fees. At that time the fee for adult passports applied for through the Passport Online service was reduced from €80 to €75. The fee for passports applied for through postal service providers...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has specific responsibility for engagement with: The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC); The General Affairs Council (GAC); and The Foreign Affairs Council (Development) (FAC Dev). Since 27 June 2020, there have been a total of 60 FAC meetings, 46 GAC meetings, and 15 FAC (Dev) meetings. The information requested on format and attendance is provided in tabular...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Flexible Work Practices (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to ensuring a positive and productive working environment, and to sustaining strong standards of performance and delivery on our high level goals for the people we serve at home and abroad. In this context, my Department recognises the shift to flexible and remote working that has taken place in Ireland and globally over the last number of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (12 Jun 2024)

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. FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Meetings (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: During each European Union Presidency, both formal and informal meetings of Defence Ministers are held within the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union. There is no separate Defence Ministers' Council within the Council of the European Union. In the period from 27 June 2020 to date, a total of twenty EU Defence ministerial meetings have taken place. Of these, ten were Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Flexible Work Practices (12 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: In line with the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations, my Department launched its Blended Working Policy in late October 2022. Approximately 85% of Department of Defence staff are currently availing of blended working, and are required to attend the office on a minimum of 2 specific days each week as agreed with their manager. The only State body currently...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Sanctions (13 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department engages extensively with the United States on a wide range of foreign policy issues. Recent high level political engagements with the United States Government, including my visit in February to Washington DC and the programme of Ministerial visits to the United States for St. Patrick’s Day, were important opportunities to discuss a number of priority foreign policy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (13 Jun 2024)

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. FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 38 and 39 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, further supporting documents for this application were received on 22nd May 2024. Turnaround time from the receipt of further supporting documents is 15 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to promoting and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace which is reflective of modern Ireland, protects the rights of all staff, and ensures staff are supported to deliver strongly for the citizen. The Department is committed to the same values and standards in respect of the services we provide for customers, at home and abroad. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government Legislation Programme of the current parliamentary session was published on the 16th of January 2024. That legislation programme does not include any bills in preparation within the Department of Foreign Affairs and officials of my Department are not progressing any specific pieces of legislation prior to the Dáil summer recess. The Department’s Statement of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (11 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 24 May, the Ambassadors of Ireland, Norway and Spain were called in to the Israeli Foreign Ministry to discuss the consequences of these three countries formally recognising the State of Palestine. During this meeting, the Ambassadors were shown footage of Israeli soldiers taken hostage by Hamas. The Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv was not told in advance that this meeting would be attended by...