Results 47,761-47,780 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned about the human rights situation in Iran. The widespread, arbitrary, and sometimes politically-motivated use of the death penalty is an issue of particular concern. Ireland and the EU regularly speak out against the use of the death penalty, including in Iran. Human Rights remain a consistent topic raised in interactions with Iranian officials, including the death...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: While attention has been focused on the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza, it is important also to stress that there have been ongoing attacks across the Israel-Lebanon border since October 2023, and that approximately 100,000 people in northern Israel and in southern Lebanon have been evacuated from their homes since then. I have repeatedly drawn attention to this unacceptable...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Staff (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: Any Special Advisers appointed to me as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence are employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs and as such, that Department holds their employment details. The Special Adviser assigned to the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, is also an employee of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am advised by my officials that the information requested by the Deputy is not recorded or retained on file in my Department. As I have previously advised the House, a small number of Israeli companies have won orders for defensive equipment in recent years as a result of tender competitions. In each case, the contract was awarded on the basis that the company concerned had submitted the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am advised that Defence Forces personnel on overseas tours of duty are debriefed before repatriation and informed of the supports available to them should they experience issues upon return home. Personnel are also examined by a military medical officer prior to repatriation and may raise any concerns at that examination. In the event of further care being required, personnel have access to...

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Budget Statement 2025 (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: That is not true.

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Budget Statement 2025 (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: We never kneecapped children anyway. Has Sinn Féin ever apologised?

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Budget Statement 2025 (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Has Sinn Féin ever apologised?

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Budget Statement 2025 (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I do not deny the kneecapping that you guys did.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I want to thank the Deputy for his question regarding the situation of Palestinian citizens who have been cleared to exit Gaza and who have visas for travel to Ireland, based on having family members already living in Ireland, but who have, so far, been unable to exit Gaza. I also want to recognise the extremely challenging and distressing situation for all those families in Ireland who...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I want to thank the Deputy for his question regarding the Palestinian family member of an Irish citizen who has been granted a visa to travel to Ireland but who has not yet been able to exit Gaza in order to do so. I want to assure the Deputy that my Department is aware of this case and has been providing assistance to the family since late last year. I want to recognise that this is an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and Japan have a strong history of engagement and cooperation, both bilaterally and through multilateral fora including the United Nations. I met with my Japanese counterpart, Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko, at last year's UN General Assembly at an event on women, peace and security in which we both participated. We did not have the opportunity to meet at this year's General...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) is responsible for the EU's external action, which includes foreign policy, defence and security, trade, development cooperation and humanitarian aid. Malaysia is not typically discussed at the FAC. EU-Malaysia relations are typically addressed in the context of Ministerial meetings between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Continuous strategic political engagement with the United States is a key objective under Ireland's 'Strategy for the US and Canada 2019–2025' and remains an ongoing priority for the Government. Engagement with state-level authorities, including judicial bodies, is an important element of this strategy. Ireland's Consul General in Los Angeles met with Undersheriff for the Las Vegas...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Georgian parliament’s decision to pass the ‘on family values and protection of minors’ law on 17 September contributes to the stigmatisation and discrimination of a vulnerable minority group and, as such, represents a further setback to Georgia’s EU accession path. According to UN human rights experts, the main bill, along with the 18 related amendments,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I last formally met with Ambassador Mallard of New Zealand on 27 June 2023 though I have also met informally with the Ambassador at a number of other events and engagements. The Department of Foreign Affairs works closely with the Embassy of New Zealand in Ireland on the full range of bilateral issues, including strengthening our political and economic relationships and promoting cultural...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have consistently spoken out on the human rights crisis facing Afghan women and girls and condemned the gross, widespread and systematic human rights abuses by the Taliban across Afghanistan, particularly against women, girls and individuals from marginalised communities. These concerns have also regularly been expressed at EU and UN level. During my recent attendance at the UN General...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 17 together. Ireland's policy of military neutrality, as practised by successive Governments over many decades, means that Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. As I have said previously, the Government has no plans to alter our long-standing policy of military neutrality, join a military alliance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Engagement with my counterparts is a central part of my work and that of my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Most recently, I met with then Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on 16 November 2023, during my visit to the region. During this visit, I reiterated Ireland’s condemnation of the terror attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October and underlined the need for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is committed to upholding its obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munition to not use, produce, acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer into or from national territory cluster munitions under any circumstances. Cluster munitions are, by their nature, indiscriminate and imprecise, and should not be used in any circumstances. Ireland will continue to work toward the full...