Results 2,541-2,560 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (7 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that as at 30 September 2024, the latest date for which such data is available, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,477 personnel. The requested information concerning the number of vacancies by rank is provided in the attached table. I have acknowledged in the past the recruitment and retention challenges in the Defence Forces. To...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (6 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 17 together. As I set out in response to a similar question from the Deputy in June, the Government intends to file a Declaration of Intervention in the case initiated by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice. At that juncture, I indicated that it was intended to do so after South Africa has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (6 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have taken a clear and consistent stand in support of women and girls in Afghanistan. Ireland regularly speaks out at the EU, UN and other international fora against the gross, widespread and systematic human rights abuses by the Taliban, particularly against women, girls and individuals from marginalised communities . In our recent national statement to the current session of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (6 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: If the Government believed that the European Commission had not fulfilled its obligations in regard to a matter under its remit, in the first instance Ireland would raise the issue at an appropriate level with the relevant Commission services. Under Article 265 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, where an EU institution, including the European Commission has, in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (6 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: In February 2024, the then Taoiseach, together with the Prime Minister Sánchez of Spain, wrote to the President of the European Commission requesting an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The issue was discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council on 18 March and by the Taoiseach in a meeting with President...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (6 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government’s position on Ireland’s relations with Israel, as well as the situation in Palestine and the wider region, has been set out frequently in this House by both myself and my predecessors. The Government does not comment on the internal reports or commentaries of third countries or other external partners.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (6 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland supports the important role that UN Special Procedures mandate holders play in the international human rights system. Their work contributes to the development of international human rights standards and helps to raise public awareness on human rights issues. Both I and my officials will continue to defend the important role undertaken by all such mandate holders. Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Capital Expenditure Programme (6 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs does not have any operations in the Louth East Meath constituency. Furthermore, the Office of Public Works is responsible for providing the Department with suitable accommodation within the State.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (6 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together. The Shared Island Initiative, which I established as Taoiseach, is a whole of Government endeavour that aims to deliver practical benefits for the whole island of Ireland by working with all communities for a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. While the Shared Island Fund is for the most part administered by the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Neutrality (6 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: In April 2024, the Government approved the proposal to draft the General Scheme of a Bill to govern overseas deployments into the future. Work on drafting those proposals, including consultations with the Office of the Attorney General, Government Departments and key stakeholders, has progressed since then, and a draft General Scheme has been prepared. It is Intended to revert to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Capital Expenditure Programme (6 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: Expenditure by my Department is mainly on pay and allowances, operational costs and capital investment across the Defence Forces. Capital expenditure on projects in the Louth East Meath constituency by my Department are limited to expenditure on the maintenance and upgrade of military installations, including Aiken Barracks. The capital expenditure on the maintenance and upgrade of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Chairperson in his capacity of Chair of this committee for his distinguished service both as a Minister down through the years and as a Member of the House. He has always put the interests of Ireland and the Irish people first as did his late father before him. He has carried on a distinguished contribution as a Member of Dáil Éireann for County Laois. In this...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: First the Department of Foreign Affairs will prepare amendments to be ready for the next Government. There has already been meeting between our officials and Senator Black and her team. That dialogue can continue but a new Government will want to have sight of the amendments as well. There will be a continuing dialogue.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: On purchases from the occupied territories, we have made our decision on defence procurement.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: The State does not buy anything from the occupied territories.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have outlined substantive amendments that have to happen to strengthen this Bill to make sure it can be robust against any challenge to it. Someone asked earlier if there was a similar case. I did not get a chance to respond to Deputy Devlin's point. The Attorney General has alerted us to a case involving France related to the differentiation of goods in the western Sahara and that...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I understand why people are saying this. On that point about France, and Deputy Devlin did ask me about a similar case, it illustrates how far this can go. The Government, in signing the money message, is preparing now to go the full distance on this. It goes through the Oireachtas, and if it has to go through the European courts, it will do that.