Results 2,961-2,980 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Conflict Resolution (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his continuing interest, commitment and advocacy on this issue. Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan remain an issue of concern for Ireland and the European Union. I regularly discuss the situation in Armenia and the region with my European Union colleagues, most recently at the March meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. The European Union has been playing an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is absolutely no evidence that any airport in Ireland or any Irish sovereign airspace is being used to transport weapons to the conflict in the Middle East. All foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly or land in the State are required, without exception, to obtain diplomatic clearance. This has been the case for many years. Such permission is granted only where all relevant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am very clear that there is no weaponry going via Ireland to Israel and certainly, as I have said, not through any airport. There is absolutely no evidence at all to suggest any airport in Ireland or Irish sovereign airspace is being used to transport weapons to the conflict in the Middle East. There is a distinction drawn between civil aircraft and military aircraft. Civil aircraft come...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I take the Deputy's point. We condemn the bombardment of Gaza. What is happening in Gaza is absolutely shocking. It needs to stop and it must stop immediately. There has been a long-standing relationship between the United States and Israel, going back to the foundation of the latter state, and likewise between many European Union states and Israel. We are a militarily neutral country....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: European Union (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am a passionate believer in enlargement, notwithstanding all the challenges that come with it and that Deputy Lawless outlined in terms of rule of law and alignment. As regards the constant challenges, it is clear that the populations of many of these countries want to be in the EU and want the norms we have in democracy and economic development and the Single Market benefits that brings....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his persistence and his advocacy for the families of the victims of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. On 17 May this year, we marked the 50th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, a brutal and devastating act of violence in which 34 people lost their lives and 300 people were injured. Alongside the Taoiseach and President Higgins, I attended the very...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: In the context of whatever happens after the British general election and a new government being formed, we stand ready to engage with a new government to press these issues and to get resolution to them. We have consistently raised the provision of original documents with my British counterpart since taking office. I recognise that governments have a responsibility to protect national...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will absolutely do that. I agree with the Deputy that this has taken far too long. We recently had the Seán Brown case, for example, which I have raised with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. I hope that with the new British government we will be able to revisit the legacy Act because the Operation Kenova report points in the right direction. It is a hugely significant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: People can cross departmental lines. People move from other Departments into the Department of Foreign Affairs. For example, our ambassador in China would have been a Department of agriculture vet originally, which was very useful in the recent issues in China relating to veterinary matters, Irish beef and so on. Her experience was clearly on hand and very valuable. This is my second...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I repeat that there are many pathways into the Department of Foreign Affairs and into ambassadorial positions. For example, people who would have worked in the area of development aid initially have moved into the Department and brought that experience to bear as ambassadors in Africa, the Middle East and so forth. We have very good examples of that also within the Department. I have been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: European Union (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: At the Foreign Affairs Council on 24 June, I met with my counterparts from the western Balkans to discuss shared challenges for Europe in foreign and security policy. The EU and the western Balkans have built up a positive track record of co-operation in foreign and security policy. We discussed the region’s high rate of Common Foreign and Security Policy, CFSP, alignment, and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: European Union (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his remarks. He asked earlier about the enlargement agenda. This week the EU will confirm that Montenegro has made all of its interim benchmarks on rule of law reforms. This is a significant achievement and clears the way for Montenegro to close additional negotiating chapters confirming its position as accession front-runner. I hope this acts as an inspiration to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Bodies (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: This is challenging for the court. We have long been supportive of the court. Ireland committed additional voluntary funding to the ICC of €3 million to assist it in its work across all situations, including with regard to Palestine. At the Munich security conference earlier this year I met the ICC prosecutor in respect of the challenges the prosecutor and the team face. Ireland...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Bodies (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: The EU is quite steadfast and strong in supporting the ICC and in respecting its independence. That was again very evident at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Monday. I make the point that, as the Deputy knows, the application for arrest warrants in respect of Prime Minister Netanyahu and defence minister Gallant has elicited a very negative reaction from Israel and the United States....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for tabling this question. I do not propose to change the criteria for the selection of Irish ambassadors. The legislative framework for diplomatic relations is governed by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, an international treaty that provides a framework for diplomatic relations between states. The Vienna Convention was ratified by Ireland in 1967...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: To be fair, the passport service has a system in place whereby applications do not go to the back of the queue, to respond to a previous question, following a request for further documents. When the passport service receives the required additional documentation from the applicant, the application is prioritised for checking and, as a result, does not go to the back of the queue. Online...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is not bad. People have come to us after using that one-day appointment service, in Cork, Dublin and so on, and said it has been effective.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I am deeply concerned by the rising tensions along the Israel-Lebanon border. It is vital all parties work to de-escalate the situation. We strongly support international efforts to mediate a resolution between Israel and Hezbollah. Since October, I have raised my concerns and the need for urgent de-escalation on several occasions...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: On citizens, our advice is clear that people should leave Lebanon. There is an ongoing danger of significant escalation. An estimated 100 Irish citizens and dependants remain in Lebanon, many of whom are long-term residents and, as I said, do not plan to leave unless the situation deteriorates significantly. If it does deteriorate significantly, in essence if there is a war between...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (27 Jun 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have no updates on the procurement of that aeroplane, which is on schedule as far as I know, given that I have heard nothing to the contrary. Again, because of the nature of Lebanon and of any attack that could take place if a war happened, it seems the air option would be very limited because of the dangers and so on. The best advice, therefore, that we can give to citizens is to leave...