Results 3,001-3,020 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not. You asked me to stop the equivalence. There is no equivalence from my perspective. International humanitarian law should be observed. I disagree fundamentally and have condemned the Israeli Government's attack on Gaza. We are doing everything we can through the international courts. The Deputy mentioned genocide. There is a convention on genocide. We are either serious about...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: That includes Hamas and Hezbollah. Equally, it includes the State of Israel in terms of, for example, these massive bunker bombs which take out hundreds of people in the name of taking out one commander. I accept fully the points Deputy Ó Murchú made on our peacekeepers - their safety and security is our priority - and on continuing to pursue justice and get answers from the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Export Controls (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign provided observations in 31 export licence requests where the end use country was Israel in 2024. The Department of Foreign Affairs previously provided 116 cases of foreign policy observations generally across the board to the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment on dual-use export licence applications to Israel since 2020, over the past four years. In...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Export Controls (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not so clear the Deputy is correct. He needs to drill down and engage with the Department of enterprise on that question. Concerning dual use in the modern era, with the advance of technology people can assert a dual use for almost anything today, sometimes for negative reasons. I was at the Rafah crossing some months ago and saw built up in every warehouse a range of goods for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Export Controls (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The point is that the Department of enterprise goes through this and seeks advice in respect of it. To be fair to all concerned, the Deputy needs to go through each licence application with the Department of enterprise to drill down and see the decision made against the criteria it has to use.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The question originally tabled was to report on my discussions with the US or Israeli counterparts about the ongoing crisis in the Middle East as a result of Israel's assault on Gaza, in the West Bank and now in Lebanon and if I will make a statement on the matter. The crisis in the Middle East remains a key priority for me and the Government across our engagements, including in our...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: United Nations (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for the question. Ireland's membership of the United Nations is at the heart of our foreign policy. We take seriously our obligation to translate the values and principles of the UN Charter into action. Ireland has had a long-standing policy of engagement throughout the entirety of the opening of the General Assembly of the United Nations. In practice, this means our...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: United Nations (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have gone beyond words. I regret the Deputy does not have the generosity or the objectivity-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: United Nations (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy said "a little bit". Come off it. I do not agree with him and I have to disagree fundamentally with him.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: United Nations (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has taken action in respect of the entire situation in the Middle East, not least the recognition of the State of Palestine, with Spain. We have called for a review of the association agreement, with Spain. We led the way in terms of our participation in the international courts, supported the ICJ advisory opinion in calling for it to be deliberated in the first instance, and also...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: United Nations (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy did not put down a question.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: United Nations (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will deal with the occupied territories Bill. There is a question down later in respect of that. I believe in diplomacy and diplomatic channels. That has to be maintained. The Deputy does not, because he has already said-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: United Nations (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt the Deputy. Can I have the floor, please? We could walk out for the speeches of ten ambassadors or permanent representatives at the UN because there are many countries whose policies we do not endorse. If everybody was to adopt a policy of walking out on one other's speeches, however, we would not have the UN General Assembly. With all its faults and flaws, the UN is,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: United Nations (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: That involves many other conflicts, such as the Sudan crisis. There is the Russian war against Ukraine. There is the breach of human rights in many countries across the world. We could be walking out every second. Our permanent representative could be up and down like a-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: United Nations (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: That is the reality. I am not trivialising it.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: United Nations (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are terrible wars going on at the moment in the world, which is shocking, and which we condemn, by the way.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Export Controls (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment operates a rigorous and robust licence application process for the export of dual-use goods, which centres on a careful assessment of the proposed end user and end use. Under the Control of Exports Act 2023, which covers military and dual-use goods, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment may consult with any other Minister of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Navigation Orders (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware, the Minister for Transport has confirmed that his Department is examining the allegations made in the media regarding civil aircraft flights and the carriage of munitions of war. I underline that it is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign airspace without being granted an exemption to do so by the Minister for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Navigation Orders (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: We are extremely concerned by the situation in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon. We are conscious of the ICJ's advisory opinion in respect of the occupation of the Palestinian territories. Any policy or activity that would in any way be supportive of the occupation would run contrary to the Irish position, and indeed the international legal position now with regard to the ICJ's advisory...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Navigation Orders (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: First, we take the matter very seriously. On behalf of the Department of Transport we have contacted the Belgian Government with a view to getting that information formally from the authorities in Belgium. I referred to the objective of the airlines because, ultimately, they can go miles outside of our sovereign airspace and they would not be in violation of our laws or the Chicago...