Results 3,021-3,040 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The United States has a key role to play in the Middle East, with regard to security in the region as a whole and as regards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the situation in Gaza. President Biden, Secretary Blinken and the US administration are working hard to achieve a ceasefire and to bring about a diplomatic solution. This is the only path to ensuring lasting security between Israel...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The EU-Israel Association Agreement provides the legal basis for trade relations between the EU and its Member States and Israel. The Agreement provides that the relations between parties will be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which constitute an 'essential element' of that Agreement. In February 2024, the then Taoiseach, together with Prime Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware, the Government’s legal advice is that the Occupied Territories Bill is not compatible with EU law, as the EU has exclusive competence for external trade. A key pillar of Ireland’s foreign policy is our strong commitment to international law and our promotion of respect for international law. To adopt an approach that runs contrary to legal advice would...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 45 together. On 6 and 7 September, I attended the annual British Irish Association conference in Oxford. I have published the text of my remarks to the conference, in which I spoke about this Government’s commitment to supporting the work of the Northern Ireland Executive, the importance of political stability in Northern Ireland, and the need...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, Iran has twice attacked Israel directly this year. The first of these, in April, brought the region to the brink of a wider war. On that occasion, both sides de-escalated. After the second Iranian missile attack on 1 October, which involved up to 200 missiles fired at Israel, the risk of regional escalation and conflict is again very real. I have strongly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has had extensive diplomatic and political relations with Canada since the foundation of the State, celebrating 85 years of diplomatic relations in 2024. There has been significant bilateral high-level political engagement, the bedrock of good diplomatic relations, in recent months. Last month, the Taoiseach had a call with Prime Minister Trudeau and then met in person with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The domestic political situation in Russia has descended into authoritarianism in recent years and has deteriorated even further since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian authorities continue to crack down on opposition politicians, civil society organisations, independent media and other critical voices with the use of repressive legislation and politically motivated prison...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 54 together. The United States has a key role to play in the Middle East, with regard to security in the region as a whole and as regards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the situation in Gaza. I welcome the very clear position of President Biden that a diplomatic solution is the only path to lasting security between Israel and Lebanon. I also...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 49 together. The conflict in Sudan is causing a catastrophic humanitarian crisis. Almost 26 million people - over half the country’s population - face acute hunger. More than 755,000 people are now experiencing famine conditions. Over 12 million people have been forcibly displaced inside Sudan or have fled to neighbouring countries. The two...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 31 and 42 together. Ireland has been providing support to Ukraine both bilaterally and through the EU budget since the launch of the Russian full-scale invasion. Ireland makes extensive use of the multilateral system, and works with trusted partners on the ground to ensure a harmonised approach and enable the fast delivery of sustainable support. On 4...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 47, 48, 57 and 63 together. The ongoing crisis in the Middle East continues to be a central focus of my engagement at EU and international level. I have had frequent and intensive engagement with EU counterparts over recent weeks, including at the informal meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council in August and September, as well as an emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Two and a half years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine continues to face immense challenges. On 4 September, I announced with the Taoiseach a significant new package of supports for Ukraine and its neighbours, worth €36 million. This builds on the extensive political, humanitarian, military and economic support provided since February 2022 and will provide...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 35 together. Engagement with third-country counterparts is a central part of my work and that of my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Regarding my engagement with the Israeli government in the past year, I met with then Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen on 16 November 2023, during my visit to the region. During this visit, I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland remains steadfast in our support for the people and Government of Ukraine. Recent escalations in the conflict have driven more people from their homes adding to the 3.6 million already internally displaced. As Ukraine faces into another winter, Ireland's humanitarian funding continues to target the most vulnerable, including women and children, displaced persons and those closest to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland joined the EU, G7 and international partners in supporting the Joint Declaration of Support for Recovery & Reconstruction of Ukraine on 25 September 2024. This declaration reaffirms our strong commitment to helping Ukraine meet its urgent short-term financing needs, and to supporting its long-term recovery and reconstruction. At the invitation of Presidents Biden and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: 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 a long-standing policy of engagement throughout the entirety of the Opening of the General Assembly at the United Nations. In practice this means our seat is occupied for each day of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I attended the UN General Assembly High Level Week in New York from 22- 25 September. My programme focused primarily on three key foreign policy priorities: the Middle East (particularly Gaza and Lebanon), Ukraine, and Sudan. In this context, I addressed the UN Security Council Open Debate on Leadership for Peace dealing with all three issues. I participated in several meetings and events...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Online service allows citizens to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Passport Online is an award-winning, user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times up to four times faster than paper-based passport renewal applications. Over 90% of passport applications are made through Passport Online, which is available to 99.9% of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The prohibition of the unauthorised carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft is an international rule, as set out in Article 35 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, 1944, known as the Chicago Convention. Article 35 of the Convention provides that no civil aircraft may carry munitions of war in or above the territory of a state without that state’s permission. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will attend the next Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), which will take place in Luxembourg on Monday 14 October. The meeting comes ahead of the European Council, which takes place on 17-18 October. Since February 2022, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has been discussed at each meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. The meeting next week will be an opportunity to discuss the...