Results 3,121-3,140 of 50,909 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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...

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

Micheál Martin: Engagement with a range of ministerial and other counterparts is a central part of my work, and that of my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs. In my role as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have had various contacts with Israeli counterparts and government officials. I travelled to Israel in September 2023, as part of a three-day visit to the Middle East, when I met with the...

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

Micheál Martin: My Department commissions external contractors, consultancy services and outsourcing services where highly specialised skills are not available internally. External expertise has informed, and continues to inform, my Department's strategies and policies and the effective delivery of our services to our citizens in a transparent and accountable manner representing value for money. My...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Middle East (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: At the outset, I wish to assure the Deputy that the safety and security of Ireland’s Defence Forces’ personnel is of paramount concern to the Government, and I wish to agree with her statement on the highly trained nature of our soldiers on peacekeeping duties in the region. Our personnel are indeed highly trained, professional, and have undergone rigorous preparation to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Policies (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The European Sky Shield Initiative (ESSI), spearheaded by Germany, was launched in 2022, with the self-declared aim of creating a European air and missile defence system through the joint acquisition of air defence equipment and missiles by European nations in order to strengthen NATO’s integrated air and missile defence. While my Department is aware of the ESSI, Ireland has not...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Middle East (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 67 together. At the outset, I wish to assure the Deputy that the safety and security of Ireland’s Defence Forces’ personnel is of paramount concern to the Government. Over the last week, there has been a significant escalation of violence across Lebanon, in terms of Israeli air strikes and Hezbollah rocket fire. The Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The requested information has been sought from the Defence Forces but unfortunately cannot be gathered within the prescribed timeframe as it covers a number of Branches within the Defence Forces as well as the battalion currently stationed in UNIFIL. The Department and the Defence Forces will continue to gather this information, and will follow up with the Deputy in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The promotion competition that the Deputy refers to is scheduled to run this year. There has been ongoing consultation between civil/military management and the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA), to take account of a number of proposed changes to ensure improved efficiency of the competition process and to additionally ensure that the necessary regulatory underpinning for such improvements is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is one capital project currently ongoing in Stephens Barracks, details of which are is set out below: Project EstimatedCost incl. VAT Expected Completion New Barrack Accountant Facility (estimated completion date early 2025) €627,405 Summer 2025 Total €627,405 The Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 69 together. As the Deputy is aware, the Minister for Transport has confirmed that his Department is examining the recent media reports regarding civil aircraft flights and the carriage of munitions of war. The Department of Transport is continuing its examination of these reports, and its ongoing engagement with the air carriers concerned. As I have...