Results 4,721-4,740 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy knows the answer to his question about the occupied territories Bill. The European Union has a legal competence when it comes to trade. I do not agree with the Deputy that it would have the impact he says it would.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Europe has been proactive in certain respects in-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt the Deputy. He has asked questions.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy does not allow me to answer the question he has put. I do not interrupt him. Europe has taken steps in respect of trying to identify goods that come from the settlements and the possibility that we would be in a position to boycott them. The most effective decision we have taken as a country within the European Union - it will be difficult, by the way, to get unanimity on this -...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 54 together. I thank the Deputy for raising this question. The Government has been consistent in the pursuit of accountability for Russia's illegal and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. This includes accountability of the Russian leadership responsible for the crime of aggression. Ireland is one of 40 states, plus the European Union,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Lawless for his insights, which are valuable and important. Ultimately, this is also about accountability of those who perpetrate crimes of this kind against a civilian population and against a country. There must be accountability under international humanitarian law in the case of what is happening in the Middle East and, likewise, in Ukraine. Part of the challenges here...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: First of all, I welcome the Deputy raising these questions because we do not have the same level of scrutiny on Russia in this House as perhaps we should have with regard to debate. It is a striking feature of the House that there has been an absence of a more detailed debate as to what is happening within Russia in the suppression of freedom of expression. I agree with Deputy O'Callaghan...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: First of all, Deputy O'Callaghan's point is a very fair and important one. Russia is no ordinary country and is a significant power. It wields considerable influence across the world, be it in Syria, Africa or in some parts of Europe. It clearly has significant influence on states within the EU and is endeavouring to disrupt some EU states. It has already now put EU leaders in Estonia and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: On the Magnitsky legislation, and the Deputy raised this at the time, the Department of Justice view was that we already had sufficient instruments that mirror the Magnitsky case, but again, I will go back because I know that the Deputy has been a very strong advocate for that and I have no issue at all with the principles behind that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the question. Ireland has in recent weeks engaged in several concrete initiatives regarding the conflict, all of which have been underpinned by our clear and principled position. In view of the unacceptable levels of violence being perpetrated by certain Israeli settlers against Palestinian communities in the West Bank, in particular since 7 October 2023, I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I do follow the BBC reports and I pay tribute to the BBC because I believe it has brought some sharp insights and has revealed and exposed a great deal, notwithstanding the limits and constraints on how it can operate within Gaza. The situation is shocking and we and I have condemned it. I disagree with Deputy Kenny's characterisation of Irish foreign policy. I invite Deputy Kenny to go...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Hear me out.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is not.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy does. He has.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: With the greatest of respect to the Deputies, they have played politics with this. They did not quote my full statement to the House on the motion in question, when I made it very clear that we would await South Africa's filing a substantive case and that our legal people would, in the meantime, examine any particular grounds we could explore in respect of any legal intervention we might...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have been very clear. This is a legal intervention and needs to be done properly and with credibility as we have done all along. Ireland has been one of the few countries within the European Union that is utilising the international courts properly, effectively with due analysis, looking at these things rigorously. Six weeks ago, in the debate on that motion, I said that we would...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I pay tribute to the Deputy, who was probably the first Member of this House to raise the question of Alexei Navalny during Oral Questions in a long time. Unfortunately, Mr. Navalny's death was announced subsequently. Ireland is deeply concerned at the ongoing shocking erosion of human rights in Russia, and the persecution of individuals for exercising their personal freedoms, including...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 12 together. I have been closely monitoring developments in the case taken under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, the genocide convention, by South Africa against Israel at the ICJ. I welcomed the court's January order in this case, particularly the direction that Israel take immediate and effective measures to enable...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I regret how this debate is being conducted because it is more about playing politics. It is important that we be upfront with the public. The Attorney General's presentation last week demonstrates that we are doing the right thing from a Government perspective. Our action involved a robust legal submission to the ICJ on the question of the UN seeking an advisory opinion. This was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Just as in the case of Ukraine v. Russia, it makes sense that South Africa would submit the substantive case, which is called a memorial. It normally takes four to five months for such a memorial to be lodged. It makes absolute sense in this context for us to work with South Africa. Our legal advisors are very clear on this point, and in saying that we may identify our own grounds in...