Results 4,761-4,780 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I never said Deputy Carthy was disingenuous. I do not know where he invented that from. I did not use it at all in my reply.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt Deputy Carthy. I have to correct a false assertion that he made. What I did say was that there is a difference between being performative and being impactful. I respectfully suggest, through the Chair, that Deputy Carthy's tendency is to the former. He is into performance on this and into rhetoric and soundbite. He does not give credit for, or acknowledge, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am appalled by the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza – after almost five months of relentless violence and displacement, civilians in Gaza are living in conditions that no one should have to endure. The legal position is clear – under international humanitarian law Israel are responsible for the protection of civilians in Gaza, and ensuring that the essential needs of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 18, 27, 69 and 73 together. I remain focused on the dreadful situation in the Gaza Strip, where the current situation is a humanitarian disaster. I fully believe that an Israeli military escalation in Rafah, where almost 1.5 million people are sheltering in desperate conditions, would be catastrophic. We need an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I was appalled at Mr. Navalny’s death, which further underpins the lack of respect for the rule of law and the protection of human rights in Russia. There must be a full and transparent international investigation into the circumstances of his death. My EU counterparts and I met with Yulia Navalnaya at the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 February, when we discussed the circumstances...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The ongoing destruction of Ukraine by Russia makes it difficult to assess the eventual cost of reconstruction. Most recent World Bank estimates have put the eventual reconstruction cost at US$486 billion, a figure which continues to rise. Ireland has provided both humanitarian and stabilisation support bilaterally to Ukraine, focused on early recovery efforts, while engaging at EU and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 19 February, I attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, where the Council’s discussion focused on the EU’s approach to Ukraine, the Middle East and the Sahel. The Council met with the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports. So far in 2024, the Passport Service has issued over 200,000 passports. There are currently 147,000 passport applications in the system. 83,000, or 56%, of these applications, are with the Passport Service for processing. The remaining 64,000 are awaiting further action by the applicant before they can be progressed....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 21 together. Ireland's overall financial support to Ukraine since February 2022 amounts to over €212 million, comprised of over €90 million in stabilisation and humanitarian funding and commitments of approximately €122 million in non-lethal military assistance under the European Peace Facility. Within these overall figures,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 14 February, officials from my Department met with visiting representatives of the Polisario Front to discuss the ongoing political situation in Western Sahara. This meeting was an opportunity to discuss a variety of issues including the return to armed conflict in the region, engagement with the United Nations, the peace process, and human rights issues, including within Sahrawi refugee...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 31 together. I have been closely monitoring developments in the case taken under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide (‘Genocide Convention’) by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice. I welcomed the Court’s order of provisional measures in this case on 26 January,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 55 together. I attended the Munich Security Conference from 16-18 February. The Munich Security Conference continues to be one of the world’s leading platforms for debate and policy exchange on international security and foreign policy, including Russia’s ongoing illegal war in Ukraine and its impact on European and global security, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 26 and 53 together. As Ukrainians face into the third year of war, we must make clear that we are unwavering in the strength of our commitment to supporting Ukraine. Ensuring that Russia does not succeed in its imperial ambitions is existential for Ukraine, but is also fundamental for European and global security. This is true now, as it was just over...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is meeting its turnaround times which are at or well-ahead of target, with no backlogs. The majority of online adult renewal applications issue within two working days and over 90% of applicants now apply online. There are currently 147,000 passport applications in the system. 83,000, or 56%, of these applications, are with the Passport Service for processing. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 35 together. The implementation of the All-Party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings continues to be a priority, in fulfillment of the Programme for a Partnership Government. The continuing absence of a substantive response from the British government on these motions is a matter of concern and is an issue I consistently raise...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 67 and 71 together. The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister of Spain wrote to the President of the European Commission on 15 February calling for an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The letter was addressed to Commission President von der Leyen, and was copied to High...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Programme (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government Legislation Programme published on 16th January 2024 sets out Government legislative priorities for the current parliamentary session. The current Legislation Programme does not include any bills in preparation within the Department of the Foreign Affairs. The Department’s Statement of Strategy 2023-2025 sets out the high level goals that officials of my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I was delighted that the citizen returned to Ireland yesterday where he was reunited with his wife and three young children. This was the outcome which I, along with my officials in Dublin and our Embassy in Jordan had been steadfastly working towards since his detention on February 26. I had a number of very constructive conversations with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: As I have made clear on previous occasions, I have been engaging intensively with our partners in the European Union, in the region, and internationally since the beginning of this crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Within the EU, Ireland has urged partners to support an immediate ceasefire, impose sanctions on violent Israeli settlers, and restore funding to UNRWA as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The targeted sanctions adopted in response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine are the most expansive and hard-hitting sanctions in EU history and target not only Russia. The sectoral measures introduced to date have resulted in a significant decrease in access by Russia to dual use and advanced technology goods from Europe. However, while direct exports from Europe have...