Results 4,961-4,980 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: In January 2022, the Government announced a COVID-19 Pandemic Recognition Payment (PRP) for front-line public sector healthcare workers, to recognise their unique role during the pandemic. At Government level, the Department of Health has primary policy responsibility for this initiative, with the consent of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, as it was then. The payment is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (22 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service initially requested further supporting documents from the applicant on 8 February 2024. The turnaround time for Post Passport applications is 8 weeks. Supporting documents were received from the applicant on 14 February 2024. The turnaround time following receipt of additional documents is 15...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Child Abduction (22 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I can assure the Deputy that officials in my Department have been in regular contact with the Irish citizen in this case and are continuing to provide consular assistance and guidance. I appreciate that the circumstances of this case are very difficult for all concerned. I have engaged directly with my counterpart in the jurisdiction in question on this matter and I subsequently met...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (22 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, under which Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth, by descent, or by naturalisation. If a person or their parent was born on the island of Ireland before 1 January 2005, they are an Irish citizen and they can apply for an Irish passport without making an application for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (22 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Each year, the Air Corps receives a number of invitations and requests to participate at Airshows at home and abroad. All requests for Air Corps participation in overseas exhibitions are subject to operational commitments being met . I understand that in general Air Corps' participation in overseas shows is limited to static displays only. In relation to emissions, the Defence Forces, as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (21 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together. In the past, I have received correspondence related to this case, as have officials in my Department. I understand that members of the Oireachtas have also received details of this case. The protection and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy. In particular, the protection of human rights defenders is a key...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (21 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR or Naturalisation. Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (21 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Almost 2 years into its unprovoked and unjustified full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia continues its barbaric bombardment of Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. On the frontline, Ukraine now finds itself in a very difficult situation. After four months of intense fighting, the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast has fallen to Russian forces, who have taken severe casualties in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 to 39, inclusive, together. The closure of roads on Defence owned lands during the course of operational and training activities is carried out pursuant to Section 274 of the Defence Act, 1954. The Act provides that the Officer in Command may temporarily stop all traffic by land or water where in their opinion same may be necessary for the security of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Minister with responsibility for Defence, I am the custodian and guardian of the Curragh lands pursuant to the provisions of the Curragh of Kildare Act, 1961. I believe it is important to bear this in mind, as under that Act, the Curragh Plains is recognised as a working environment for the State's Defence Forces as well as being a place of historical and cultural importance. I wish to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Northern Ireland (20 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Why not?

Seanad: Situation in the Middle East: Statements (20 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Go raibh maith agaibh, a Chathaoirligh and Senators. In Gaza we continue to bear witness to a brutal conflict: 136 long days of war, 100,000 dead, injured or missing, 1.9 million displaced and 90% facing acute hunger. These are numbers but they describe a human reality of mass suffering on an industrial scale, a humanitarian disaster unfolding before our eyes. More than half of the...

Seanad: Situation in the Middle East: Statements (20 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I met the children on the way in. They were also in the other House, where I was speaking on the war in Ukraine. I hope the school does not mind me saying this, but is it not saying something that the two debates they have witnessed so far are debates about unspeakable wars? It is a sign of our times, but you are our future and we hope we can give you a more peaceful legacy than the one we...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (20 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am aware that the Safety of Rwanda (Asylum and Immigration) Bill is currently proceeding through the legislative process in Westminster and is being examined by the House of Lords at present. I note that the Joint Committee on Human Rights in Westminster in its report on the Bill on 7 February suggested that the UK Government should provide "a full explanation of why it considers the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (20 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround times and has not yet reached its issue by date. The public offices of the Passport Service in Dublin 2 and in Cork operate a four-day Urgent Appointment service for renewal applicants. The Dublin office also offers a one-day Urgent Appointment service. Applicants who...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (20 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government is continuing its analysis of the legal and policy aspects of South Africa’s case under the Genocide Convention and is in ongoing contact with South Africa and other like-minded partners. We will take a decision on intervention once we have completed this comprehensive legal and policy analysis. It is likely that we will not make a final decision on the matter until...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (20 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: A public health disaster has been unfolding in Gaza in recent months. In addition to mass displacement of 85% of the population of Gaza, the World Health Organisation has confirmed that the healthcare system has largely collapsed as a result of the conflict. As of 30 January, the WHO estimate that just 13 of 36 hospitals in Gaza were partially functioning. As of 10 February, only seven...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (20 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 126 together. I am deeply concerned by the current situation in Rafah, in the south of the Gaza Strip. As a result of Israeli military actions, almost 1.5 million people are currently sheltering there in dire conditions and there has been widespread, substantive damage to buildings. Further escalation of military activity in Rafah by Israel could...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (20 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports with turnaround times at or well-ahead of target and no backlogs. In 2023, over 1 million applications were received and over 950,000 passports were issued. So far in 2024, the Passport Service has issued over 143,000 passports. In order to verify the identity of a passport applicant, and in the case of children, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (20 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in...