Results 501-520 of 46,537 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Come on. The Deputy's solution fails in any shape or form to deal with the complexity of the situation. It is not as simple as he has put forward at all. It is a long history, as the Deputy correctly pointed out. It is not as simple as recognising one state and de-recognising another and attempting to dismantle it. That would cause untold further violence and upheaval. In our view,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: European Union (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are clear rules and procedures governing how a President of the Commission is elected or appointed. They are tied up with the elections and there is a two-stage procedure. First, there is the appointment of the Commission by a qualified majority. The European Council will propose a candidate for President of the Commission but then that candidate has to be elected by a majority vote...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: European Union (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is correct in that the Ceann Comhairle, on behalf of this Parliament, invited President von der Leyen at the time, in acknowledgement of the role of the President of the Commission in respect of Brexit and of resolutely defending Ireland's situation vis-à-vis the United Kingdom's decision to leave the European Union. Yes, many parties gave a very warm response, including...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: We never said it was just one strand. It is interesting that Deputy Boyd Barrett argued trenchantly for this for a long time but, once there was the prospect of it happening, he dismissed it, said it was not really that significant and asked whether we could move on now. His asserted solution fails to understand the complexity of the situation, for example, the Arab population within Israel...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have to work in the real world. I respectfully suggest that the Deputy keeps shifting the goalposts.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: European Union (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 119 together. On 7 March at the European People's Party congress in Bucharest, Ursula von der Leyen was officially named her party’s candidate for a second term as President of the European Commission. In her first term, President von der Leyen has been a strong advocate for the protection of Irish interests, particularly throughout the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and Spain have a very clear direction of travel on this matter. I have said consistently over the past number of months and, indeed, since the Government was formed that, in line with the programme for Government, co-ordination with others and getting as many member states as possible on board is important for Palestinians' right to self-determination and their right to their own...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: What is happening in Rafah and Gaza is absolutely shocking and unacceptable. In our view, it represents a clear violation of international humanitarian law. We have made that clear. Ireland has made submissions to the International Criminal Court, and was one of the few countries to make a strong oral presentation. We had made a written submission long before this war started. We have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Griffin for his question and kind remarks. Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine remains a grave threat to all of Europe. Russia is demonstrating a clear desire to continue escalation and has projected momentum on the battlefield in recent weeks, taking advantage of Ukraine’s shortage of military material, particularly air defence, by launching...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland welcomed the agreement reached at EU level in February to set aside the revenue generated from Russia's immobilised sovereign assets to support Ukraine. The windfall revenues earned and generated from the assets that are immobilised at the moment will be used to support Ukraine. Our view is that when a country like Russia illegally invades another country and destroys its...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The World Bank estimates that the reconstruction bill for Ukraine will be $486 billion over the next decade. That will continue to rise each day. We are engaged in discussions on short-term recovery efforts including the provision of prefabricated homes to support communities. We have made financial support available to do that. A recovery conference will be held in Berlin in June. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am extremely concerned by the start of Israel's ground offensive and military operation in Rafah. The international community has been clear that the humanitarian consequences of a large-scale offensive in Rafah would be catastrophic. I urge the parties to make every effort to come to an immediate ceasefire deal. All hostages must be released and further civilian casualties must be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: We are doing so. The manner in which we have approached this issue is to increase the number of appointments at public counters for the one-day or four-day renewal service at the Mount Street office in Dublin and the four-day renewal service in Cork. As I said, every week there are about 221 one-day and 264 four-day renewal appointments available in Dublin and 280 four-day renewal...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for her kind comments. As she is aware, the then Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, and Prime Minister Sánchez of Spain wrote to the President of the European Commission on 14 February of this year, requesting an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel association agreement. The letter further requested that the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the Deputy's contribution. She is correct that when the EU signs and supports association agreements, these clauses have to mean something. I refer in particular to Israel's compliance with the essential elements clause of the agreement. The Commission needs to carry out a review. Josep Borrell has initiated a discussion on this, and I understand some work has been done in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy knows, trade relations between the European Union and Israel are governed by a free trade area as part of the EU-Israel association agreement. That agreement was signed as far back as 1995 and entered into force in 2000. It forms a basis for relations between the European Union and Israel, governing the trade relationship as well as including political aspects. The last...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Confirm which?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: First, in terms of the declaration of intervention, we would be making it under Article 63. States do not join one side or another in filing an intervention in the case. Rather, they submit a statement that sets out their interpretation of one or more provisions of whatever convention is at issue before the court. This declaration of intervention must then be deemed admissible by the court...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I pay tribute to the team and all of the staff working at the passport service. It has issued 450,000 passports to date this year and is on track to have issued half a million passports by the end of this month. Virtually all complete passport applications are being processed within advertised turnaround times. The passport service is well-staffed and in an excellent position to deliver...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The first point I would make is there is a balance as well. We have to consistently tell people to remember to get their passports updated, to apply online and in time. We do everything we possibly can to facilitate urgent cases. Most people in the House would acknowledge that, and we will continue to do it. However, we do not want to create a new scenario whereby people think they can...