Results 5,361-5,380 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (31 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I Straitéis Diaspóra na hÉireann 2020-2025 áirítear tiomantas leathan chun tacú le léiriú cultúrtha i measc ár ndiaspóra. Maidir leis an nGaeilge go sonrach, tá an Rialtas tiomanta sa straitéis do chur chun cinn agus do mhúineadh na Gaeilge thar lear. Tá maoiniú ar fáil ó Chlár Tacaíochta...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (31 Jan 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 Defence: Naval Service (31 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The decision to decommission and dispose of LÉ Eithne in July 2022 was made having regard to the age and condition of the vessel and the resourcing and maintenance implications of retaining the vessel. A number of organisations, including Dublin Port and the local authorities in Cork and Limerick, indicated their interest in taking LÉ Eithne as a museum piece / tourist...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (31 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that, as at 31 December 2023, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,550 personnel. I have previously acknowledged the current staffing difficulties in the Defence Forces and, to counter these, there are a number of recruitment and retention initiatives currently underway. These include ongoing general service and direct entry...

International Court of Justice and Genocide in Gaza: Motion [Private Members] (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I move amendment No. 2: A. To insert the following after "ongoing bombardment of Gaza by Israel;": "reiterates its unequivocal condemnation of the brutal terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel on 7th October, 2023"; B. to delete "call on Israel to immediately implement fully" and substitute "reiterate its call on Israel to immediately implement fully"; C. to delete "file a declaration...

Seanad: Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry: Motion (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach agus le Baill an Tí as ucht an deis seo labhairt leo faoin ábhar ríthábhachtach seo. I thank the Cathaoirleach and Members for affording me the opportunity to bring this very important matter to the House. They will recall that last April we discussed the report of the independent review group established to examine dignity...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of ongoing unrest in parts of Pakistan, including the south-western province of Balochistan, which has witnessed violent insurgencies and ethnic conflict in recent years. Ireland engages regularly with Pakistan on political and human rights issues in the country, at both bilateral and multilateral level. Senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs held bilateral and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department engaged the consulting services of the named company for a fixed period which ran from 30 May to 4 July 2023 at a total cost of €6,098.35. The consulting services were engaged on matters relating to the administrative and operational activities of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I note the outcome of the parliamentary elections in Bangladesh on 7 January, which saw a resounding victory for the ruling Awami League party. I fully support the EU statement of 9 January regarding the elections, which reiterates that the EU-Bangladesh partnership is underpinned by the values of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. I join with EU partners in regretting that not all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am very concerned by allegations of fraud and mismanagement during the local and parliamentary elections in Serbia on 17 December 2023. The joint observation mission from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and the European Parliament (EP) noted in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of ongoing unrest in parts of Pakistan, including the south-western province of Balochistan, which has witnessed violent insurgencies and ethnic conflict in recent years. Ireland engages regularly with Pakistan on political and human rights issues in the country, at both bilateral and multilateral level. Senior officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs held bilateral and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: A new Consulate General of Ireland was established in Miami in October 2022, gradually scaling up operations and taking over responsibility for the State of Florida on a phased basis from the Consulate General in Atlanta, as well as responsibility for the States of Mississippi and Alabama, and Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. Florida is the third most populous state in the United...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland applies all sanctions that are adopted by the United Nations Security Council or by the European Union (EU). Sanctions are an important tool to promote the objectives of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy. EU sanctions are always targeted, are based on extensive evidence packs, and are adopted under a variety of geographic and thematic sanctions regimes,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The EU position is clear; Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory are illegal under international law. 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 have underlined my strong support for EU sanctions targeting violent or extreme Israeli...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and Norway enjoy excellent bilateral relations. We share unique historical connections as well as growing people-to-people links. In the past few years, Ireland’s relationship with Norway has been revitalised through the Global Ireland Strategy for the Nordic Region to 2025. The Nordic Strategy has provided a framework for Ireland to deepen our relationship with Norway and its...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Staff (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Four civilian drivers are employed by my Department. Two civilian drivers each are assigned to the Minister of State for EU Affairs and the Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora. Civilian drivers are contracted to work on a week-on week-off basis, with hours of attendance amounting to on average not less than 41 hours and 15 minutes gross per week. No additional...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (30 Jan 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 Defence: Departmental Contracts (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department has not had any engagement or availed of any services from the company referred to by the Deputy in the past five years to date.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: These properties are no longer in the possession of the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The School’s budget allocation in 2023 for horse acquisitions was initially set at €350,000. Additional funding was secured in 2023 as the Horse Purchase Board identified a number of suitable horses that were available for purchase. Five new horses were bought in 2023 as well as payments made for the continued lease of two horses. The total cost of these payments was...