Results 5,481-5,500 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have no problem with that. I have been closely monitoring developments in the case taken under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice. The public hearings that took place on 11 and 12 January involved the two parties to the proceedings, South Africa and Israel, and focused on the question of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I concur with what the Deputy said in respect of threats against Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of the DUP. Those threats are absolutely reprehensible and unacceptable. Whatever one's views, I have been very consistent on the need to restore the Executive and the assembly, in line with Deputy Burke's comments. I have been assured by Jeffrey Donaldson that he also wants the Executive...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: We will take it one step at a time. Clearly, there will be further engagement between the Government and the British Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland in respect of that. If we do not have results after 8 February, it will place the overall situation in considerable difficulty. The Good Friday Agreement provides for engagement and consultation through the initiative...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: On Deputy Burke's point, the economic situation and the public finances dimension to it are both very serious. The fact that so many people participated in the strike action is an illustration of the frustration on the ground in Northern Ireland at the absence of an Executive and an assembly. People want action on health services, public service pay, education and so forth. This really is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 52 together. I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. Ireland has supported effective implementation of strong sanctions in response to Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine. I have repeatedly emphasised that Russia should be held accountable for the appalling damage caused by the its illegal invasion of Ukraine. In December 2023,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy's assessment. For a number of months frustration has been building up over Hungary's position in respect of Ukraine. Hungary had originally identified some issues with Ukraine relating to the listing of one of its main banks. That was solved, or at least we thought it was resolved, when the agency involved delisted the bank and then there was a demand over its...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not in disagreement with what the Deputy said. In addition, the aid package under the EPF has been held up because of Hungarian objection, which I think is serious in terms of the signal it sends because it strengthens Russia. Hungary has dependencies on Russia. One can draw conclusions from those dependencies. Are those dependencies influencing its position? It will vigorously deny...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not fully au faitwith what is going on there. I think there is a bit of grandstanding. It was clear that Slovakia was going to support Ukraine but maybe in different formats than it did before. That was an interesting contribution to be fair. It is not at this stage obstructionist or stopping anything that is happening.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 86 together. The Northern Ireland Executive was collapsed in February 2022, nearly two years ago. It is now more than 20 months since the ensuing Northern Ireland Assembly elections and the strand one institutions have yet to be stood up. Since assuming my current role, the restoration of the Assembly and the Executive and, with them, the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: In the immediate aftermath of the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel my Department established a cross-departmental task force to assess the impact of the attack on Irish citizens, troops and diplomatic staff in the region. The task force, which continues to meet, is comprised of senior officials from across the Department including ambassadors posted in the Middle East. In co-operation with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: That is my understanding.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I absolutely agree with the Deputy, in the sense that Ireland is heavily engaged on the ground, both through our troops in Lebanon and our representative office in Ramallah. We have an embassy in Tel Aviv. We have embassies in Egypt and Jordan. We have people on the ground who engage. There are two ways to approach this. You can go off and be isolationist and attack everybody. That is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: For many years, the issue of sanctions has been at EU level because of the collective weight of the EU in any given situation. We obviously weigh up the impact of sanctions to make sure they can be effective in changing policy, or in articulating our opposition to bad acts such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine. What is positive is that now under active discussion is the idea of sanctions...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Overall assistance to Ukraine pledged by the European Union and its member states to date amounts to approximately €85 billion, including financial, humanitarian, emergency, budgetary and military support. Discussions are ongoing at European Union level on a Commission proposal for a €50 billion Ukraine facility to cover the period 2024 to 2027. If agreed, this package will...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am extremely concerned by the horrific violence that we have witnessed in the West Bank, which has drastically increased since 7 October 2023. The UN has reported that approximately 358 Palestinian people have been killed in the West Bank since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza, including eight people killed in attacks by violent settlers. This marks the highest number of Palestinians...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I certainly can. As I said in my reply, what is happening in the West Bank is unacceptable. I was there in September. The Palestinian Authority has made it very clear that it is pursuing a non-violent path towards a Palestinian state yet Israel continues to undermine the Palestinian Authority. The Israeli Government strategy is impossible to comprehend. There is no justification for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Whatever the merits of the Control of Economic Activities (Occupied Territories) Bill, it will not affect the situation on the ground. There is no point in-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have to work more immediately in terms of pressure on Israel and pressurise it in more immediate ways internationally to get it to stop doing what it is doing. That is where our focus is. There has to be an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. We are part of the West Bank Protection Consortium, which has sought compensation close to €1.3 million in respect of confiscated or demolished...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: They are not responding to these issues.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I want to begin by underlining my grave concern at the dire situation in Gaza. I am urgently calling for an immediate and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire; the unconditional release of all hostages; and full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for the benefit of those in desperate need. The protection of civilians must be paramount and there must be accountability for civilian deaths....