Results 5,521-5,540 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 71 together. It is crucial that European resolve and support for Ukraine remains consistent. Russia’s brutal invasion has had appalling consequences for the Ukrainian people but also has wider implications, including for the security of the European continent. This is the context in which Ireland strongly supports putting EU financial...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am committed to working closely with my EU partners, including Germany, to ensure Ukraine gets the support it so urgently needs to continue to defend itself against ongoing Russian attacks. My recent visit to Berlin was an excellent opportunity to discuss bilateral and EU support for Ukraine with our German partners. Germany is one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters in terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I travelled to London on 13 December to meet with the UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, our first since his appointment as Foreign Secretary in November. Our meeting focused on the importance of the relationship between Ireland and Britain. We had a good discussion on matters relating to Northern Ireland, including an exchange regarding the UK's the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is represented by two diplomatic missions in Australia, with an Embassy in Canberra and a Consulate General in Sydney. The Embassy and the Consulate work to promote and protect Irish interests in Australia, to strengthen political and economic relationships, to support the Irish community, and to promote cultural ties and the Irish arts. In addition, an Honorary Consul in Perth...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 22 January, I attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, where the Council’s discussion focused on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. The Council agenda featured detailed exchanges and engagements with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, as well as with the Israeli, Saudi Arabian, Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian Foreign Ministers,...

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

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned by the continuing deterioration of the situation in Myanmar. I wish to reiterate the Government's strong condemnation of the February 2021 coup and the resulting violence. Recent figures suggest that 18.6 million people, over a third of the population, are now dependent on humanitarian assistance for their survival. Nearly 2.6 million people have been displaced and...

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

Micheál Martin: Russia’s continued military aggression against Ukraine continues to have a profoundly adverse impact not only on Ukraine but also on the wider region, including Moldova and Georgia. Ireland welcomed the decision of the European Council on 14 December to open accession negotiations with Moldova, and to grant EU candidate status to Georgia, once the relevant steps set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I visited Mexico on 7-10 January. In a rich exchange with Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena, we discussed: bilateral relations, including our deepening economic relations and the consistent growth of our trade and investment relations over recent years; shared priorities in development/cooperation and peacebuilding in the Latin America region, notably Central America and Colombia; the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Nuclear Safety (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland engages regularly with the UK Government on issues of nuclear safety, including in relation to the Sellafield site. I raised with issue with the UK Foreign Secretary during our meeting in London on 13 December 2023. Ireland attaches the greatest importance to ensuring the highest levels of nuclear safety by all users of nuclear energy, and engages actively in the work of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am in regular contact with political parties in Northern Ireland to discuss matters of mutual interest, not least the urgent need for restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive. The ongoing work and future potential of the Shared Island Initiative is regularly raised in these meetings. The Government’s Shared Island initiative, launched in October 2020, is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department’s Reconciliation Fund was established in 1982 to support civil society organisations in creating a better understanding and relations between people and traditions on the island of Ireland, and between Ireland and Britain. Since its establishment, the Fund has disbursed over €65 million in grant assistance to over 3,000 projects. The Reconciliation Fund supports a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: St. Patrick’s Day offers a unique opportunity to promote Ireland around the world. The Government’s programme of international travel for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day is still being finalised, but is expected to include ministerial visits to a spread of locations in the United States. Ireland enjoys extremely strong relations with the United States. Each year...

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

Micheál Martin: Bosnia-Herzegovina lies in the heart of Europe and its future is within the European Union. In light of this, the EU and Ireland have a clear strategic interest in fostering peace and stability in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The secessionist rhetoric and backsliding on human rights that we are seeing in Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Republika Srpska entity is of great concern. We and our EU...

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland's Embassy in Beijing is responsible for the promotion of Irish trade in China, including supporting access to the Chinese market for Irish exporters across a range of sectors. As regards Ireland's food and beverage exports, the Embassy and the Consulates General in Shanghai and Hong Kong work closely with Bord Bia and with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Since...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports. All turnaround times are at or well-ahead of target and there are no backlogs. The majority of online adult renewal applications issue within two working days. Over 1 million applications were received by the Passport Service in 2023, and over 950,000 passports were issued. Passport Online was rolled out to an additional...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has always been, and will remain, a strong supporter of enlargement of the European Union, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary conditions for membership. EU membership has been transformative for Ireland over the past 50 years, bringing both peace and prosperity to the island, and enhancing our global influence. We believe that all candidate countries deserve the same...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports. All turnaround times are at or well-ahead of target and there are no backlogs. The majority of online adult renewal applications issue within two working days. Over 1 million applications were received by the Passport Service in 2023, and over 950,000 passports were issued. Passport Online was rolled out to an additional...

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

Micheál Martin: Since the start of this crisis my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit from Gaza of those Irish citizens, and accompanying dependents, who have expressed a wish to leave. The Government, through our Embassies in the region, has consistently sought clearance for all Irish citizens who wish to exit Gaza to do so. We continue to advocate with the...

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

Micheál Martin: Since the start of this crisis my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit from Gaza of those Irish citizens, and accompanying dependents, who have expressed a wish to leave. The Government, through our Embassies in the region, has consistently sought clearance for all Irish citizens who wish to exit Gaza to do so. We continue to advocate with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government’s position on the Private Members Bill entitled Illegal Israeli Settlements Divestment Bill 2023, including the coordination of advice from other relevant Departments or Agencies, is a matter for the Minister for Finance. Ireland’s overriding position on Israeli settlements is crystal clear. They are illegal under international law and are damaging to the...