Results 41-60 of 47,563 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. In order to meet this requirement, each passport applicant...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is the National Competent Authority with responsibility for Export Controls, including Controls on defence-related exports and exports of Dual-Use goods. All applications for exports of controlled goods are assessed on a case-by-case basis giving due consideration to the eight criteria under the Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP defining...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs publishes consular assistance statistics on an annual basis. The statistics include the total number of consular cases reported each year to the Department of Foreign Affairs, including Irish Embassies and Consulates. The statistics also provide the total number of cases reported across a number of different categories of cases, including, for example,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of reports that Irish-trained Libyan militia were found operating in South Africa. These reports are deeply concerning and cause reputational damage to Ireland and our Defence Forces. An arms embargo has been in place in Libya since 2011, which includes a prohibition on the provision of technical assistance, training, financial or other assistance, related to military activities or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned by the situation facing Palestinian prisoners, including in light of the issues raised by the UN Human Rights Office in its report of 31 July on detention in the context of the escalation of hostilities in Gaza. My officials are continuing to closely follow issues of arbitrary and administrative detention and conditions in detention. These issues are also being discussed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64 and 65 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned by the large-scale military operations conducted by Israel in the West Bank involving the use of air strikes and resulting in casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. I fully support the call of the UN Secretary General for an immediate cessation of these operations. Regarding the wider situation in the West Bank, Ireland welcomed the Advisory Opinion delivered...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland’s position on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is clear - they are illegal under international law. This is also the position of the European Union. The Advisory Opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice in The Hague on 19 July largely confirms the Government’s legal analysis - outlined in Ireland’s written and oral...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: To date, the EU has agreed two rounds of sanctions against violent Israeli settlers, targeting nine individuals and five entities. Ireland has supported both of these packages. The EU High Representative/Vice President, Josep Borrell, recently brought forward proposals for additional listings under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. These are currently being discussed at working...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: The situation in the West Bank is one of longstanding concern, which has been intensified by the current crisis. The rise in extremist settler violence committed against Palestinians is utterly unacceptable and I have strongly supported proposals for EU sanctions targeting violent or extreme Israeli settlers. Ireland’s clear and consistent view remains that Israeli settlements in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I was pleased to have my first call with the new UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on 5 July, shortly after he was appointed to the role. We met in-person previously on two occasions during his time as Shadow Foreign Secretary. Foreign Secretary Lammy and I are in agreement that we have a significant opportunity now for a reset of our bilateral relationship. The British Irish relationship is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: More than two years on from Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine continues to face immense challenges. Ireland is engaged in discussions at EU level around short-term recovery efforts and preparations for a successful longer-term reconstruction effort. We also recognise the important role of the private sector and civil society in these processes, and support a gender-responsive and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ukraine War (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland remains steadfast in our support for efforts to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity. This includes the provision of non-lethal military support via the European Peace Facility and the training of Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel through EUMAM Ukraine. Given the enormous needs on the ground in the area of demining and the expertise of the Irish Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Responsibilities (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: Jennifer Carroll MacNeill T.D. is the Minister of State in the Department of Defence. She is also Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs. She was appointed by the Taoiseach to these separate roles on 9thApril 2024. The role of the Minister for EU Affairs does not come under the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Programme for Government (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Programme for Government (PfG) contains an ambitious range of commitments concerning the Defence sector, a number of which have been completed since 2020, and work continues on those that are on-going. The following provides an update on each commitment which my Department are either the lead for, or have a contributory role. Commission on the Defence Forces One of the key commitments was...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together. As the Deputy will be aware, both the LÉ Aoibhinn and LÉ Gobnait were commissioned into State Service on Wednesday 04 September 2024. Naval Service personnel have concentrated all necessary resources on bringing the L.É. Aoibhinn into operational service over the past six months. This has included learning from the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: The establishment versus the strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) as of 31 July 2024: - AR NSR Total Establishment 3869 200 4069 Strength 1431 101 1532 The number which applied and the numbers inducted in the years 2019 to 31 Jul 2024: Year AR Applications NSR Applications Total AR Inductions NSR Inductions Total 01...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: Within the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), the term 'discharges' encompasses personnel who left for a variety of reasons including on age grounds, at end of contract, voluntary discharges and also includes a number of trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training. A high percentage of those who leave the PDF do so with some form of pension. Turnover levels in the PDF are...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Sep 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am informed by the military authorities that the current number of vacancies for each of the requested positions are as follows: Position Vacancies Timeline for Completion/ Remarks Dental Officer (Dentist) Three The filling of Dental Officer vacancies, and all Dental Professionals are progressing in line with the recommendations of the review of Dental Services. Medical...