Results 6,281-6,300 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: We will continue to engage with the UN. As the Deputy will be aware, we had Philippe Lazzarini here last week and so, people who are appreciative of the stance Ireland has taken.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have several points to make to the Deputy. In terms of diplomacy, the Deputy scoffed at and scorned it. More than 70 Irish citizens and their dependants have been evacuated from Gaza. The importance of diplomatic relationships or channels cannot be overstated in the context of getting those 70 citizens and their dependants out. Our ambassador in Israel, Sonya McGuinness, has done...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have provided over 1,000 new beds. Since coming to power, the Government has have provided significantly increased allocations to the HSE. An extra €7.7 billion on the 2019 figures has been provided. Just because the HSE or any agency comes in and says it wants X, is it the Deputy's policy that he gives everything that people ask for and he does not ask about value or money or...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: Hear me out a second, please. I am talking about numbers. We have dramatically increased the numbers of people employed. In fact, the HSE could not recruit the numbers of people that were provided for in successive rounds of funding to the health service over the past two to three years. The Deputy is in opposition. I look at his party's alternative budgets. Every now and then, his...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: No, it is an important point because-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----equally, the Deputy must accept-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----that every agency in the country will come in looking for additionality, and so on.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: The idea that the State just responds to every submission it gets is, of course, not a sustainable position.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: The bottom line is this: €7.7 billion has gone in. The mortality rate fell by over 10% over the decade.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: Our life expectancy is now about 82.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: Hold on, please. We are in a small group of only seven EU member states, and the Deputy calls us a laggard. That is because everything with the Deputy has to be negative.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I agree with her wholeheartedly in that it is absolutely imperative and necessary that this war ends, that Israel stop its bombardment of Gaza and that there be an immediate ceasefire. We have appealed to the Israeli Government and to Hamas to facilitate a ceasefire. There have been intensive negotiations now for quite some time. What is happening...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ar dtús báire, ní aontaím leis an Teachta maidir le cúrsaí a bhaineann le hailse sa tír seo mar is léir le blianta beaga anuas – deich mbliana anuas – go bhfuil dul chun cinn ollmhór le feiscint ní hamháin i seirbhísí ailse agus sláinte ach sa mhéid daoine a bhfuil ag teacht slán ón ailse....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 (“The 2008 Act”).Under Section 14(1) of the Act, the consent of a child’s guardian(s) must be given before the Passport Service can issue them a passport. In order to protect the integrity of the Irish passport and the rights of the child and their guardian(s), it is important that the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 97 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (11 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Programme for a Partnership Government of 2016 provided for the award of the 1916 Commemorative medal to all Defence Forces personnel, Permanent and Reserve, who were recorded as being in service in the course of 2016. This was a special acknowledgement from the Government to the members of Óglaigh na hÉireann who served during the centenary year of 2016. The 1916 Centenary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, these are paper applications which were received on 12 February 2024. The turnaround time for paper applications is 8 weeks. These applications are within the current turnaround times and have not yet reached their issue by date. The Passport Online service offers Irish citizens the ability to apply online for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is wholeheartedly supportive of Palestinian efforts to secure full membership of the United Nations. On 2 April 2024, the Permanent Observer of the State of Palestine wrote a letter requesting that the Security Council give renewed consideration to Palestine’s application for UN membership as originally submitted in 2011. Admission to UN membership is a substantive...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (10 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: The ongoing security crisis in Haiti, and its impact on human rights together with the deteriorating humanitarian situation, is extremely concerning. I echo the support expressed by the UN Secretary General for the establishment of a Transitional Council for Haiti, in line with the 11 March agreement brokered by the Caribbean Community. A Haitian-led political process will help address...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (10 Apr 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and Malaysia enjoy positive diplomatic relations, supported by resident Embassies in each other’s countries. The Ambassador of Malaysia to Ireland presented credentials to President Higgins in November 2023. Although I have not met the Ambassador so far in 2024, my officials have excellent ongoing engagement with the Ambassador and his team. As set out in the...