Results 6,441-6,460 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129, 130 and 134 together. Responsibility for the prevention crime, including human trafficking rests primarily with An Garda Síochána, while overall responsibility for the prevention of drug trafficking rests primarily with the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners. The White Paper on Defence (2015) reaffirms the security role carried...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 136 together. The military authorities advise that as at the end of October 2023, the number of personnel in the Defence Forces stood at 7,595. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Currently the Air Corps have twenty six (26) aircraft in service, comprised of sixteen (16) fixed wing and ten (10) rotary wing aircraft, which enable them to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The main day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. In relation to fisheries protection, the Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: With its approval of the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, the Government committed to a range of actions to address pay and recruitment issues in the Defence Forces. These include a number of projects undertaken to bolster the attractiveness of a career in the Defence Forces, and cover a range of measures which will improve pay and conditions. It is also worth noting in this...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Budget 2024 (21 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Defence Vote group comprises of two Votes, Army Pensions and Defence. For 2024, an additional Existing Level of Service (ELS) requirement of €86 million was identified on the Defence Vote group, comprising of €70 million on the Defence Vote, including an additional €57 million for capital, and €16 million on the Army Pensions Vote. Spending on the Army...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have addressed the wider issues relating to Ireland’s approach to the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory on frequent occasions over recent weeks so I will focus my response on issues relating to diplomatic clearance for military aircraft, and the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft. Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Inquiries (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department has no tribunals, public investigation or commissions of investigations currently underway.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Our Common Agenda (OCA) is the UN Secretary-General's vision for the future of global cooperation. It calls for inclusive, networked and effective multilateralism, and for turbocharging action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to better respond to and deliver for people and planet. It outlines possible solutions to address the gaps and risks that have emerged since 2015, calling...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is deeply concerned at Russia’s failure to extend the Black Sea Grain Initiative. This initiative was vital in delivering life-saving food products from Ukraine to countries most impacted by food insecurity. We support efforts of Turkey and the UN Secretary General to restore the deal and put on a sustainable footing. Ukraine has since made some progress in pushing back the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: This year marked the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a transformative moment for the people of this island, the islands of Ireland and Great Britain, and the people of Northern Ireland in particular. The Agreement set a new, democratic framework for relationships between and within these islands. The principles of the Good Friday Agreement underpins the work to restore...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 55 together. It is deeply disappointing that 18 months on from the last Assembly elections, Northern Ireland's political institutions remain blocked, and as a result the North-South Ministerial Council is also prevented from fulfilling the responsibilities mandated to it by the Good Friday Agreement. In my engagements, I have underlined the importance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 81 together. I have addressed the wider issues relating to Ireland’s approach to the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory on frequent occasions over recent weeks so I will focus my response on issues relating to diplomatic clearance for military aircraft. Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: On 27 October, the President of the General Assembly reconvened the tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly, following a request by Jordan and Mauritania in their respective capacities as Chair of the Arab Group and Chair of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation. This emergency special session was first convened in 1997 in accordance with Resolution 377(V) of 3 November...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Respect for international law, including international human rights law and international humanitarian law, is the bedrock of international peace and security. This will continue to be the guiding principle for Ireland’s approach to foreign policy in general, and in the context of Ireland’s response to the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Respect...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The British Government's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act received Royal Assent on 18 September. I am seriously concerned about the Act's impact on the fundamental work of reconciliation in Northern Ireland, and about its compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights. The incorporation of the Convention into Northern Ireland law was an explicit...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have engaged at a bilateral level with several partners in the region. I have spoken with my Iranian counterpart and urged him in the strongest terms to bring his influence to bear in avoiding regional escalation and in insisting on the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. I have also spoken with the Defence Minister of Lebanon, Maurice Sleem. I underlined our concern about the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Addressing the current situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory is a central priority for the Government. Finding a path to an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza; to the immediate release without preconditions of all hostages; and avoiding any further or wider escalation in the region have been the central focus of engagements I have undertaken in recent weeks in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports and has issued over 880,000 passports to date in 2023. Between 2,000 and 3,000 passports are being issued every day. All turnaround times are at or ahead of target and there are no backlogs. More than half of simple adult renewals issue within two working days or less. Direct costs and revenue for the Passport Service for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to supporting the Government's external economic objectives and the promotion of Ireland's trade and investment objectives, including through the work of the State’s network of embassies and consulates abroad. The Department's approach is firmly guided by the Government's Trade and Investment Strategy 2022-2026: Value for Ireland, Values...