Results 6,461-6,480 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland is committed to achieving a just and lasting peace for Israelis and Palestinians, based on a two-State solution, in line with international law. I have repeatedly made the point in both my bilateral and multilateral meetings that it is necessary to reinvigorate a peace process and continue to engage at the European Union and United Nations on initiatives centred on the achievement of...

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

Micheál Martin: The Western Balkans lies in the heart of Europe. Its future is within the European Union. In light of this, Ireland has a clear strategic interest in fostering good relations between the communities in the Western Balkans, and between the region and the EU. We do this in numerous ways. First, by facilitating intra-regional dialogue, such as the EU-chaired Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue....

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland actively speaks out against all forms of violence and discrimination against women and girls across the globe and is committed to integrating gender equality across all of our humanitarian and development interventions, and in our wider foreign policy. The UN Secretary General’s Report on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) draws attention to the increasing number of women and...

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. The Passport Online service offers Irish citizens the...

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

Micheál Martin: Russia’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally altered the security situation in Europe. It has also demonstrated the need for Ireland and our European Union partners to work closely together to deal with the serious security challenges that we face. In this context, work is continuing at EU level to further strengthen the EU’s Common Security and...

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland is a strong supporter of EU enlargement, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary conditions for membership. We recognise the value of enlargement as a transformative driver for stability and peace in candidate countries. On 08 November 2023, the European Commission published its annual package of enlargement reports, which assess the progress made by candidate...

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

Micheál Martin: I have been clear from the start that any response by Israel to the brutal attacks of 7 October must comply fully with International Humanitarian Law. This means that the response must comply with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution. I issued statements on 9, 15, 18 of October and 1 November, expressing my deep concern at the situation in Gaza and underlining the...

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

Micheál Martin: I have had regular engagements with my EU counterparts since the beginning of the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Immediately following attack by Hamas, I attended an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council on 10 October, alongside my EU counterparts and the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, to discuss the ongoing violence on the ground in Israel and the...

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

Micheál Martin: My Department has regular contact with the Israeli Embassy in Dublin on a range of issues. The Department raises issues of concern directly with the Embassy where appropriate. In relation to the comments made by an Israeli Embassy official on social media, I understand that they were deleted and a clarification was issued by the Embassy noting that the comments did not represent the position...

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. How the Act will impact on the fundamental work of reconciliation in Northern Ireland, and its compatibility with the European Convention on Human Rights, are of serious concern. The incorporation of the Convention into Northern Ireland law was an explicit requirement of...

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

Micheál Martin: My Department is aware of the case of an Irish citizen believed to be held hostage in Gaza and is providing extensive consular assistance to the citizen's family. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, it is not possible for me to comment further at this time as it would not be helpful to do so. I reiterate my call for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages currently being...

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland is open to looking at ways to improve the implementation of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). We believe it is important that we continue to explore ways to make the EU run as effectively as possible, delivering benefits for all its citizens. Article 31 (3) of the Treaty on European Union (commonly referred to as the passarelle clause) states that the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (16 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The expenditure of €6,073,768 set out in the reply to PQ Ref 48042/12 dated 7 November was incurred in respect of six separate contracts. One contract for travel services related to UNIFIL in Lebanon was below national thresholds.One contract for ground handling charges at Ben Gurion Airport was below national thresholds.One competition to procure Ground Surveillance Radar equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 16 and 18 together. Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: While Irish Aid has not directly funded human rights or rule of law NGOs in Georgia in the past 12 months, Ireland, through our membership of the European Union, and particularly the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe (NDICI – Global Europe) programme, continues to support human rights and the rule of law in Georgia. For...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have had regular engagements with my EU counterparts since the beginning of the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Immediately following attack by Hamas, I attended an extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council on 10 October, alongside my EU counterparts and the EU High Representative, Josep Borrell, to discuss the ongoing violence on the ground in Israel and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: In recent weeks I have spoken with a number of Foreign Ministers of member countries of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the League of Arab States, to discuss the ongoing crisis in Gaza. These have included the Palestinian Foreign Minister, as well as the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, Turkiye and Qatar. Later this week I intend to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Under the Global Ireland Strategy’s commitment to double Ireland’s global footprint and impact by 2025, work has been stepped up in recent years to enhance Ireland's engagement with the thirty-three countries across Latin America, Central America and the Caribbean. The ambitious regional 'Global Ireland Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean to 2025' outlines the strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Nagorno-Karabakh and the wider region remains a matter of deep concern to my EU counterparts and I, particularly in light of the fallout from the military action initiated by Azerbaijan in the region on 19 September. Ireland’s focus remains on ensuring the welfare and protection of any civilians who remain in Nagorno-Karabakh, and of those who have fled to Armenia. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (15 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Since the launch of Russia's illegal invasion in February 2022, EU Member States have consistently demonstrated their steadfast support for Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial integrity. I am not aware of any evidence to suggest that EU officials have attempted to pressure Ukraine into premature negotiations or to exchange sovereign Ukrainian territory in exchange for peace. Indeed,...