Results 6,661-6,680 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Hear me out.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is not.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy does. He has.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: With the greatest of respect to the Deputies, they have played politics with this. They did not quote my full statement to the House on the motion in question, when I made it very clear that we would await South Africa's filing a substantive case and that our legal people would, in the meantime, examine any particular grounds we could explore in respect of any legal intervention we might...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have been very clear. This is a legal intervention and needs to be done properly and with credibility as we have done all along. Ireland has been one of the few countries within the European Union that is utilising the international courts properly, effectively with due analysis, looking at these things rigorously. Six weeks ago, in the debate on that motion, I said that we would...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I pay tribute to the Deputy, who was probably the first Member of this House to raise the question of Alexei Navalny during Oral Questions in a long time. Unfortunately, Mr. Navalny's death was announced subsequently. Ireland is deeply concerned at the ongoing shocking erosion of human rights in Russia, and the persecution of individuals for exercising their personal freedoms, including...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 12 together. I have been closely monitoring developments in the case taken under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide, the genocide convention, by South Africa against Israel at the ICJ. I welcomed the court's January order in this case, particularly the direction that Israel take immediate and effective measures to enable...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I regret how this debate is being conducted because it is more about playing politics. It is important that we be upfront with the public. The Attorney General's presentation last week demonstrates that we are doing the right thing from a Government perspective. Our action involved a robust legal submission to the ICJ on the question of the UN seeking an advisory opinion. This was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Just as in the case of Ukraine v. Russia, it makes sense that South Africa would submit the substantive case, which is called a memorial. It normally takes four to five months for such a memorial to be lodged. It makes absolute sense in this context for us to work with South Africa. Our legal advisors are very clear on this point, and in saying that we may identify our own grounds in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: But why-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: International Relations (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have already given some details. In particular, we focused on the humanitarian situation, the responsibility of Israel and the 100 people who were killed seeking food and aid. There is no doubt that if there was gunfire, people were shot. We want an investigation into that. We asked Israel to stop undermining UNRWA and to understand that UNRWA is the backbone of humanitarian aid,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 5 March, the Government approved the opening of five new missions. This is the latest step in the expansion of the State’s diplomatic and consular network. The new missions are embassies in Belgrade, Sarajevo and Chisinau and consulates general in Malága and Melbourne. This expansion is being undertaken within the context of the Global Ireland programme, which aims to see...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: This is up to date.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Resources have been allocated in this year's Estimates so we will do it as quickly as possible in terms of securing a premises and the allocation of personnel. It will take a normal timeframe. These are missions where we can establish a presence relatively quickly. I have been to Australia on a number of occasions. Melbourne will become the largest city in Australia before too long. It...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have having a great impact with the diplomats we have and value for money is very important. It is not about the numbers but about the quality. We have a very high-quality diplomatic workforce. I am glad the Deputy is coming to that view. I said that our Presidency of the EU is key to the timeline. The new missions will open in 2025 or 2026. The embassies in Belgrade, Sarajevo and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Union (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: There have been different views across the European Union for a considerable length of time on the Middle East and particularly on the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Because of history going back to the Second World War, the Holocaust and so on, people, particularly in Germany but also elsewhere, look at the conflict through a different lens from others in Europe, including...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Union (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: It is not long since the Deputy and his party were making admirable comments about President Ursula von der Leyen in this very Chamber.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Union (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not into the demonisation of individuals. I would say, on the credit side, that President von der Leyen was impactful in respect of the Covid-19 pandemic, which was very well handled by the European Commission and nobody can deny that. When I was Minister for Health in the early 2000s, Europe was at nowhere near that level of cohesion, as Deputy Howlin would agree, in terms of getting...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Union (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Are you changing? I heard you might be changing.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: European Union (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: You are in a fairly dodgy group.