Results 6,721-6,740 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is open to considering the option of airdrops of humanitarian assistance, and this is among several issues that have been raised in recent contacts at political and official level between Ireland and Jordan. However, such initiatives must not distract from the urgent need to dramatically scale up the level of humanitarian assistance entering Gaza by land. The International Court...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports with turnaround times at or well-ahead of target, and no backlogs. So far in 2024, the Passport Service has issued over 200,000 passports. Passport Online is by far the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to apply for a passport. The Passport Online service offers Irish citizens the ability to apply online for their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have been engaging intensively with EU, regional and international partners since the beginning of this crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. I have conveyed the urgent need for a sustainable humanitarian ceasefire and full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access into Gaza, as well as the immediate and unconditional release of hostages. Ireland’s diplomatic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 66 together. Ireland was shocked to hear of the sudden and unexpected death of prominent Russian opposition politician and anti-corruption activist, Alexei Navalny, while he was being held under a “special regime” in a prison in Yamal, north of the Arctic Circle, following his transfer there in December 2023. Along with our EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I was pleased last month to join Government colleagues in announcing further Shared Island Initiative commitments to support projects which will have a major impact across the island. Including the supports announced in February, approximately €500m has been allocated to date under the Shared Island Initiative enabling over 20 major programmes and funding streams. Separately, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2026. During the Presidency, Ireland will be responsible for driving the EU policy agenda and advancing work on EU legislative and policy initiatives. Irish Ministers and officials will chair many EU meetings and will represent the Council in its relations with other EU institutions. Delivering a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: As outlined in response to Parliamentary Question No. 30 of 25 Janruary 2024, the Programme for Government states that the Government will “honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or in advance of that, when we believe doing so will progress efforts to reach a two-State solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: In line with EU Regulations, Irish financial institutions have frozen over €1.9 billion of Russian funds. These funds relate to asset freeze measures for listed individuals and entities. As with all EU sanctions regimes, the measures introduced in response to Russia’s illegal aggression in Ukraine provide for the freezing of the assets for the duration of the sanctions regime...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Western Sahara has not been a subject for discussion at the European Union Foreign Affairs Council in recent months. I remain open to working with EU partners where appropriate to support the United Nations-led peace process. Ireland’s longstanding position on Western Sahara is one of full support for the UN-led process and the Secretary General’s efforts to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (7 Mar 2024)

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 Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has repeatedly expressed serious concern on the matter of the designation of six Palestinian NGOs as terrorist organisations by Israel in October 2021, including in bilateral contacts with Israel. The Foreign Ministries of Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden and The Netherlands issued a joint statement in support of the civil society organisations in July...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has led to the unprecedented mobilisation of the European Peace Facility (EPF) to provide military assistance to Ukraine to defend itself in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter. To date under the EPF, EU Member States have agreed approximately €5.6 billion (in current prices) to support Ukraine. This includes approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government has consistently made clear its many and deep concerns about the human rights situation in Iran, and about Iran’s support of various armed groups in the region, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Palestine and AnsarAllah (the Houthis) in Yemen and various militias in Iraq and Syria. The Government has also made clear its concerns about the supply by Iran of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I regularly engage with leaders at the EU, UN and in our bilateral relationships, to ensure a sustained focus on addressing the root causes of conflict and deescalating tensions to avoid the outbreak of conflict. Tackling the root causes of conflict – such as poor governance and inequitable development – is key in order to prevent violence from occurring or escalating and to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The restoration of Northern Ireland’s Assembly and Executive, which by extension permits the full functioning of the North South Ministerial Council, is very welcome. Our collective focus now must be to ensure that the restoration is sustainable and stable. The people of Northern Ireland deserve and are entitled to functioning institutions. As a guarantor of the Good Friday...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Media Pluralism (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have seen throughout this conflict the vital role played by media, both domestic and international, in ensuring public scrutiny of actions taken by combatants. It is vital in my view that journalists are permitted sufficient access to allow for effective reporting. Ireland is strongly committed to the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression. As well as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I was appalled at Mr. Navalny’s death, which further underpins the lack of respect for the rule of law and the protection of human rights in Russia. There must be a full and transparent international investigation into the circumstances of his death. My EU counterparts and I met with Yulia Navalnaya at the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 February, when we discussed the circumstances...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Bodies (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 22 February, the Attorney General appeared before the International Court of Justice in the advisory opinion case on Legal Consequences arising from the Policies and Practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, to make an oral statement on behalf of Ireland to the Court. This built on the written statement that Ireland submitted to the Court last...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Implementation Bodies (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The restoration of the Assembly and Executive is a positive opportunity for a new beginning for politics in Northern Ireland and to address the challenges that the people of Northern Ireland face in their daily lives. I have been clear that the return of Northern Ireland's political institutions, and by extension, the return to full operation of the North South Ministerial Council, was a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Future of Europe continues to be a priority issue within the European Union. The Conference on the Future of Europe was an initiative aimed at promoting greater citizen involvement in the EU via a wide-ranging series of Plenaries and citizen panel events held throughout the 27 Member States during 2021 and 2022. The final Conference report, outlining 49 proposals, was adopted on 9 May...