Results 6,761-6,780 of 50,064 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together. I spoke with the Ambassador of Israel and conveyed my sympathies on behalf of the Government and people of Ireland for the horrific attack by Hamas. On 8 October, I wrote to Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen to express our deep condolences. I visited Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory and Jordan just one month ago. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have advised that, as of 12 October 2023, the following number of women were in General Service Recruit or Cadet training. - Army Air Corp Naval Service General Service Recruit 11* 0 3 Cadets 15 3 1 Includes one DFSM InstrumentalistThe Cadet...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Oct 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 to the greatest extent possible to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The Equipment Development Plan (EDP) published in June 2020, completed through extensive joint civil-military work, provides a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Data Protection (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: The majority of data breach incidents that have occurred in my Department since 2018 have related to mis-addressed correspondence by email and post. In most instances, data breaches have involved no risk or a low risk to the data subject. In cases where there was a low risk to the rights and freedoms of a data subject, the Data Protection Commission was notified. A singular case arising in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Senator Ardagh raised several issues. There must, ultimately, be a political solution to the whole Middle Eastern situation. Notwithstanding the difficulty and viability issues, we believe the two-state solution is the only one that can really give some degree or horizon of security, harmony, peace and co-existence because the territories we are talking about here are very small. No matter...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Stanton spoke first there, agreeing with the need for a humanitarian pause. The term "humanitarian pause" is a standard term in conflict and has meaning within the international framework governing conflict and so forth to allow aid in the first instance. The conversation with the Iranian foreign minister took about 50 minutes. There was no resiling from Iran's position in terms...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Again, there are international definitions as to what constitutes ethnic cleansing but I do not believe there is a premeditated attempt to eliminate the Palestinian population. I think there is a different issue in terms of proportionality and bombing urban conurbations. What happens when you do that is that innocent people get killed and I do not agree with that. I think we need to be...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Again, I thank the committee for inviting me to address it today in my role as Minister for Defence. This is a welcome opportunity to discuss the ongoing transformation process and positive measures which have been implemented in the Defence Forces. Before I do so, may I take a moment to acknowledge the bravery and dedication of our Defence Forces. An essential element of their work is the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: This brings me to the core point I was going to make. I will be meeting RACO and I will be making this point. What struck me most and worried me most in RACO's presentation to the committee was the concern articulated about my position of me saying that I prioritise cultural change above all else. RACO articulated an unhappiness with that. There has been some resistance to the idea that...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: There was mediation and there was conciliation. On the working time directive, we have put a significant amount of effort into this in recent months. There is a lot of engagement. It is a priority of mine. We will eventually make a call on this in terms of settling. The Senator referred to the issue of time, and clocking in and clocking out. The military will say it has its systems....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council and Departmental Matters: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: When I received the recommendation that the military and the Army Ranger Wing should board the vessel, I did so on the basis of the best military advice. The Chief of Staff recommended it and I trust him in his assessment and the team that was with him. This is the context here. They knew what they were dealing with. There are certain situations where it would be preferable to have more...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (12 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service requested further supporting documents from the applicant. A member of the FBR team has contacted the applicant in this regard. The application cannot proceed until the required supporting documents have been received by the Passport Service.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (12 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, further supporting documents for the application were received following a request by the Passport Service. These documents are currently being processed, and a member of the FBR team will be in contact with the applicant in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (12 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: In accordance with international law, Ireland distinguishes between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967 and ensures that any bilateral agreements with Israel do not apply to the occupied territories. A whole of Government approach is applied to this policy of differentiation and my Department ensures that this is the case by making available...

Financial Resolutions 2023 - Financial Resolution No. 4: General (Resumed) (11 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: The budget is a fair, progressive and ambitious response to the needs of Ireland today and in respect of the challenges it will face in the years ahead. It marks a decisive moment when Ireland signals its intention to build and protect public services well into the future. It is a signal to those who invest in Ireland that we are serious about delivering our radical investment plans. It...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued a passport to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service requested further documents for the application. The application cannot proceed until the required supporting documents have been received.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Court of Justice (11 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: There have not been any judgements made against Ireland in the Court of Justice of the European Union in each of the past five years in respect of matters that are the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs or the Department of the Taoiseach.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Security Clearance (11 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department is currently collating information relating to Personal Security Clearance Certificates and will provide this information to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 49 together. The applicant has made separate applications for entry into the Foreign Births Register and a passport. In both cases the relevant fees have been paid. At present, the applicant is not an Irish citizen and thus has no entitlement to a passport. On this basis, the submitted passport application will be cancelled and arrangements will be...