Results 6,821-6,840 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. Section 14(1) of The Act provides that, before issuing a passport to a child, the Minister must be satisfied on reasonable grounds that each of the child’s guardians consents to the issuing of that passport. The term ‘child’ is defined at Section 2 of the Passports Act 2008...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs have been in contact with the solicitor of the citizen in question and remain available for further engagement. The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Consular Assistance Charter (www.dfa.ie/travel/assistance-abroad/consular-assistance-cha rter/) sets out the assistance my Department can provide to Irish citizens in difficulty overseas....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Security (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Hamas is listed by the European Union as a terrorist organisation, unanimously agreed by all Member States. I again unreservedly condemn the recent attack by Hamas on Israel. The deliberate and systematic targeting of civilians can never be justified. The taking of hostages, including young children and the elderly is unconscionable and I call for them to be released immediately.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: Since the opening of Ireland's Consulate General in Manchester 2021, the Consul and Vice Consul have worked actively to promote and advance the diverse and deep rooted connections between Ireland and the North of England. This includes engaging directly with a range of stakeholders and local representatives, including elected representatives as appropriate. The Lord Mayor of Newcastle is an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 93 together. The peak busy season for passports in 2023, has now passed and demand forecasts indicate that the Passport Service will issue around 1 million passports this year.The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports and has issued over 830,000 passports to date in 2023. Between 2,000 and 3,500 passports are being issued...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Correspondence (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: A response has now been issued to the correspondence under reference.

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland is making every effort to promote the safety of civilians in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, in our discussions with including at EU level. At the extraordinary Foreign Affairs Council on 10 October, I, alongside my EU counterparts, discussed the crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. I underlined the importance of principled and collective action...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround times and has not yet reached its issue by date. I encourage the Deputy to advise his constituents of the advantages of using the substantially more efficient online service, which is now used by more than 90% of applicants worldwide.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Data Protection (17 Oct 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department necessarily collects, processes, and stores significant volumes of personal data from our citizens, staff, and service providers. In particular, the effective delivery of passport and consular services for Irish citizens at home and abroad is a central component of the Department's work and necessitates the processing of personal data. My Department endeavours at all times...

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

Micheál Martin: In September, both Foreign Minister Prince Faisal and I attended an event en marge of the UN General Assembly in New York, though we did not have the opportunity for a substantive bilateral exchange. I hope to have such a meeting in advance of or at COP 28 in Dubai in December. Our Embassy in Riyadh is active in representing our views to the Saudi Government, maintaining contact with the...

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....