Results 6,981-7,000 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Diplomatic Representation (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Officials in my Department engage on a regular basis with representatives of Bangladesh, both in Dublin, through the Embassy of Bangladesh, and through the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi, which is accredited to Bangladesh. Under the Government's refreshed Asia Pacific Strategy, Ireland is committed to deepening its footprint in countries across the region, including Bangladesh. A new...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Repatriation Costs (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs provides Consular Assistance within the remit of the Department's Consular Assistance Charter. The Charter sets out in a clear and accessible manner the assistance that the Department can provide to Irish citizens in difficulty overseas, including in cases of serious injury or illness. With regard to air ambulances specifically, this is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foreign Conflicts (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Over 12 years of conflict in Syria has caused severe levels of hardship and suffering for the Syrian people. Hostilities continue in northern Syria, and ongoing military action has resulted in a needless loss of civilian life. I am particularly concerned by the escalation of conflict in recent months, including by Turkish forces. This comes at a time when humanitarian needs are greater than...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Middle East (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: A public health disaster has been unfolding in Gaza in recent months. In addition to mass displacement of 85% of the population of Gaza, the World Health Organisation has confirmed that the healthcare system has largely collapsed as a result of the conflict. As of 30 January, the WHO estimate that just 13 of 36 hospitals in Gaza were partially functioning. As of 31 January, just 4 of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foreign Birth Registration (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR or Naturalisation. Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foreign Birth Registration (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR or Naturalisation. Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Referendum Campaigns (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The only State body under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 to provide for the payment of pensions, allowances and gratuities in certain circumstances to members of the Defence Forces. Any funding provided to the Army Pensions Board will be used solely for the purposes...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will appreciate that given the sensitive nature of the information requested, it would not be appropriate for security and operational reasons to disclose the detail sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Military Authorities advise that the end of year effective strength of the RDF, from 2020 to 2023, is the follows: RDF Effective Strength Establishment 2020 2021 2022 2023 Army Reserve (AR) 3869 1463 1373 1415 1323 Naval Service Reserve (NSR) 200 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: As at 31 December 2023, the latest date for which such figures are available the strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 7,550 personnel i.e. 6,136 Army, 689 Air Corps, and 725 Naval Service. The current agreed establishment of the Defence Forces is 9,589 i.e. 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps, 1094 Naval Service, and 89 additional positions to facilitate the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: As at 31 December 2023, the latest date for which such figures are available, the number of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force was 559. The table below sets out the number of women in each branch, and the number of discharges from the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 31 December 2023. Army ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Under the Defence Acts, 1954-2015, the Department has civil and military elements. The civil element is headed by the Secretary General and the military element by the Chief of Staff. Both elements provide supports to the Minister in the management of defence. The civil element of the Department is led by the Management Board which comprises the Secretary General, five Assistant Secretaries...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (14 Feb 2024)

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 and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: At the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial which was held in Accra, Ghana in December of last year, Ireland pledged financial support of some $469,000 towards three worthwhile UN initiatives in support of UN peacekeeping. This money was owed from the United Nations to Ireland in respect of contributions towards closed peacekeeping missions. The Department of Foreign Affairs redirected...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (13 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am acutely aware of the dire situation faced by civilians in Gaza. For this reason, calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and access for humanitarian supplies is the central focus of my engagement. Ireland has repeatedly called on the Israeli authorities to end the practice of administrative detention completely. We have also repeatedly highlighted the applicability of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (13 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: 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, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (13 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Consulate General in Sydney works closely with the Embassy of Ireland in Canberra to promote and protect Ireland's interests in Australia, to strengthen political and economic relationships, to support the work of the State Agencies, to provide citizen services to the Irish community, and to promote cultural ties and people-to-people connections between Ireland and Australia. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (13 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I formally invited Minister Billström to Dublin when I wrote to him on 13 July 2023 congratulating him on the successful Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Ireland and Sweden share excellent relations, featuring a long history of aligned values, and close and likeminded work at United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) level. At the UN, our cooperation in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (13 Feb 2024)

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 on 29 May 2023. Further documents were subsequently received on 26 July 2023 and were processed in November 2023. However, the application remains incomplete. A member of the FBR team has contacted the applicant in this regard. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (13 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Since the start of this crisis, my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit from Gaza of those Irish citizens, and accompanying dependents, who have expressed a wish to leave. We continue to advocate with the authorities in relation to those Irish citizens and dependents who have not yet been permitted to leave. The authorities have made clear that the...