Results 7,081-7,100 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9, 43 and 57 together. I dealt with this issue earlier in reply to a question from Deputy Carthy. However, I will give the reply to this group of questions for the benefit of Deputies. I meet regularly with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, to discuss issues relating to Northern Ireland. Most recently, I met with him...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank all the Deputies for their remarks. I do not agree with Deputy Tóibín's assertions, which are more in the realm of sloganeering, polemic and propaganda than a serious discussion of the issue. We have been very clear as a Government. I support what Deputy Brendan Smith said in that this relates to all actors in Northern Ireland who perpetrated atrocities. Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: I also join in welcoming President Stefanchuk. We met in Strasbourg, I think, last year and in other locations. I salute his commitment and the extraordinary diplomatic work he and his colleagues have been undertaking. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has been everywhere lobbying and advocating for the Ukrainian people against what is a terrible, immoral and illegal war and...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Official Engagements (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: I again pay tribute to our team at the UN, including Ambassador Mythen. I do not often mention particular civil servants, but I refer to John Gilroy, who was there in 2015 at the formulation of the SDGs and during the working up of that document. He was there again this time in regard to the rebooting and re-energising of the SDGs. This reflects respect within the UN system for Ireland and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: My understanding is that the Government is ably represented at the IAEA by the Minister, Deputy Ryan. I am sure he will take the appropriate positions on all the various issues that will be on the agenda.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: We work very closely with Jordan, however, and we share a very common position. I believe the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Safadi, is very exercised by the entire situation. He has worked very hard and diligently, particularly at the Aqaba summit and Sharm el-Sheikh summit, to try to de-escalate the situation of recent times and the escalation of secular violence and so on. Israel has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: As I have stated on several occasions in this House, the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018 would not be compatible with European Union law and would not be implementable. This is the clear legal advice on this matter. The Government will, therefore, not be taking it forward. Ireland’s resolute opposition to illegal Israeli settlements is firmly...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: We have taken action in terms of the differentiation between Israel and illegal settlements in terms of the importation of goods. That is law, and we work to enforce that. On the divestment Bill, as the Deputy knows, there was a timed amendment in relation to that. The Minister for Finance, Deputy McGrath, is dealing with that because it seeks to amend the National Treasury Management...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----is of a long duration, but we have been very clear in respect of action.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: We gave it a nine-month timed amendment.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: I beg your pardon?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy asked me a question so I will respond. It is nine months, so it is within that period. Certainly, we will have to come back to the Oireachtas with clear responses then at that stage.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate where the Deputy is coming from. We are aware that the issue of apartheid has been raised in a number of reports, of which we have taken very careful note, from United Nations rapporteurs and civil society organisations. We support civil society organisations through vital funding despite the fact that some of them are designated as terrorist organisations by the Israeli...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: Language is fairly straightforward.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: I take Deputy Gannon's earlier point that apartheid is more than language. Using phrases such as "call it for what it is" is fairly straightforward to do. We could remove ourselves from the entire engagement and just call it what we think it is. Would it advance the situation? That is the call. We have continually remained engaged and that engagement is important. With regard to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: In my engagements with the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the Minister for Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer and the Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, I underlined that Ireland’s approach is grounded in respect for international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law, and that the fundamentals of our position are based on internationally agreed parameters and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: That is an unfair and incorrect assessment of it. Ireland has called it out. As Minister I have called out the actions in terms of expansions of settlements. We have repeatedly called it out at all international forums. We have submitted a very comprehensive statement to the International Court of Justice regarding the advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the policies...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: What was interesting during the visit was that these were not cosy chats with our Israeli interlocutors, I can assure the Deputy, because the Israeli Government perception of Ireland is that we are one of the most - how do I put it - hostile states with regard to the Israeli position, if they even use that language, and that this State takes a position which is negative. That is how the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (28 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: Again, I say to the Deputy that the Israeli Government is in no doubt about Ireland's position on this. It does not like it and does not waste time in articulating the fact that it does not like our position. This is not just about sending messages and sloganeering. The Israeli Government is well aware of our position. Behind it all, it accepts our genuine interest in a resolution of the...