Results 7,401-7,420 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Then why do you not condemn it?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I want to make the point, if I may, through the Chair-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: This is a very serious issue-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----because the Deputy is accusing the Government of dancing around. We are not dancing around anything. We have a strong record internationally. When we go before courts, they are not debating chambers. They are not places where you can dance around. Because that is the sum total of the substance that you bring to this issue. You dance around all the time. You accuse others of not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----as opposed to dealing with the substance of the issue, namely, how we can help Palestinians in a practical sense. Deputy Howlin's question is valid. The Israelis may very well ignore the provisional findings of the court. That is a concern and that is why, parallel with dealing with the court case - which we will and which we will do properly as we have done in terms of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Enlargement (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 74 together. Ireland is a strong supporter of EU enlargement, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary conditions for membership. The enlargement of the European Union has taken on renewed significance and urgency since Russia's further illegal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and has re-emerged as one of the EU's most important...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: To date, Irish financial institutions have frozen about €1.8 billion of Russian funds and those funds relate to listed individuals and entities. The issue of interest or windfall gains that have accrued as a result of the freezing of the assets is now being considered more immediately in respect of the potential to use even the windfall profits from this for the reconstruction of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am in agreement with the Deputy on this. The destruction of Ukraine has been at shocking levels, and there has to be a financial penalty on Russia in respect of that and there has to be accountability. As I said earlier, otherwise, what is to stop Russia doing that to some other country in the neighbourhood? That is why many of the neighbours of Russia feel an existential threat to their...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 19 together.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have no problem with that. I have been closely monitoring developments in the case taken under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice. The public hearings that took place on 11 and 12 January involved the two parties to the proceedings, South Africa and Israel, and focused on the question of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I concur with what the Deputy said in respect of threats against Jeffrey Donaldson, the leader of the DUP. Those threats are absolutely reprehensible and unacceptable. Whatever one's views, I have been very consistent on the need to restore the Executive and the assembly, in line with Deputy Burke's comments. I have been assured by Jeffrey Donaldson that he also wants the Executive...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: We will take it one step at a time. Clearly, there will be further engagement between the Government and the British Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland in respect of that. If we do not have results after 8 February, it will place the overall situation in considerable difficulty. The Good Friday Agreement provides for engagement and consultation through the initiative...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: On Deputy Burke's point, the economic situation and the public finances dimension to it are both very serious. The fact that so many people participated in the strike action is an illustration of the frustration on the ground in Northern Ireland at the absence of an Executive and an assembly. People want action on health services, public service pay, education and so forth. This really is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 52 together. I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue. Ireland has supported effective implementation of strong sanctions in response to Russia's illegal actions in Ukraine. I have repeatedly emphasised that Russia should be held accountable for the appalling damage caused by the its illegal invasion of Ukraine. In December 2023,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy's assessment. For a number of months frustration has been building up over Hungary's position in respect of Ukraine. Hungary had originally identified some issues with Ukraine relating to the listing of one of its main banks. That was solved, or at least we thought it was resolved, when the agency involved delisted the bank and then there was a demand over its...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not in disagreement with what the Deputy said. In addition, the aid package under the EPF has been held up because of Hungarian objection, which I think is serious in terms of the signal it sends because it strengthens Russia. Hungary has dependencies on Russia. One can draw conclusions from those dependencies. Are those dependencies influencing its position? It will vigorously deny...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not fully au faitwith what is going on there. I think there is a bit of grandstanding. It was clear that Slovakia was going to support Ukraine but maybe in different formats than it did before. That was an interesting contribution to be fair. It is not at this stage obstructionist or stopping anything that is happening.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 86 together. The Northern Ireland Executive was collapsed in February 2022, nearly two years ago. It is now more than 20 months since the ensuing Northern Ireland Assembly elections and the strand one institutions have yet to be stood up. Since assuming my current role, the restoration of the Assembly and the Executive and, with them, the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: In the immediate aftermath of the 7 October Hamas attack on Israel my Department established a cross-departmental task force to assess the impact of the attack on Irish citizens, troops and diplomatic staff in the region. The task force, which continues to meet, is comprised of senior officials from across the Department including ambassadors posted in the Middle East. In co-operation with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: That is my understanding.