Results 7,441-7,460 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (21 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's commitment and support for the primary role of the United Nations, in the maintenance of international peace and security, is expressed in Ireland's long-standing tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations and is the only country with an unbroken record of service in UN peacekeeping missions since 1958. Under the UN Charter, the UN Security Council has primary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (21 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Consultative Forum on International Security Policy will discuss a range of issues relating to the global and European security environment and how Ireland's foreign, security and defence policy is responding. In this context, the Forum will also examine the particular challenges facing multilateralism and the United Nations, particularly in the aftermath of Russia’s illegal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (21 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The appalling atrocities, human rights abuses, and conflict in Kosovo, and the Western Balkans more widely in the 1990s, represented a dark era in the history of Europe, and its security. Throughout that period, under successive Governments, Ireland consistently engaged in multilateral efforts to bring that conflict and the others in the region to an end, at the earliest possible...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (21 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Records on the use of vetoes at the United Nations Security Council, including in relation to the specific resolutions in respect of which each of the permanent five members of the Council have used their veto, are available at the United Nations Dag Hammarskjold Library, which is publicly accessible online. In total, Russia/USSR has used its veto 123 times, the US 82 times, the UK 29...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (21 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The objective of the upcoming Consultative Forum on International Security Policy is to build a deeper understanding of the international security environment and the policy options available to the State. The Forum has been designed to reach a broad audience with the aim of creating a national conversation that is informed and evidence-based. The Forum will also hear from experts and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting the current high demand for passports, and has issued over 545,000 passports to date in 2023. All turnaround times are at their target level, and the Customer Service Hub is responding to an average of 15,000 queries per week. Over half of all simple adult online renewals are processed within 2 working days. Passport Online is by far the quickest,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Sanctions (21 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The EU condemns Belarus' involvement in Russia's unprovoked and unjustified full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. In response to the invasion, since late February, the EU has adopted a wide range of sanctions targeting both Russia and Belarus. The measures targeting Belarus build on restrictive measures first introduced by the EU following the presidential elections in Belarus in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Jun 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 (21 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific Foreign Birth Registration applications about which the Deputy has enquired, these applications have been approved. Certificates will issue to the applicants shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: United Nations (21 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and UN Peacekeeping. Our commitment and support for the primary role of the United Nations, in the maintenance of international peace and security, is expressed in Ireland's long-standing tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations. This commitment is also expressed in our engagement in the EU's Common Security...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Maritime Jurisdiction (21 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 53 together. I am advised that the Defence Forces do not retain comprehensive records of foreign military ships passing through the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) - as I stated in my response to Parliamentary Question No. 240 of 13 June 2023, foreign military ships operating in the Irish EEZ are operating on the high seas and exercise freedom...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (21 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Property Management Branch of my Department has not been advised of any current operation requirements for the extension of runways at Casement Aerodrome as referenced by the Deputy and as such the Defence Forces Built Infrastructure Plan does not provide for such works. It is assumed the Deputy is referring to the disposal of lands at the Aerodrome, I am advised that no such...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (21 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: As of 1 June, Ireland was participating in four EU CSDP missions, with twenty-one members of the Defence Forces deployed as followsEUTM Mali – eight (8)Operation Althea in Boznia and Herzegovina – five (5) - with a further (1) Defence Force member deployed to the Operational Headquarters of the operation in Mons, BelgiumEUMAM Ukraine – four (4), of whom one (1) is in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (21 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Following Government and Dáil approval, the L.É. William Butler Yeats will commence operations with the Operation Irini mission in the Mediterranean today (21 June 2023). The core task of Operation Irini is to contribute to preventing arms trafficking within its agreed Area of Operation in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution UNSCR 1970 (2011) and subsequent...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Policy (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: There is some capability within the Defence Forces regarding drone technology. It is not all about warfare either; it is about many practical applications, for example, where they can come to the aid of the civil power, assist State agencies and utilities and perform drug interdiction. There are many positive utilisations. We have observer status on an Italian-led permanent structured...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will read it into the record. To be frank, it is not an issue to which I have given consideration. Now that the Deputy has raised it, I certainly will and perhaps discuss it further with him. As he said, the tradition was to name them after Irish female mythological figures. In 2013, the then Minister instructed that a review of the naming policy should be undertaken. Following that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have told the military my view on it. I would not be rushing to be a candidate. The Deputies make a fair point. The military authorities are keeping it under review. In respect of the Naval Service, the military authorities have advised me of the position. I have made the point that the first thing you get when you press a button is a psychometric test. I am not convinced that is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will reply first to Deputy Stanton. In terms of the breakdown for the first six months, 150 have been inducted, comprising 141 general service recruits, 125 in the Army, three in the Air Corps and 13 in the Naval Service, with one Naval Service engine room artificer. Of the eight re-enlisted personnel, seven are in the Army and one is in the Air Corps. A total of 435 personnel were...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Policy (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: A key priority for me as Minister for Defence is to ensure the capabilities of the Defence Forces are maintained, developed and enhanced to ensure the Defence Forces can carry out all of the roles assigned to them by the Government as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Capability priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered as part of the capability development...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Policy (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: As always, we have to look at both the protection of the State but also civil protection issues. In the context of Dublin Airport, this issue was the subject of considerable publicity recently. The Government decided to appoint the DAA to purchase and deploy a counter-drone technology solution at Dublin Airport. This is an interim response, initiated by my colleague, the Minister for...