Results 7,441-7,460 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Final costs as incurred by my Department in relation to last week's visit by Premier Li are still being compiled and will be completed as soon as possible. A breakdown of actual and estimated costs as available at this point is set out below. Other costs incurred by other Departments and State authorities which were involved in facilitating the visit are a matter for the Departments and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is the National Competent Authority with responsibility for exports of dual-use goods, and administers these controls in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 May 2021 setting up a Union regime for the control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Premier Li Qiang visited Ireland on 16th and 17th of January, at the request of the Chinese authorities. The Premier paid a courtesy call on President Higgins before being welcomed by the Taoiseach at Farmleigh House for a bilateral meeting and a lunch, which was also attended by a number of Ministers. Meetings covered a range of topics including bilateral relations, human rights,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33, 47 and 60 together. The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports. All turnaround times are at or well-ahead of target and there are no backlogs. Currently the majority of child online renewal applications are issuing within 6 days and online adult renewal applications are issuing within 2 working days. First-time online...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 55 and 57 together. It is hugely disappointing that Northern Ireland remains without functioning devolved government so long after the May 2022 Assembly elections. The absence of an Assembly and an Executive is now undermining people’s faith in politics. It is essential that the Good Friday Agreement operates across all its Strands. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 62 and 84 together. Ireland condemns the recent escalation by Russia of its aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities and civilian infrastructure. The drone and missile attack launched by Russia on 29 December was the single largest aerial assault of the war so far, with 153 missiles and drones targeting cities throughout the country. Attacks of a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 45, 63, 73, 75, 76, 79 and 85 together. I have been closely monitoring developments in the case taken under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide (‘Genocide Convention’) by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice. The public hearings that took place on 11 and 12 January involved only the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 41 and 80 together. I have been engaging intensively with EU, regional and international partners since the beginning of this crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland’s diplomatic efforts have focused on the urgent need for a sustainable humanitarian ceasefire and a significant scale-up of humanitarian access and supplies...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 81 together. I condemn the ongoing attacks by Houthi forces on shipping in the Red Sea. These attacks threaten the lives of the crews aboard and also seek to close one of the most important shipping routes to the world. While there are no direct diplomatic links with the Houthis, the US and other international partners have made clear the urgent need...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 71 together. It is crucial that European resolve and support for Ukraine remains consistent. Russia’s brutal invasion has had appalling consequences for the Ukrainian people but also has wider implications, including for the security of the European continent. This is the context in which Ireland strongly supports putting EU financial...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am committed to working closely with my EU partners, including Germany, to ensure Ukraine gets the support it so urgently needs to continue to defend itself against ongoing Russian attacks. My recent visit to Berlin was an excellent opportunity to discuss bilateral and EU support for Ukraine with our German partners. Germany is one of Ukraine’s strongest supporters in terms of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I travelled to London on 13 December to meet with the UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, our first since his appointment as Foreign Secretary in November. Our meeting focused on the importance of the relationship between Ireland and Britain. We had a good discussion on matters relating to Northern Ireland, including an exchange regarding the UK's the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is represented by two diplomatic missions in Australia, with an Embassy in Canberra and a Consulate General in Sydney. The Embassy and the Consulate work to promote and protect Irish interests in Australia, to strengthen political and economic relationships, to support the Irish community, and to promote cultural ties and the Irish arts. In addition, an Honorary Consul in Perth...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 22 January, I attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, where the Council’s discussion focused on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East. The Council agenda featured detailed exchanges and engagements with the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, as well as with the Israeli, Saudi Arabian, Egyptian, Jordanian and Palestinian Foreign Ministers,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned by the continuing deterioration of the situation in Myanmar. I wish to reiterate the Government's strong condemnation of the February 2021 coup and the resulting violence. Recent figures suggest that 18.6 million people, over a third of the population, are now dependent on humanitarian assistance for their survival. Nearly 2.6 million people have been displaced and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Russia’s continued military aggression against Ukraine continues to have a profoundly adverse impact not only on Ukraine but also on the wider region, including Moldova and Georgia. Ireland welcomed the decision of the European Council on 14 December to open accession negotiations with Moldova, and to grant EU candidate status to Georgia, once the relevant steps set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I visited Mexico on 7-10 January. In a rich exchange with Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena, we discussed: bilateral relations, including our deepening economic relations and the consistent growth of our trade and investment relations over recent years; shared priorities in development/cooperation and peacebuilding in the Latin America region, notably Central America and Colombia; the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Nuclear Safety (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland engages regularly with the UK Government on issues of nuclear safety, including in relation to the Sellafield site. I raised with issue with the UK Foreign Secretary during our meeting in London on 13 December 2023. Ireland attaches the greatest importance to ensuring the highest levels of nuclear safety by all users of nuclear energy, and engages actively in the work of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am in regular contact with political parties in Northern Ireland to discuss matters of mutual interest, not least the urgent need for restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive. The ongoing work and future potential of the Shared Island Initiative is regularly raised in these meetings. The Government’s Shared Island initiative, launched in October 2020, is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (25 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department’s Reconciliation Fund was established in 1982 to support civil society organisations in creating a better understanding and relations between people and traditions on the island of Ireland, and between Ireland and Britain. Since its establishment, the Fund has disbursed over €65 million in grant assistance to over 3,000 projects. The Reconciliation Fund supports a...