Results 7,561-7,580 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: As of 1 June 2023, Ireland is contributing 522 personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 319 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 135 personnel. Ireland also contributes observers and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Budgets (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: For 2023, the total overall gross allocation provided to the Defence Vote Group, as set out in Budget 2023, is €1.21 billion, comprising of over €915 million on the Defence Vote and over €294 million on the Army Pensions Vote. This significant allocation represents an overall increase of €93 million on 2022 and comprises of an increase of €35 million in the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Services (20 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Irish Coast Guard has had overall responsibility for the provision of maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) services within the Irish Search and Rescue domain since 2004. The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) comes within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Transport. My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's policy of military neutrality has long been a very important strand of our foreign policy. It has been practised by successive Governments of which I have been a member. The policy means that Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. The Government has no plans to alter this policy. That is not part of this conference. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I would like to test that. I do not think it is unparliamentary language. I think it is-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: First of all, I did not say they were putting the jackboot in, but I said in the future, given their trend and approach-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: In the interests of civility, I will take back the word "jackboot". Again-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I do not want a debate. I want this issue of freedom of speech in Parliament referred to the procedures committee.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I do not like what is happening here. I have to put it to the Chair directly. I do not like it. I am doing it in the interest of-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I share the Deputy's concern. The Belgian and Portuguese foreign ministers visited Tunisia recently and met with its Government on behalf of the EU foreign ministers to articulate these concerns and to undertake a fact-finding analysis and meet people on the ground. They provided useful insights in their subsequent presentation to the European Foreign Affairs Council meeting. We have been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: We have. I spoke about this issue earlier in terms of the arrest of Mr. Rached Ghannouchi. I made this point in response to the original question from Deputy Kenny. This is not about tea and sympathy. That is not what we are doing. We must have a realistic assessment of these issues and how we can best impact and create pressure. It will either be through engagement or just complete...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: We are active, therefore, in many international forums to try to deal with unacceptable regimes such as this and behaviour on their part.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am sorry.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: No, I was not worked up at all. I just think it is shocking how you guys operate, how the Deputies operate, first, in terms of their intolerance of a wide variety of views and debate. I instinctively felt this was how they were going to approach this. This is a genuine debate. There is a wide range of speakers with different perspectives, including people working in Irish universities and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----get the person. Let us undermine the integrity and international reputation of the person, and all for the sake of the Deputies' political agenda.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is a sickening form of politics you engage in, Deputy Murphy. I find it abhorrent. A more sinister element behind it is to snuff out debate. You talk about freedom of speech and so on in Tunisia. You are nowhere near that - I am not suggesting that - but what you are trying to suggest is certain people cannot speak-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----because they have a view. That is what you are saying. They should not be allowed speak.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: If there are up to 50 or 60 speakers and if one or two have views that are contrary-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----to the views of Deputies Murphy or Boyd Barrett, then they should not speak. That is intolerance. You guys are no great advocates of freedom of speech at all, and I shudder to think of the day when you would ever be in authority, because, by God, would you put the jackboot on people who might have views different from yours. That is where you guys are coming from.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Policy (15 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is not. It is where I stand.