Results 7,661-7,680 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: As of 11 January 2024, Ireland is contributing 530 Defence Forces personnel to overseas missions and locations. The main missions in which personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 329 personnel, and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 134 personnel. Ireland also contributes observers and staff to various...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Budgets (23 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The 2024 Revised Estimates Volume (REV) provides an allocation of €1.25 billion in Defence Group funding, an increase of €40 million over 2023. The Defence Vote Group includes the Defence and Army Pensions Votes. The allocations for 2024 are €933 million for the Defence Vote and €317 million for the Army Pensions Vote. This significant level of funding will further...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (23 Jan 2024)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly to explain what is required to progress her application and the reason an additional document is required.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (18 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: In order to answer this question it is necessary to consult archived information, which is not immediately available. We will contact the Deputy directly once the information required to answer this question is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is no plan to review the decision to withdraw the Defence Forces' Infantry Group from the UNDOF mission this year. The replacement Troop Contributing Country (TCC) has been selected to take over the role of the Force Reserve Company, following the scheduled Irish departure in April 2024. Planning for the withdrawal of the Defence Forces' contingent and their replacement is well...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Conciliation & Arbitration (C&A) Scheme for the Permanent Defence Force is the mechanism for addressing industrial issues within the Defence sector. In line with the Irish model of industrial relations, this is a voluntary mechanism which provides structures for management and staff to engage on collective issues that may arise. These structures have helped to maintain...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The establishment of an Office of Veterans Affairs, under new Defence Forces structures, was one of 130 recommendations included in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces which was published on 9th of February 2022. Following detailed consideration by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces of the recommendations in the report, a High Level Action Plan and a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together. The First Line Reserve (FLR) is intended to provide a pool of trained personnel who are available at short notice to supplement Permanent Defence Force (PDF) units in times of emergency. There is currently no set establishment for the FLR. The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF)...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I wish to assure the Deputy that I remain fully committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Working Time Directive are applied, where appropriate, to members of the Defence Forces. Action 28, of the Strategic Framework, published on 26 September last, stipulated that the civil-military management policy position on the implementation of the Working Time Directive within the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (17 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 14, 37, 49 and 52 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 last week involved only the two parties to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (17 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 under which Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth, by descent, or by naturalisation. The Department of Justice is responsible for citizenship matters including citizenship by Irish association. My department engages regularly with the Department of Justice on matters relating to citizenship....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (17 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: Since the start of this crisis my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit from Gaza of those Irish citizens, and accompanying dependents, who have expressed a wish to leave. To date, 57 Irish citizens and their dependents have been assisted to exit Gaza. The Government, through our Embassies in the region, has consistently sought clearance for all Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 23 and 35 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: The passport card was launched in October 2015 and offers Irish citizens the convenience of travel to 31 countries including the EU/EEA member states, Great Britain and Switzerland, with a credit card sized travel document. The Passport Card is fully compliant with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations concerning requirements for passports in card format. Over...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (17 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are long standing human rights concerns in Bahrain, including freedom of expression, treatment of human rights defenders, conditions of detention, discrimination against the Shia majority and the use of the death penalty. Bahrain has repeatedly stated its commitment to improving its human rights record and safeguarding human rights as enshrined in the Bahraini Constitution, but there...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (17 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20, 31 and 48 together. With regard to the specific Foreign Birth Registration applications about which the Deputies have enquired, these applications have been approved. Certificates will issue to the applicants shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (17 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 28 together. I can assure you, Deputy, that my Department is aware of the case and is providing consular assistance. Since the start of the current crisis in the Middle East, my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit from Gaza of Irish citizens, and accompanying dependents, who have expressed a wish to leave. To date...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (17 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the initiative by the United States to introduce a travel restrictions targeting those involved in extreme settler violence. My immediate priority is to push for a similar initiative at EU level. I raised this with my counterparts at the Foreign Affairs Council in December. I look forward to this being progressed rapidly, in line with the commitment given by the High Representative...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (17 Jan 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned about rising tensions, including violence, deaths and arrests in the West Bank, which is having a devastating effect on Palestinian civilians and communities. The case referred to by the Deputy forms part of a broader and concerning trend, as identified by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, in his recent Flash Report on the human rights...