Results 7,721-7,740 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 to 155, inclusive, together. We are currently in the busy season for passports, as citizens prepare for their upcoming summer travel plans. Demand forecasts indicate that the Passport Service will issue just under 1.1 million passports this year. Thanks to operational and staffing plans implemented by my Department, the Passport Service is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The introduction of Passport Online in 2017 has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing, resulting in greater efficiencies for the Passport Service and our citizens. Passport Online is the quickest and easiest channel for passport applicants, and is now used by over 90% of applicants across the world. Thanks to operational and staffing plans implemented by the Department,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of between 6 and 9 months from receipt of supporting documents. Applications which require further supporting documents will take longer to process. Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland’s view, and that of the European Union, on the dispute between India and Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir has not changed. Ireland and EU partners favour direct dialogue between India and Pakistan to resolve the situation in the disputed region peacefully. This should happen with due consideration to the interests of the Kashmiri people on both sides of the Line of Control....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, these applications are within their turnaround time. The Passport Service has advised the applicants' parent of the option of booking Urgent Appointments for passport renewal.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue by date. The Passport Service has advised the applicant's parent of the option of booking an Urgent Appointment for passport renewal.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: No individuals from the named company have been seconded to my Department in the past ten years.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department has not engaged the named company centrally to perform work in the past ten years and no fees have been incurred during this period.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, supporting documentation for this application was most recently received on 1 June 2023. Turnaround time for applications for which further supporting documents have been submitted is 15 working days. This application is within the current turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue by date. The Passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act 2008, as amended (“the 2008 Act“). Section 7(1)(a) provides that a person must be an Irish citizen in order for the Minister for Foreign Affairs (“the Minister”) to issue a passport to that person. Accordingly, every applicant for a passport must submit a complete application form with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Irish Ambassador to Germany has not visited any military facilities within Germany in 2022 or to date in 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue by date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service received the applications on 11 April 2023. The turnaround time for paper applications is 8 weeks. Further documents for the applications were requested 2 June 2023. The applications cannot proceed until the required supporting documents have been received.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Data Protection (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: All staff approved for blended working must abide by the Department’s Blended Working policy which is in line with the Civil Service Blended Working Framework. The policy requires that all applicants for blended working must complete the necessary Cyber Security training, and must have a specified workstation which complies with the Department’s security requirements, including...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Foreign Policy (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: In order to build a deeper understanding of the threats faced by the State, and the links to, and between, our foreign, security and defence policy, I have convened a Consultative Forum on International Security Policy. The Forum will take place in three different locations; on 22 June at University College Cork, on 23 June at the University of Galway, and on 26-27 June at Dublin Castle. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: On foot of my visit to Stephen's Barracks earlier this year, I instructed my officials to prioritise the refurbishment works of Block C in Stephens Barracks, I am pleased to advise the Deputy that a contract was awarded to Marlhill Construction Services Ltd last week. Works will commence on site shortly and the project is expected to take 7 months to complete at an estimated cost of €0.5m.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: In July 2022, the Government approved a move to Level of Ambition 2 (LOA2), as recommended by the Commission on the Defence Forces. As part of that decision the Government committed to increasing the Defence budget from €1.1 billion to €1.5 billion by 2028, as part of the annual budgetary process. This level of investment will allow for the required transformation and investment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Communications (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: I wish to advise the Deputy that the table below reflects the percentage of social media videos posted between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023 on the Department's social media accounts or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under my remit. It also sets out the numbers of those which included closed captioning/subtitling and the percentage of same that feature...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Policies (13 Jun 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department does not have a specific anti-racism policy. However my Department adheres to Ireland’s National Action Plan Against Racism 2023-2027, a plan ensuring that everyone, regardless of colour, background or ethnicity, is respected as an individual and judged by the content of their character, not the colour of their skin or their appearance. My Department operates in line...