Results 7,801-7,820 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland’s long-standing position on Western Sahara is one of full support for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), the UN-led process and the Secretary General’s efforts to bring about a definitive and mutually acceptable political settlement on this issue. Ireland has wholeheartedly supported the United Nations Security Council...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Agreements (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The EU-Morocco Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (FPA), concluded in March 2019, allocates fishing opportunities for the EU in exchange for an overall financial contribution of €208 million. A substantial part of this contribution is used to promote the sustainable development of the fisheries economy in Morocco and the Western Sahara. When the process of negotiation began on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: Senior officials from my Department regularly meet with their Moroccan counterparts, both in Dublin and Rabat, to discuss a wide range of issues, with human rights a core element of those discussions. The opening of an Irish Embassy in Rabat has allowed us to deepen our bilateral engagement and dialogue with Morocco. Respect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland actively participates in various international bodies and organisations. Some of these bodies or organisations have seen the appointment of Irish officials to their ranks and these appointments have served to enhance Ireland’s profile and standing on the global stage. In the ten years since December 2013, officials of my Department have led Government campaigns seeking the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy notes, EU’s review of development aid has now been completed. I welcome, in particular the review’s conclusion -as we had expected- that the Commission’s existing controls and safeguards work well and that there is no evidence that funding has been diverted for unintended purposes. Ireland also has robust safeguards in place to ensure that our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The protracted conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains high on the EU agenda, and has featured regularly on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council over the past year, particularly since the military escalation of 19-20 September, and subsequent exodus of over 100,000 Karabakh Armenians to Armenia. The issue was most recently discussed at the November Foreign Affairs Council,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I remain gravely concerned by the situation in Myanmar and wish to reiterate my strong condemnation of the February 2021 coup and the resulting violence. Neither I nor representatives of the Irish Government have held bilateral meetings or engagements with the military authorities. Coherent with a common EU position, neither I nor my Department undertake actions that would serve to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Venezuela remains complex and deeply concerning. On 3 December, a referendum in Venezuela asked five questions regarding the area of Essequibo, which is part of the territory of neighbouring Guyana. Although the referendum was passed, independent observers have suggested that turnout was very low. Venezuela has a long-standing territorial claim on Essequibo. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my responses to Questions 39712, 39711 and 39771 of 20 September and my response to Question 41428 of 28 September.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: Over the past year, my Department has achieved much progress in a number of policy areas and undertaken a number of new initiatives, framed by our commitments under the Programme for Government, and the Departmental Statement of Strategy. Delivery of services to Irish citizens remains central to our work. Irish citizens abroad continued to receive excellent consular support, including in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, with full respect for Ireland’s policy of military neutrality. The provision of diplomatic clearance to land...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Properties (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs does not own any properties in this jurisdiction.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Priorities (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: Next year, my Department is prioritising to a number of policy and legislative areas, framed by our commitments under the Programme for Government and the Departmental Statement of Strategy. Delivery of services to Irish citizens will remain central to the work of my Department, as we will continue to operate high-quality Consular and Passport Services. The Emigrant Support Programme,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The United States is an important player in the region and has a key role to play in the context of the current crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Both President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken have visited Israel and the region as part of their diplomatic efforts. The situation was also discussed at the highest level by EU and US leaders at the EU-US Summit in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs supports staff with foreign language classes prior to and over the course of their postings to Embassies and Consulates overseas. Below is a table outlining the number of Arabic language courses undertaken by staff of the Department in 2022 and 2023. These courses covered a range of levels, and some staff undertook more than one course over the two-year...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: Clearance to exit from Gaza is decided by the relevant local authorities. These authorities have made clear to all countries with citizens in Gaza that the focus for facilitated departures from Gaza is for foreign and dual nationals, and immediate dependents accompanying them. In line with the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter, the remit of my Department is to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am advised that the Department does not retain the information sought by the Deputy and accordingly has requested same from the military authorities. As soon as the requested information is received I will arrange to have same forwarded to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Procurement Contracts (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: The development of a new Army Ranger Wing HQ, which is included in the Defence Forces Built Infrastructure Plan, is currently subject to the requisite pre-contract award procurement and design processes. My Department will conduct a competitive tendering process in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (12 Dec 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware the former Columb Barracks is to be transferred to the LDA for the purposes of providing housing and associated social/community developments, as such the plans for the future of the buildings is best determined by that Agency.