Results 8,041-8,060 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Through our Embassies in Cairo and Tel Aviv, our Representative Office in Ramallah and our Consular Directorate in Ireland, my Department has to date assisted 56 Irish citizens and accompanying dependents to leave Gaza, and with arrangements for onward travel to Ireland. A small number of Irish citizens remain in Gaza. We will continue to work with the relevant authorities on any additional...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: In 2022, my Department received and processed 272 valid Freedom of Information requests of which 68 were issued with decisions refusing access to the requested records. Up to 20 November 2023, my Department received 251 valid Freedom of Information requests of which 58 were issued with decisions refusing access to the requested records. All valid Freedom of Information requests for access to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Airport Security is a matter for the Airport Authorities in cooperation with AGS, and as such, not a matter for this Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, passports have been issued to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (28 Nov 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, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Since the start of this crisis my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit of Irish citizens and accompanying dependents from Gaza that have expressed a wish to leave. To date 56 Irish citizens and their dependents have been assisted to leave Gaza. Clearance to exit from Gaza is decided by the relevant local authorities. These authorities have made...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific 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 Advertising (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs uses public awareness campaigns primarily to promote essential services to citizens at home and abroad such as passport and consular services. In recent years, public awareness campaigns in relation to COVID-19 travel restrictions and Brexit have formed a significant part of advertising costs. As with other Government Departments, the Department of Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Communications (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department has not facilitated any in-person or remote briefings with the named organisations from 2020 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 101 together. Three years after the fraudulent elections in Belarus and with repression only intensifying, it is vital we maintain our support for democratic Belarus and those forced to live in exile. It is estimated that 200,000 to 500,000 Belarusians have been forced to flee their country as a result of the regime crackdown. In the wake of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific FBR application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service requested further supporting documents from the applicant on 18 October 2023. A member of the FBR team has contacted the applicant directly in this regard. The application cannot proceed until the required supporting documents have been received by the Passport Service.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (28 Nov 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, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The humanitarian situation in Gaza is catastrophic and has worsened daily. I am gravely concerned about the safety and security of the population of Gaza, particularly the most vulnerable groups. I expressed my serious concern about Israel’s call on the entire population of northern Gaza to move southwards last month. As we warned at the time, this has proven to be incredibly dangerous...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports and has issued over 900,000 passports to date in 2023. Between 2,000 and 3,000 passports are being issued every day. All turnaround times are at or ahead of target and there are no backlogs. More than half of simple adult renewals issue within two working days or less. Passport fees collected during the months of October...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Nov 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 the issue-by date. I strongly encourage the Deputy to advise his constituents of the advantages of using the substantially more efficient online service, which is now used by more than 90% of applicants worldwide.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: Awaiting reply from Department

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Freedom of Information (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The total number of Freedom of Information requests submitted to my Department in the years 2022 and 2023 to date and the total number of requests refused are set out in the table below: 2022 2023 to date* No. of FOI requests submitted to my Department 131 146 No. of FOI requests refused in their entirety 40 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Travel (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Defence is proceeding with a tender competition to acquire a new mid-sized jet aircraft for Ministerial Air Transport, to be procured under the Defence and Security Directive 81/2009 and in compliance with the Public Spending Code. As the competitive bidding process has commenced with the publication of a contract notice on Friday 17thNovember 2023 on the Official Journal of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am advised that the Defence Forces, as a matter of policy, retain all medical record files. I can confirm that the medical record files of the former member referred to, are securely stored and have previously been provided to his civilian General Practitioner. I understand the individual in question discharged from the Defence Forces in 1989 at their own request, having completed 12...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Advertising (28 Nov 2023)

Micheál Martin: I wish to advise the Deputy the Office of Emergency Planning in the Department of Defence conducts two public information campaigns annually. Each campaign delivers a ‘whole of Government’ approach to increasing societal resilience by providing information to communities, businesses and households on how to plan and prepare for the seasonal challenges. Core to these campaign...