Results 8,341-8,360 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: In response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department undertook large scale consular operations in 2020 and 2021.  A major element of the assistance provided was the repatriation of Irish citizens from around the world.   As a matter of ongoing policy, citizens being repatriated to Ireland in such circumstances are required to meet the costs associated with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (18 Apr 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: Irish Prisoners Abroad (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I remain extremely concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given his ill health. I can assure the Deputy that the citizen's release remains a strong priority for me and my Department. To that end, there continues to be extensive engagement by the Government with the authorities in Iran on the case, including through my own discussions with the Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: As of 11 April 2023, there are 828 staff in the Passport Service who have been given access to the Automated Passport System (APS). The Department has policies, processes and procedures in place for the appropriate access and use of APS and monitors the implementation of these on an ongoing basis.  In relation to your question, an internal process is underway at present and it would not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, initial supporting documents for the application were received on 20 February 2023. Turnaround time begins from the date supporting documents are received. Turnaround time for first time online applications is 20 working days. On 14 March 2023 the Passport Service requested further supporting documents from the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Apr 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: Middle East (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 138 together. The recent upsurge in violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory is of deep concern. I have clearly condemned the violence by Israeli forces at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and have urged respect for the status quo at the holy sites. Furthermore, I have condemned rocket fire into Israel and all violence against civilians, including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department actively manages sick absences in accordance with Civil Service rules and procedures. Details of long term sick absences, which occur when a civil servant is absent for four weeks or more, are set out below.  It should be noted that the number of civil servants employed in my Department has increased from 1,360 in 2018 to 2,067 on 3rd April last as we roll out the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs subscribes fully to the Civil Service value that every member of staff has a right to work in an environment free of any form of bullying and that bullying behaviour is totally unacceptable All complaints or allegations made by members of staff are treated seriously and fairly under the terms of the Civil Service Dignity at Work policy. It should be noted...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have set out below the information requested. Year Number 2013 2 2014 0 2015 0 2016 0 2017 1 2018 2 2019 4 (plus 1 Temporary Clerical Officer [TCO]) 2020 3 (plus 2 TCOs) ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Travel Documents (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: All travel document applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. That legislation sets out specific requirements that any travel document applicant must fulfil, and issues of which the Minister for Foreign Affairs must be satisfied, before a travel document can issue. A Guidance Document was published in 2012 on citizenship, parentage, guardianship and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department has been contacted by Ms. Donghua Li in relation to her mother, Mrs Pingjun Ma. ‎The Government closely follows reports regarding the treatment of Falun Dafa practitioners by the Chinese authorities. Human rights concerns are regularly discussed with the Chinese authorities in bilateral meetings and in the appropriate multilateral fora. The EU-China Human Rights...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Apr 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: Consular Services (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: Construction work on a new Chancery Building in Abuja, Nigeria is anticipated to start in May 2023.  On commencement, the estimated timeframe for building completion and fit out is 21 months. The new Chancery will be located on the European Union compound in Abuja, a high security location for the work of the Irish Embassy team. This Embassy building project will support the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the turnaround time for this type of application is 15 working days, as it constitutes a complex online renewal. Turnaround time begins from the date supporting documents are received by the Passport Service. Supporting documents for this application were received on 7 April 2023. This application is within its...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (18 Apr 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: Foreign Birth Registration (18 Apr 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: Foreign Policy (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: A Consultative Forum on International Security Policy will be convened with a view to initiating an open and evidence-based discussion on the State’s foreign and security policy. The Consultative Forum is designed to build public understanding and generate discussions on the link between the State’s foreign, security, and defence policies.  The Consultative Forum will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The busy season for passports in 2023 is underway, and demand forecasts indicate that the Passport Service will issue just under 1.1 million passports this year. The Passport Service is successfully meeting current high demand. All turnaround times are at their target level and there are no backlogs.  The Passport Service has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I remain extremely concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given his ill health. I can assure the Deputy that the citizen's release remains a strong priority for me and my Department. To that end, there continues to be extensive engagement by the Government with the authorities in Iran on the case, including through my own discussions with the Foreign...