Results 8,461-8,480 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: It has adopted a strategy of trying to match others' angry rhetoric and empty promises. Just like other left parties, it remains so terrified of Sinn Féin's troll army that it is increasingly incapable of presenting a distinct position from that party on any market.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: There is little purpose served by taking apart the reality of the Labour Party's tactics and demanding a confidence vote. All I will say is that when I hear the loud words of attack on us in relation to housing, I cannot help quoting aspects and the last policy on renters outlined in a Labour Party manifesto. The Labour Party made this commitment: "We will also seek to create the regulated,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (29 Mar 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 (28 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk’s annual report on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland has commented on the report in the current session of the Human Rights Council. The report crucially notes the deterioration of the situation on the ground during the reporting period, in a persistent climate of impunity by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Since 2016 to date, my Department has not entered into contracts with, or engaged, any of the companies identified in the Deputy's question..

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Travel (28 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Each of the three visits by the Ministers in my Department, in common with all visits for St Patrick’s Day, involved a programme of outreach to promote Ireland’s economic interests, connect with our Diaspora and engage with key interlocutors in the countries visited. For my own part, I travelled to New York and Boston from 11-18 March. Minister of State Burke travelled to...

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

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued a passport to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (28 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ongoing, high-level political engagement with the United States on critical issues for Ireland is a priority for the Government. I have had several interactions with senior U.S. officials and members of Congress in recent months, including during my visit to New York and Massachusetts for St. Patrick’s Day. There were several other visits by Government representatives to the United...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Religious Persecution (28 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his question. The promotion of freedom of religion or belief is a priority area for my Department, and Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. We work closely with our partners in the European Union on this important question. At a multilateral level, the right to...

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

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service will contact the parent directly in relation to these applications.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (28 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department sought the services of the Irish Centre for Diversity to review the Department’s work to date on Gender, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, to conduct a confidential and impartial staff survey and to assist with the development of an action plan and training programme for all staff. The total cost was €17,576.70.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (28 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Developing and maintaining foreign language proficiency in our Embassies is important in building key relationships and enabling officers to integrate more deeply. A wide range of skills are required to carry out the functions of an Embassy and, to that end, the staffing profile of our Embassies include both posted staff and locally-hired staff. A total of 45 office staff, including...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am advised that neither my Department nor any of the bodies under the aegis of my Department have contracts or engaged the services of named companies.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Oireachtas Proceedings (28 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: As I have already stated in the Dáil when the matter was raised earlier this month, I believe that the Dáil record as a historical narrative in itself should be left as it stands because it is part of an infamous attempt to cover up what happened at Ballyseedy. I also spoke on the matter at a centenary commemoration of the Ballyseedy massacre earlier this month, where I...

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

Micheál Martin: As of 1 March 2023, some 546 Irish Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed overseas. The main overseas missions are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 344 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 133 personnel. In relation to UNDOF, Permanent Defence Force personnel have been deployed to this UN mission since 2013....

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

Micheál Martin: I would like to acknowledge the excellent service provided by Defence Forces personnel, past and present, to the State. On the matter of pensions, there are a number of different arrangements in place for spouses and children of former deceased Defence Forces personnel, depending on the rank of the deceased member and their start date with the Defence Forces. From 1970 onwards,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (28 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Naval Service currently has a fleet of six vessels. One ship, LÉ Niamh, is in the process of a mid life refit which is expected to be complete in Quarter 3 2023, and a second ship LÉ Róisín, has been placed in operational reserve. There are four operational ships that remain available. Two Inshore Patrol Vessels have been purchased from the New Zealand Government...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (28 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities advise that the strength of the Naval Service as at 28 February 2023 stood at 767 out of the agreed strength of 1,094. The following table details the number of Naval Service personnel that have been inducted in 2022 and in 2023, as of that date: 2022 2023 Personnel Inducted 28 *0 *The military...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Having been briefed on this case, I believe that what happened was unacceptable. It is symptomatic of a wider problem, particularly concerning maternity issues within the Defence Forces and how they are dealt with. The Deputy will appreciate the work to implement the direction of the WRC is critical. While there has been progress to date, I have nevertheless directed that the process,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: What was happening was clearly out of line with normal practice in other workplaces. I have given very clear directions that there can be absolutely no discrimination or any processes or requests made of pregnant women within the Defence Forces that would not be contemplated in any other workplace.