Results 8,601-8,620 of 50,134 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Visits (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The forthcoming visit of President Biden will be an historic occasion for Ireland. It will be a significant event, celebrating the strong ties between the people of Ireland and the people of the United States. We all know that the President has for a long time been a great friend of Ireland, in fact he wears this on his sleeve, and he does not hide his Irishness and his background. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Visits (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Yes, there will be lots of new claims as well. Of course, he is probably the best quoter of Irish poetry at any international forum. I have had the pleasure of attending a number of summits of EU Council meetings and meetings between Europe and NATO and so on where his introduction would be a quotation from an Irish poet. I was the Taoiseach at the time. President Biden would say that I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Visits (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: In the first instance, I have held the consistent view that once elections have been held all political parties that participated in any election should immediately form a Parliament and create an Executive. This is the democratic thing to do. That has always been my view, irrespective of issues around Brexit and the protocol. President Biden has been very positive about that issue and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Visits (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The US Administration has been briefed on the legacy issue. I was in Washington four weeks ago and I met the national security advisor, Mr. Jake Sullivan, and a number of key officials in the State Department with regard to the European and Irish question. I briefed them on our concerns around the legacy Bill, our opposition to the legacy Bill especially in the context of it not being in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: To be honest with the Deputy, as I said, we are all basically agreed on the issues here. Ireland has a consistent position. We used our position on the Security Council to consistently bring the Israeli-Palestinian situation to the table, as well as at the General Assembly in terms of supporting the resolution, for example, on the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----and comments like those by the Minister, Mr. Smotrich, in particular, which are quite racist.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is absolutely unacceptable that any Minister would say that about Palestinians within Palestine.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I accept what the Deputy is saying in respect of where we are going or where the Israeli Government is going here. It has been our long-standing position that policies and practices of successive Israeli governments relating to illegal settlements and their expansion, as well as expulsions, forced transfers and demolitions, undermine prospects for a two-state solution and are a major...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: My point is that we remain steadfastly supportive of a two-state solution.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am extremely concerned, just as the Deputy is, at the way things are turning out.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I do not disagree. I do not get the strategic approach - if one could call it that - from the Israeli Government. It ultimately undermines the security of the Israeli state itself. Israeli policy has marginalised moderate opinion within Palestine. Israeli decisions seem almost tantamount to creating fertile ground for hard-line extremist positions. That is in my view counterintuitive in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I would argue that we have been using the United Nations very effectively.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: We must continue to support the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, as well as non-governmental civil society in Palestine and those who defend human rights. I apologise, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle; I am not used to the ministerial time limits.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: That is the strategy we have been following. We engage with the neighbourhood, which is particularly important, including Jordan and Egypt, as well as with the United States. 9 o’clock The issue has to be raised in terms of the engagement of the United States of America and the European Union with Israel. There are very serious issues arising around the behaviour and the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned by the significant increase in settler violence on the West Bank. Ireland condemns in the strongest possible terms all acts of violence committed by settlers against Palestinian civilians. Ireland uses all available opportunities to make this point, including within the European Union and at the United Nations. The Irish Embassy in Tel Aviv also makes our position...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Conflicts (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The attack on Huwara was particularly shocking in its scale and intensity and the sense of impunity. Israel has clear obligations to protect Palestinian civilians from such attacks. As the Deputy is aware, the Israeli and Palestinian security officials met at the summit in Aqaba, Jordan, last month, and again at Sharm el-Sheikh on Sunday. I met with the Jordanian foreign minister on this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: An adult whose passport has expired more than five years ago will need to apply for their next passport as a first time applicant if their expired passport was issued more than 15 years ago. All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. Section 8 of the Act provides for the processing of personal data by the Passport Service as required...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 (VCDR) identifies three categories of Mission staff as follows: - Diplomatic staff - Administrative and Technical staff, and - Service staff There are currently 21 officers at the Embassy of the Russian Federation who have been notified to my Department under Article 10 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations - 9 Diplomats and 12...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 84, 90 and 105 together. Every year, St Patrick’s Day celebrations provide the Government with a unique opportunity to engage with Heads of State and Government, senior politicians, business leaders, civic organisations, and the media right across the globe. It also gives us a unique opportunity to connect with and advocate on behalf of the many...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (21 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland, and the European Union, have been consistent in our support for Ukraine in the face of Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression. The response by the European Union to Russia's invasion of Ukraine has been unprecedented in its unity, firmness and determination. It has encompassed political, financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support for Ukraine. Overall...