Results 8,881-8,900 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: We have said that and there is no issue around that. No one anticipated that what happened last night would happen; it was quite shocking. As we have all agreed, when you think about it the implications could have been horrendous. We cannot get around that; it is just incredible that our services worked so well and that is the relief I take from it. Our response has to match that; I agree...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. Tá an ceart aige arís; caithimid gach aon rud gur féidir linn a dhéanamh ó thaobh na daoine is aosta agus is sinsire sa tír seo a chabhrú ó thaobh cúrsaí tithíochta de. Tá an Rialtas ag díriú air seo agus táimid ag cur níos mó áiseanna ar fáil...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: First, I take the points that the Deputy has made in good faith, of course. On the earlier point the Deputy made, it is worth reflecting that the Health Service Executive, which comes in for criticism from time to time, in the context of Covid, the cyberattack and now this, has responded in a coherent, effective way to real emergencies. These have been three that we can identify. That...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: In terms of this opportunity, by which I mean we are building now anew and fresh, we should examine how we deal with the future needs of the hospital in Wexford. That is my view. Obviously, the Cabinet will discuss this. There are opportunities. Also, it is an emergency. We have to look at the planning situation and see what we can do to expedite the return of permanent facilities here....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Hopefully, yes, but we might discuss that. We want to give those at the coalface the opportunity to get the main work done first and, of course, to come back to us then.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Howlin for raising the issue. The Deputy is personally committed to Wexford Hospital, as he has been for all of his political life, as indeed all of his colleagues representing the county have as well. Deputy Howlin is correct. A disaster, on one level, has been averted in the sense of no loss of life and injury. It is quite incredible to comprehend the degree to which...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----sorry, 96 - the additional capacity as committed - because the population is growing. One of the big issues in terms of public services more generally over the past decade has been the growth in population. As we configure our services into the future, we have to think about that increased population. It is growing fast now and will continue to. I trust the clinicians and those at...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. We were all shocked at the potential impact of such a disastrous fire in one of our major acute hospitals. If you stand back and think about what the implications could have been, it is clear we owe an extraordinary debt of gratitude to all of the essential services involved, especially the fire service and Civil Defence personnel who got there...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I attended the Munich Security Conference from 17-19 February.  It provided an excellent opportunity to meet with a range of leaders, decision-makers and policy-thinkers globally including from UN agencies, international organisations and the private sector, and to discuss a range of global foreign and security policy challenges. The Conference aims for wide and diverse...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 223 together. Ireland’s focus is on seeking to find a way to change the reality on the ground and to protect and encourage a peace process that can deliver a two-State solution, which is the Government's priority.  I have been consistently forthright in expressing concern regarding the unequal treatment of Palestinians in Israel and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The number of passports issued by the Passport Service in 2021 and 2022 to applicants residing in each county on the island of Ireland is outlined in tabular form below.  These figures are for passports that were applied for through Passport Online. Passport Online is now used by over 90% of applicants worldwide. It is the fastest and most cost-effective way to apply for a passport,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Whilst my Department has no immediate plans to increase staffing resources at the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels, this is being kept under review in the context of planning for Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the Passports Act 2008, as amended (the 2008 Act). The Act requires that a person must be an Irish citizen in order for the Minister to issue a passport to that person. Accordingly, every applicant for a passport must submit a complete application form with supporting documents positively confirming to the satisfaction of the Minister, amongst...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (1 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am advised by the Military Authorities that no Engineer Corps Officers have been seconded to the Department of Defence in the last four years.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Leave of Absence is taken to mean Special Leave without Pay and Allowances.  I am advised by the Military Authorities that seven (7) Engineer Corps Officers were granted Special Leave Without Pay and Allowances between 2012 and 2022. In addition, there were no Engineer Corps Officers seconded during the time specified.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Leave of Absence is taken to mean Special Leave without Pay and Allowances. I am advised by the Military Authorities that, within the time frame specified, there were two (2) applications from Engineer Corps Officers for special leave without pay and allowances that were not granted. In addition, there are no records maintained of secondments not granted for Officers.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: There are no Defence Forces’ engineer corps officers currently serving in transformation and innovation roles in Defence Forces Headquarters or in the Department of Defence level.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Derelict Sites (1 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Curragh Camp is now the Defence Forces Training Centre and as such is no longer a self contained military installation as was the case in the past. I am advised that there are sixty-two (62) vacant former married quarters properties in the Curragh Camp, County Kildare. The Deputy will also be aware,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Capital Expenditure Programme (1 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Vote 36 Defence is managed through a single programme with all operational outputs delivered from a single set of forces encompassing the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. Expenditure by my Department is mainly on pay and allowances, operational costs and capital investment across the Defence Forces. My Department does not provide capital funding on a geographic basis, with the limited...