Results 8,921-8,940 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Fire Stations (21 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: The military authorities have confirmed that proposals on the future of the Fire Service in the Defence Forces Training Centre, Curragh Camp have been under consideration. No decision has been made . I understand that a report, on the outcome of those deliberations, will be submitted to me in due course for my consideration. On this basis, it is not appropriate to comment further on this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs provides grants from Vote 27 to NGOs to implement programmes and projects in countries classified by the OECD as eligible for overseas development assistance, as well as for global citizenship education in Ireland. The OECD has commended Ireland for the quality of our NGO partnerships as a “hallmark of Ireland's development cooperation”. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: There is no international regulation specifically governing munitions containing depleted uranium. However, general rules of international humanitarian law prohibit weapons, means or methods of warfare of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering, which have indiscriminate effects or which cause widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment. We...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department ensures that there are adequate resources assigned to the Passport Service in order to service queries from customers in both Irish and English. There are currently a number of officers working in the Customer Service Hub and on the public counter of the Passport Service who are assigned to engage with customers who wish to communicate in Irish. These officers are recruited...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Directives (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: Implementation of the European Accessibility Act will benefit citizens with accessibility needs, including persons with disabilities and the elderly, as well as creating opportunities for Irish and European businesses trading in accessible goods and services. The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs is awaiting the transposition of Directive 2019/882 by the Minister for Children,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: On 30 December 2022, the UN General Assembly adopted resolution 77/247, which included a request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ/the Court) to render an advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Ireland voted in favour of this resolution, which was supported by 87 UN...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 19 together. I visited Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and Jordan from 4-8 September 2023. In view of the continuing priority afforded by the Government to our relations with these partners and – in particular – the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, this visit provided an important importunity to meet with my political...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: I met with President Isaac Herzog on 7 September during the course of my recent visit to the Middle East. Our exchange covered bilateral relations between Ireland and Israel as well as other issues of mutual interest, notably the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. During our exchange, I shared reflections from my visit, the preceding day, to the West Bank and East...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: Antisemitism and the recent increase in both antisemitism and Holocaust denial are a matter of great concern to my Department. I was pleased to have the opportunity to visit Israel recently and to reaffirm Ireland’s strong commitment to Holocaust remembrance and to combatting antisemitism during my visit to Yad Vashem. I am committed to continued engagement on the issue of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is a strong supporter of the EU perspectives of both Kosovo and Serbia. The EU’s accession process is built upon the Copenhagen criteria, which reflect the EU’s founding values of peace, democracy, the rule of law, respect for fundamental rights, and a functioning market economy. The Government remains dedicated to supporting Kosovo as it introduces reforms to further...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the Northern Ireland Legacy Bill completed its passage through the British Parliament on 12 September and will be submitted for Royal Assent shortly. Since this Bill was introduced at Westminster in May 2022, the Government, together with all the main political parties in Northern Ireland, victims and their representatives, church leaders and civic society, has consistently...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: During my recent visit to the Middle East, I met representatives of Abraham Initiatives. The meeting took place in Lod, which is one of Israel's eight traditional mixed Jewish-Arab cities, with an Arab-Israeli population of slightly over 30%. Abraham Initiatives is a civil society organisation working to promote and mainstream shared living between Jewish and Arab Israelis, including by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland, along with our EU partners, remains greatly concerned for the welfare of all civilians in Nagorno-Karabakh in light of worrying reports that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating further. The politicisation of humanitarian access is never acceptable, and I am deeply concerned that the activities of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the region continue...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: The entitlement of a person to citizenship is governed by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. This provides that where a person was born abroad to an Irish citizen parent, who was also born abroad, in order to be entitled to Irish citizenship through that parent, the details of the person’s birth must be entered into the Foreign Births Register (FBR). FBR...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months from receipt of required supporting documents. Applications which require further supporting documents will take longer to process. Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: While I have not had an opportunity to officially meet with Ambassador Olcay to date in 2023, I can confirm that Ireland maintains positive bilateral relations with Türkiye across multiple layers of engagement. In February, I spoke by telephone with then-Minister of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, Mevlüt Çavusoglu, following the devastating earthquakes in south-eastern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: Cultural diplomacy is an integral part of the work of Ireland's Embassy in Canberra and our Consulate General in Sydney. Both missions work to promote cultural ties and the Irish arts, as well as the strengthening of political and economic relationships and support to the Irish community. The appointment of full-time specialist Cultural Officers in priority locations worldwide has been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: Demand for Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for passports seen in 2022. Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (20 Sep 2023)

Micheál Martin: Foreign Birth Registration (FBR), by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. Such documents take considerable time to validate. FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months from receipt of all required supporting documents....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (20 Sep 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 and requested further supporting documents. The application cannot proceed until the required supporting documents have been received.