Results 9,021-9,040 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 34 and 52 together. The Government and our EU partners remain seriously concerned at the situation in Sudan. Heavy fighting, including airstrikes, has been taking place across Khartoum and the rest of Sudan since 15 April. Hospitals and critical infrastructure have been attacked. At least 500 people have been killed and thousands injured. Civilians are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has clearly condemned Iran’s repression of peaceful protests. We have raised our concerns repeatedly with the Iranian Embassy in Dublin and with officials in Tehran. I also spoke with the Iranian Ambassador to Ireland on 20 January last. Sanctions are an important tool of foreign policy, used to deter States from pursuing actions which threaten either international...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 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: International Relations (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am in regular contact with my EU counterparts on matters of foreign policy significance, including in relation to tensions in the Taiwan Strait. On 24 April, the Foreign Affairs Council reviewed recent developments in EU-China relations and visits there by EU political leaders. As the EU and China re-engage in high-level contacts following China's post Covid re-opening, there are more...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 40 together. We are currently in the busy season for passports, as citizens prepare for their upcoming summer travel plans. The Passport Service is successfully responding to the current high demand, and has issued almost 350,000 passports to date this year. All turnaround times are at their target level and there are no backlogs. The Customer Service...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I want to reiterate my sympathy and my condolences for the terrible loss of life caused by the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max ET302 crash in 2019, in which an Irish citizen tragically died. The Department provided consular assistance to the family following the crash. I have personally engaged with the citizen’s bereaved wife and the Department of Foreign Affairs has supported...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: On Friday 24 February 2023, I met with the family of the person in question, who were accompanied by Councillor Michael Naughton. Officials in my Department also met with the family in November 2021. Following my meeting with the family, I wrote to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, bringing the case to his attention. It is essential that all families have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will answer on the understanding that the Deputy is referring to European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefcovic. I have been and remain in ongoing contact with Vice-President Šefcovic. We met most recently in Belfast on 18 April where we discussed implementation of the Windsor Framework, and met jointly with the Northern Ireland Business Brexit Working Group. This was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 44, 59, 67 and 68 together. The full and effective operation of all of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement across all three strands is a key priority for this Government: the power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland; the North South Ministerial Council and the Cross Border Bodies; as well as the East-West institutions. The Agreement is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I met with the Chief Commissioners of both the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (ECNI) and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission (NIHRC) in Belfast on 11 April. These are two important institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement. We discussed a number of common concern, including the provisions of Article 2 of the Windsor Framework. That article includes...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I attended the most recent meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, on Monday, 24 April. The Council took place against the backdrop of the escalation of conflict in Sudan. We discussed coordination of the EU response, including the evacuation of EU citizens, EU diplomatic engagement and efforts to secure a ceasefire, and measures the EU could undertake to address the humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have not met the Russian Ambassador to Ireland since taking up the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs. However, officials in my Department have met with the Ambassador on a number of occasions – most recently in March 2023 - to make clear our utter condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and to discuss a range of operational issues, in line with our obligations under the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together. The Programme for Government states that the Government will “honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or in advance of that, when we believe doing so will progress efforts to reach a two-State solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian territory”. In the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The deteriorating situation on the ground in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory is deeply troubling. On 7 April, I condemned the violence by Israeli forces at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and urged respect for the status quo at the holy sites. Furthermore, I condemned rocket fire into Israel and all violence against civilians, including acts of terrorism in both Israel and the occupied...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The international security environment has changed significantly over the last year. In order to build a deeper understanding of the threats faced by the State, and the links to, and between, our foreign, security and defence policy, I have convened a Consultative Forum on International Security Policy to discuss the issues involved. The Consultative Forum will take place in three...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply troubled by announcements and actions taken by the Israeli Government, which undermine prospects for a two-State solution and are a major obstacle to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace. I am following these developments very closely and urge the parties to abide by their obligations under international law. Ireland’s focus is on seeking ways to change the reality...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I remain gravely concerned by the situation in Nicaragua. The continued human rights violations, crackdowns on opposition voices, civil society and independent media, and the ongoing backsliding on democratic norms, are unacceptable. Ireland fully supported the most recent EU statement on 18 April 2023, which condemned five years of repression in Nicaragua and called for the liberation of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the first permanent international court with the power to prosecute international crimes the International Criminal Court has a crucial role to play in fighting impunity for atrocity crimes. These include the unlawful deportation and transfer of children from Ukraine. In response to this and other crimes being committed in Ukraine, in March last year Ireland and 42 other states referred...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is deeply concerned by mounting evidence that Russia is forcibly transferring Ukrainian children, either to parts of Ukraine’s territory temporarily controlled or occupied by Russia, or to Russia itself. Concerns in relation to Russia’s actions in this regard have been raised by credible bodies, including the OSCE’s Office of Democratic Institutions and Human...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have not met the Russian Ambassador to Ireland since taking up the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs. However, officials in my Department have met with the Ambassador on a number of occasions – most recently in March 2023 - to make clear our utter condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and to discuss a range of operational issues related to our Embassy in Moscow and...