Results 9,281-9,300 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Early last year, the Estonian Prime Minister was the first to put forward the idea of utilising Russian assets that have been frozen to facilitate reconstruction in Ukraine. When this suggestion was put forward at the European Council, there was not a big take-up in respect of it. I gave support to Prime Minister Kallas of Estonia and stated that we needed to pursue the matter. Momentum...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I was very pleased to launch the shared island civic society fund earlier this month. The fund forms part of the Government’s shared island initiative, which I established more than two years ago, and will build on all of the progress already made on infrastructure, research and community projects. Through the shared island dialogue series, we learned that civic society groups across...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy. Applications are invited from a range of civic society community organisations, business and trade union representative groups and regional or national representative bodies. Of course, we are also including the under-represented voices of women, young people, older people, ethnic minorities, the LGBTQI+ community. Applications will have a North-South dimension....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The deadline for applications for the current funding round is Monday, 27 February, so the Deputy had better get the application in. Officials in my Department are happy to engage with anyone who has a query regarding the eligibility of a specific organisation or project. Further funding rounds will be scheduled and will take account of any learnings gained from the first call for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his comments. The response of the US and the White House to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine has, fortunately, been balanced. That was the case when the US wanted to avoid the war. It has also done everything possible to support Ukraine in its pursuit of its entitlement under the UN Charter to self-defence. The US has done that in a way that avoids, if at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his comment and agree with him. I hope that if outstanding issues are resolved, we could create a platform for further investment in the economy of Northern Ireland. Historically, it has not done as well as other regions on the island. The cessation of violence and the Downing Street Declaration helped economic development in the North and it has improved...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy. In Ukraine last July, I heard first-hand accounts from civilians of the brutality and violence visited upon men, women and children by occupying Russian forces. Where Russia's forces have been pushed back, we have seen wanton destruction and the uncovering of mass civilian graves in towns and villages. Ireland supports initiatives to bring to account the individual...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The principle of accountability is very important. At the commencement of and during all wars in the past, accountability has seemed a long way off and appeared an almost unachievable proposition. We should know from history that accountability can and does happen in the aftermath of terrible wars. We saw that recently in the Balkans. We must pursue those who perpetrate war and engage in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is important to reiterate and reassert the constitutional position of the Good Friday Agreement, that is, that the principle of consent remains intact. That is the bona fide position of the Irish Government and of all parties to the agreement. Second, in all my meetings with all parties in Northern Ireland, no one has suggested that access to the European Union or the Single Market...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Since Russia commenced its unjustified and unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine, we have consistently expressed Ireland's unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We have used our voice at the UN Security Council, UN Human Rights Council and other multilateral fora to call for accountability...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am sorry; I thought political representatives could be mentioned.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Okay. The point is taken. Accountability is extremely important because we have to call out Russia's cynical attempts to use the Council and other United Nations bodies to spread disinformation. Ireland voted to exclude Russia from the UN Human Rights Council and has co-sponsored three resolutions at the UN General Assembly condemning Russia’s aggression and calling for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: In my previous role as Taoiseach, we had been pursuing the entire issue of accountability for Russia. It is complex legally but it is one area where Ireland feels it can make a contribution. I outlined earlier the different decisions we have taken, for example, that the Russian Federation should cease to be a member at the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe; that we submitted a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy's general comment about how Russia has behaved in recent years. There were many warning signs but I thought the poisoning of people in the United Kingdom, in Salisbury and London, provoked too lame a response from the West. This was an appalling public health attack, as well as the murder of individuals. It was a public health attack that put many people in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 119 together. I thank the Deputy for his kind comments. Since assuming my new role, I have had the opportunity for constructive exchanges with both the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, and the newly appointed US special envoy to Northern Ireland for economic affairs, Joe Kennedy III. During my recent call with the Secretary of State, we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Andrews made the point of the comparison between Iran and Palestine. Deputy Ó Murchú said Europe does not seem to care or act. Ireland does, though. When Shireen Abu Akleh was killed, Ireland raised the issue during our tenure on the UN Security Council. We did not stay silent on it. We called for an impartial, independent and effective investigation and, on 24 May, we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the Deputy's comments and thank him for his kind personal comments. The recent political and technical engagements between the EU and the UK around the implementation of the Northern Ireland protocol are welcome. While technical work is ongoing, I believe it is best to give the EU and UK teams space to find joint solutions that will address the concerns of people and business...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I accept the Deputy's sentiments. I am acutely aware of concerns unionism has on the operation of the protocol. I believe the EU is aware of that too and that, through meetings over the past year, Vice President, Maroš Šefčovič, has made himself aware of those issues and concerns and is anxious to respond to those concerns. We have also been very anxious to allow...

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Motion [Private Members]: Brexit Issues (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy made some fair points in the latter part of his question. From the outset, we have acknowledged that issues have arisen in the operation of the protocol, particularly with regard to consumer goods. In my meetings with all political parties in Northern Ireland, including unionist parties, we have acknowledged that. I think Vice-President Šefčovič and the...

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Motion [Private Members]: Brexit Issues (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have been to Derry in the context of the shared island initiative over the last two and a half years. People there are pleased with the shared island initiative. The North West Strategic Growth Partnership is particularly pleased. It involves all of the councils in the north west working together in harmony by leaving politics and party politics outside the door to advance the cause of...