Results 9,321-9,340 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I attended a meeting of the European Council on Thursday, 15 December in Brussels. The agenda covered Ukraine, energy and economic issues, security and defence and external relations issues. In his contribution to the debate, the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, will provide further detail on discussions on European Union enlargement and outline the priorities of the Swedish Presidency of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The annexation by Israel of any part of the occupied Palestinian territory would be a clear violation of international law. It would have no legitimacy, and would not be recognised or accepted by Ireland, or by the international community more generally, and would be deeply damaging to the two-State solution. I am concerned by the statements of some Israeli officials regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the report published by Amnesty International last year, entitled “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity” (February 2022) I note also that the issues outlined in this report have also been raised in a number of other reports from UN Rapporteurs and from civil society organisations. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 124 and 131 together. Since taking up my role as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have engaged on legacy issues, in particular our opposition to the Legacy Bill, as a matter of priority. Prior to this, as Taoiseach, I raised this issue with Prime Minister Sunak. I have engaged formally with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 80, 90 and 106 together. The full implementation and effective operation of all of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, including the devolved power-sharing institutions provided for under Strand One and the restoration of the North South Ministerial Council, is of upmost importance to the Government. The refusal by one party to nominate a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, I travelled to Lebanon last week. While there I met with both the Lebanese Foreign and Defence Ministers. I also met with UN Under-Secretary General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix who is currently in the region. I visited our UNIFIL contingent in Camp Shamrock and conveyed my sympathies and those of the government to the colleagues of Private...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Thanks to significant investment by the Government and the dedicated work of the Passport Service staff, substantial improvements have been made during 2022 and all passports are being issued within the advertised turnaround times.  The current processing times are as follows: Online adult renewal - 10 working days Online child/complex renewal - 15 working days Online first...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: British-Irish Co-operation (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 121 together. A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) took place at Farmleigh House, on 19 January 2023. The Government was represented by myself, Minister Ryan and Minister Harris. The British delegation was led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, and Ministers of State Steve...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) provides for continued trade and cooperation between the European Union and the United Kingdom. While the seamless pre-Brexit relationship with the UK cannot be replaced, the TCA provides for tariff- and quota- free goods trade between the EU and the UK as well as cooperation in a wide range of areas of importance to Ireland such as energy,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: 2022 was an exceptionally busy year for the Passport Service, with a record 1,085,000 passports issued. 2023 is set to be a similarly busy year. There has already been a marked increase in the number of applications received this year, signifying that the next busy season for passports is commencing. Applications have increased from an average of 1,400 per day in December to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 96, 109 and 117 together. The Foreign Affairs Council addressed a number of important issues, in particular the ongoing war in Ukraine, human rights violations in Iran, and the EU’s relationship with the Palestinian Authority. We took a number of decisions in relation to these issues and others.  The Council was addressed by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 105 together. Ireland has consistently used its voice at all multilateral fora, including the UN and the EU, to categorically condemn Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine and the blatant disregard for international law and international humanitarian law it represents. As an elected member of the UN Security Council for the first 10 months of this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a key foreign policy priority for Ireland. Israel’s new Government took office on 29 December. I have written to Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, reiterating Ireland’s close engagement and unwavering commitment to supporting a just and sustainable peace on the basis of a two-State solution. I look forward to having the chance to speak...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose taking Question Nos. 88, 123, and 130 together. I am deeply concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given the serious medical condition that he is in. There continues to be extensive engagement on the citizen's case with the Iranian authorities at senior political and official levels. In my recent direct contact with Iran's Minister of Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Ireland Canada relationship is deeper on many levels than ever before. Canada is home to millions of people with strong Irish connections in both historic and new Irish communities. The influence of those with Irish heritage in Canada and the depth of their affinity with Ireland is the pre-eminent factor in the nurturing of our relationship with Canada, especially in recent decades. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Haiti, already at breaking point for some time, deteriorated even further during the course of 2022 and again over the last number of weeks. The security situation is in crisis, with gang control inhibiting a humanitarian response and depriving citizens of key infrastructure. Accounts of violence, particularly sexual and gender-based violence, are deeply disturbing. Cases of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (31 Jan 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 December 2022 and January 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 116, 118 and 120 together. Sanctions are an important foreign policy tool, used to deter States from pursuing actions which threaten international stability, or from harming citizens in their own country. Since 2011, the EU has applied sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for human rights violations in Iran. Ireland works with our EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 115 together. Ireland’s position on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is clear; the continued establishment and expansion of settlements is a violation of international law and is unacceptable. This position was reiterated at the UN Security Council on 19 December, which focused on the implementation of UNSC Resolution...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 104, 113, 125 and 137 together. The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody in Iran on 16 September, 2022 was a tragedy. The fact that she was arrested simply due to the way she was dressed understandably provoked a strong response from the Iranian people and the international community. The subsequent violence perpetrated by...