Results 9,361-9,380 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland condemns the further invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, which is an unjustified and illegal act of aggression contrary to international law. We support initiatives to bring to account perpetrators of atrocity crimes, including war crimes, committed in Ukraine since Russia’s latest invasion of that country in February 2022. Ireland, along with its EU partners,...

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

Micheál Martin: The number of passport applications currently in the Passport Online system from County Carlow are outlined below in tabular form.  The table also breaks down the number of applications that are currently being processed by the Passport Service and the number of applications that require further action from the applicant, such as the submission of additional documentation. These...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 353 together. 2022 was an exceptionally busy year for the Passport Service, with over 1,085,000 passports issued. 2023 is set to be a similarly busy year.  There are currently 56,000 fully complete applications in the Passport Service system, including 10,700 paper applications. These applications are not considered outstanding, as they...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 354, 369 and 370 together. The Government remains committed to advancing a two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in line with the agreed parameters for a resolution. 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,...

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

Micheál Martin: I am gravely concerned by the continued deterioration of the situation in Myanmar as we approach the second anniversary of the unjustified and illegal coup carried out by the Myanmar military. Ireland has consistently condemned the coup in the strongest terms. The coup represents a devastating setback to progress made and an affront to the democratic will of the people of Myanmar. I am...

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

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued a passport to the applicant. 

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

Micheál Martin: Ms Gráinne Weld is a Special Adviser employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs following the government rotation in December 2022. Ms Weld’s appointment is subject to government approval, pursuant to section 11(1) of the Public Service Management Act 1997 (No. 27 of 1997). Ms Weld is Special Adviser to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál...

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

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. In order to meet this requirement, each passport applicant must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing...

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

Micheál Martin: In January 2020, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform introduced mandatory new procedures for all Departments for offsetting the emissions associated with official air travel. In line with these procedures, the Department records the carbon emissions associated with all official air travel, values these emissions based on the prevailing rate of Ireland’s domestic carbon...

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

Micheál Martin: At the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 January, I along with my EU counterparts had an engagement with the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Shtayyeh, and Foreign Minister, Riad Malki. This was a welcome and timely engagement, particularly in light of concerning recent developments in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. We discussed a range of issues, including the...

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 over 1,085,000 passports issued. 2023 is set to be a similarly busy year, with 61,386 passports to date. There are currently 56,000 fully complete applications in the Passport Service system, including 29,000 renewal applications. These applications are not considered outstanding, as they are being...

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

Micheál Martin: The European Union is active in pursuing the preservation of peace and stability, the reinforcement of international security and the promotion of international cooperation, democracy, the rule of law and the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the world. The Treaty on European Union commits the EU and all of its Member States to contribute to peace, security,...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 363 and 365 together. I attended a working lunch with President Macron in Paris on Thursday, 24 November 2022. The meeting was an opportunity to mark the intensification of our bilateral relations in recent years, and to exchange views on current EU and international issues ahead of the December European Council. Bilateral relations with France have...

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

Micheál Martin: As we have done throughout the Brexit process, the Government remains fully engaged with our key interlocutors and stakeholders in the EU, the UK, Northern Ireland and the US I had a meeting with Prime Minister Sunak at the British-Irish Council in November and spoke with Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in December. I also met Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris...

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

Micheál Martin: The EU has consistently condemned the further invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, which is an unjustified and illegal act of aggression contrary to international law, including the principles of the UN Charter and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. In January of this year, the European Commission disbursed a first instalment of €3 billion, of the up to...

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: Official Engagements (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Yemen is one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, driven by years of conflict, economic collapse and the breakdown of public institutions and services which has left millions of people in need of humanitarian assistance. Ireland fully supports the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, to bring about a political resolution to the conflict in Yemen. Ireland also...

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. There are currently just over 114,000 applications in the Passport Service processing system. Of these, 52,000 are fully complete applications. These...

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

Micheál Martin: I appreciate that the circumstances of this case have been very difficult for the family.  The Department of Foreign Affairs has had significant engagement on this case in the years since the citizen's disappearance, including with the Spanish authorities.  As with all missing person cases, the responsibility for investigation lies with the relevant policing authority. The Embassy...

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

Micheál Martin: The continued absence of an Executive and the failure of the Northern Ireland Assembly to nominate a Speaker is of upmost concern to the Government. The people of Northern Ireland are entitled to be represented by the people who they elected in May 2022. The continued refusal of one party to participate in the nomination of a Speaker and an Executive is a denial of the mandates that was given...