Results 9,401-9,420 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland takes a very active role in supporting human rights defenders, indigenous communities and civil society space in Colombia. Engagement on these issues is a strong component of our bilateral relations with Colombia and our support to the Colombian Peace Process. Since the signing of the Colombian Peace Agreement in 2016, Ireland has provided over €20 million in funding...

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland is consistently engaged at the European Union and United Nations in response to Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression. The European Union and its Member States have collectively pledged assistance of over €67 billion to Ukraine and its people, including financial support, humanitarian assistance, budgetary support, military assistance, and the hosting...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 24 together. On 24 March, the EU-UK Joint Committee which oversees the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement met to formally adopt the Windsor Framework. This finalised the agreement in principle announced by Commission President von der Leyen and UK Prime Minister Sunak on 27 February The focus is now on the implementation of the agreed...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 51 together. The issues raised by the Deputy are of vital importance. Access to justice is an important human rights issue. I am aware of the ongoing delays that persons awaiting trial in Northern Ireland are experiencing. The issues identified by the Deputy are the responsibility of the authorities in Northern Ireland, including the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (27 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I remain extremely concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given his ill health. I can assure the Deputy that the citizen's release remains a strong priority for me and my Department. To that end, there continues to be extensive engagement by the Government with the authorities in Iran on the case. I have discussed the matter with the Foreign Minister of...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 39 and 53 together. I reiterate the comments made in my reply to Deputy Connolly to Parliamentary Question No. 88 of 21 March 2023. Our position remains unchanged. Ireland is committed to supporting a just and sustainable peace on the basis of a two-State solution. I have not yet spoken to my Israeli counterpart, Foreign Minister Cohen, though hope to do...

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

Micheál Martin: We are currently in the busy season for passports, as citizens prepare for their upcoming summer travel plans. Thanks to the staffing and operational plans implemented for 2023, 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...

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: 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...