Results 9,501-9,520 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: Passport fees are set out in Statutory Instrument No. 259/2019 Diplomatic and Consular Fees (Amendment) Regulations. Although there is no provision to waive the fee for children who are in foster care, the Passport Service has a dedicated team that deals with passport applications made on their behalf. This ensures that such applications are processed with due care and attention given their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: General Register Office (19 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: Passport Services (19 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application was received by the Passport Service on 7 November 2022. The turnaround time for paper based applications is 8 weeks. The Passport Service requested further supporting documents from the applicant on 20 December 2022. Further supporting documents were received by the Passport Service on 10 March...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The security situation in Europe has changed fundamentally. The changed geopolitical context and wider threat environment in Europe calls for consideration of the State’s approach to international security policy issues. Against this backdrop, a Consultative Forum on International Security Policy will be convened with a view to initiating an open and evidence-based discussion on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: Irish citizens travelling or living overseas are encouraged to voluntarily register their contact details using the Citizens' Registration platform of the Department of Foreign Affairs, but there is no requirement to do so.  No authoritative records are maintained by Government of the number of Irish citizens living in any given place abroad. Irish passports can be renewed from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Sanctions (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The sanctions adopted in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine are the most expansive and hard-hitting sanctions in EU history. Ireland has consistently supported strong sanctions in response to Russia’s illegal actions in Ukraine. A number of Iranian individuals and entities are subject to restrictive measures in relation to the use of Iranian drones in Russian aggression...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (18 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, including through my own discussions with the Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 126, 148, 151, 152 and 153 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I remain gravely concerned by the deteriorating situation in Myanmar. The escalation in violence, displacement of people and the dire humanitarian and human rights situation are appalling. During our time on the United Nations Security Council and through our bilateral and EU engagement, including at the Human Rights Council, Ireland has consistently condemned the coup, calling for an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 to 121, inclusive, together. The Passport Service is successfully meeting the current high demand for passports. All turnaround times are at their target level and there are no backlogs. Over 322,000 passports have been issued to date in 2023. The busy season for passports in 2023 is underway, and demand forecasts indicate that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (the "2008 Act"). Under the 2008 Act, a passport cannot be issued to a person unless the Minister is satisfied as to the identity of the person and that the person is an Irish citizen. First time applicants for passports are required to submit their full original civil birth certificate,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: In response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department undertook large scale consular operations in 2020 and 2021.  A major element of the assistance provided was the repatriation of Irish citizens from around the world.   As a matter of ongoing policy, citizens being repatriated to Ireland in such circumstances are required to meet the costs associated with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (18 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: Irish Prisoners Abroad (18 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, including through my own discussions with the Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: As of 11 April 2023, there are 828 staff in the Passport Service who have been given access to the Automated Passport System (APS). The Department has policies, processes and procedures in place for the appropriate access and use of APS and monitors the implementation of these on an ongoing basis.  In relation to your question, an internal process is underway at present and it would not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, initial supporting documents for the application were received on 20 February 2023. Turnaround time begins from the date supporting documents are received. Turnaround time for first time online applications is 20 working days. On 14 March 2023 the Passport Service requested further supporting documents from the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 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: Middle East (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 138 together. The recent upsurge in violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory is of deep concern. I have clearly condemned the violence by Israeli forces at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and have urged respect for the status quo at the holy sites. Furthermore, I have condemned rocket fire into Israel and all violence against civilians, including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department actively manages sick absences in accordance with Civil Service rules and procedures. Details of long term sick absences, which occur when a civil servant is absent for four weeks or more, are set out below.  It should be noted that the number of civil servants employed in my Department has increased from 1,360 in 2018 to 2,067 on 3rd April last as we roll out the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs subscribes fully to the Civil Service value that every member of staff has a right to work in an environment free of any form of bullying and that bullying behaviour is totally unacceptable All complaints or allegations made by members of staff are treated seriously and fairly under the terms of the Civil Service Dignity at Work policy. It should be noted...