Results 9,501-9,520 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (18 Jan 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Responsibilities (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: There are two Ministers of State at my Department, Peter Burke TD and Seán Fleming TD.  On 21 December 2022, Minister Burke was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for EU Affairs and Minister Fleming was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora. The Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No.2) Act, 1977 provides...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I can confirm that my Department has not contracted any company or organisation or persons to provide media training to the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1 January 2021 to date. I can also confirm that the Department of the Taoiseach did not contract any company or organisation or persons to provide media training to me, as Taoiseach, from 1 January 2021 to date.

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 617, 619, 622 and 625 to 627, inclusive, together. I am deeply concerned by developments in Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank, which could amount to the forcible transfer of over 1,000 Palestinians. I again urge the Israeli Government not to proceed with any planned demolitions and evictions, and to abide by its obligations under international law....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs continues to closely engage with the communities and the company in Colombia referenced by the Deputy. This continuing engagement with all parties ensures my officials have a deep understanding of this highly complex situation, to best support inclusive dialogue to resolve the issues at play. Officials from the Embassy of Ireland in Colombia have visited...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and Thailand continue to enjoy good bilateral relations, which have deepened in recent years following the opening of Ireland's Embassy in Bangkok in 2014.  In the normal course of events Embassy officials regularly engage in work across the many regions of Thailand, including for trade and promotional purposes, to engage with the Irish community, and to provide consular...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 623 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: Middle East (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I would note that I do not agree with the terminology used by the Deputy in framing the issues that she has raised. Ireland’s position on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is crystal 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Occupied Territories Bill would not be compatible with EU law and would not be implementable. This is the clear legal advice on this matter. The Government will therefore not be taking it forward. Ireland has supported legal avenues to differentiate between settlements and Israel, for example by joining a case before the European Courts in 2019 on labelling of certain goods produced...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Due to periodic changes in the format of documents issued by civil registration authorities, and to protect the integrity of the Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) system, previous verifications of civil documents by the FBR service cannot be relied upon for subsequent FBR applications. Accordingly, FBR applications that are submitted separately each require a full set of supporting...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Legislative Measures (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Apart from the Defence Forces (Evidence) Act 2022, all other Acts from the Department of Defence which were passed over the last 10 years have been fully commenced. In relation to the Defence Forces (Evidence) Act 2022, the Deputy might note that this Act was signed by the President on the 6th of July 2022. The principal purpose of this Act, which contains 94 sections, is to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 632 and 642 together. The conditions for entry to the Permanent Defence Force, including the maximum age limits of applicants, are subject to ongoing review and modification having regard to the needs of the organisation, the development of best practices and, as required, reviews of national and international comparators.  Currently, such conditions...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 633 and 634 together. The following table details the current strength and establishment of the Permanent Defence Force, as of the 30 November 2022. - Current Strength (WTE) Agreed Strength Permanent Defence Force 8,049 9,500 Army 6,531 7,520 Air Corps...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Air Corps, as at 12 January 2023, is 749 wholetime equivalent personnel. The table below shows the breakdown requested: Personnel Stream Strength as at 12/01/2023 Qualified pilots 96 Cadets currently completing military training* 14 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. In terms of fishery protection the Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 637 to 639, inclusive, together. As at 30th November 2022, 28 of the 569 female Permanent Defence Force personnel were serving overseas. The requested breakdown of the total female strength of 569, by rank, is as follows: OFFICER LT GEN MAJ GEN BRIG GEN COL LT COL COMDT CAPT LT ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve, the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). The Government remains absolutely committed to the advancement of the RDF. The White Paper on Defence is quite clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve and the Government remains fully committed to this. The strength of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces, including the Reserve Defence Force (RDF), in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve. As of 30 November 2022, the effective female strength of the RDF is 199 members. In line with current policies and commitments, a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware, working in the Defence Forces is a demanding career which places unique physical and psychological demands on individuals, exposing them to a unique range of challenging environments. In these circumstances, it is vital that the health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised. Candidates applying...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy may be aware, working in the Defence Forces is a demanding career which places unique physical and psychological demands on individuals, exposing them to a unique range of challenging environments. In these circumstances, it is vital that the health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised. Candidates...