Results 9,681-9,700 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Citizens' Assembly (18 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Consultation Forum on International Security Policy will take place in three different locations over four days at the end of June - on 22 June at University College Cork, on 23 June at the University of Galway, and on 26-27 June at Dublin Castle. Louise Richardson, DBE, has been appointed as Chair. The Forum will draw on the principles underlying the Citizens’ Assembly model but...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Neutrality (18 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's relationship with NATO is conducted through Partnership for Peace (PfP), of which Ireland has been a member since 1999. Participation in PfP is seen as fundamental to Ireland being able to meet its obligations in providing professional peacekeepers for international crisis management and peacekeeping operations mandated by the UN and in enhancing the Defence Forces’...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3, 4 and 6 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (17 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Property Management Strategic Framework of the Department of Foreign Affairs, includes the strategic priority of providing a network of safe, secure, sustainable, well-maintained and inclusive workplaces. The provision of high quality facilities for our staff is imperative for supporting the delivery of high quality services and engagement to Irish citizens and other stakeholders. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued a refund to the applicants for the Urgent Appointments.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (17 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: No funds have been released by my Department under the Per Cent for Art scheme during the period in question. However, as a Department, we are committed to supporting Irish artists and promoting Irish design throughout our mission network. An allocation has been made in the budget for the Ireland House Tokyo project which is in line with that offered in the Per Cent scheme.  The Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department is currently in the busiest season of the year for processing passport applications, as citizens prepare for their upcoming summer travel plans. Thanks to operational and staffing plans implemented by the Department, the Passport Service is successfully responding to the current high demand, and has issued over 420,000 passports to date this year. All turnaround times are at...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy may wish to note that the LDA Report on Relevant Public Land published in March 2023 identified St.Bricins facility as a strategic state land site to be used for adaptive re-use of the existing structure to residential use. In that regard, my Department has largely concluded the necessary legal preparatory work to give effect to this transfer.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (17 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: Between January 2021 and August of 2021, the Department had separate cleaning contracts for its various buildings. In 2021, under the OGP Framework, the Department consolidated all contracts under one for a three-year period with Accent Solutions becoming the sole cleaning provider for the Department of Defence. The table below details the periods for which each cleaning contract existed. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: United Nations (17 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 17 together. Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and UN Peacekeeping.  Our commitment and support for the primary role of the United Nations, in the maintenance of international peace and security, is expressed in Ireland's long-standing tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations.  This commitment is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Funding (17 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: There has been no expenditure by the Department of Defence under the 'Per Cent for Art' scheme over the period in question.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: Through the Chair, the Deputy was against any discussion about this because his view and that of Deputies Barry and Boyd Barrett is to have no discussion.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: They labelled everything I said about this as some attempt or strategy to end military neutrality. They immediately knee-jerked-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----their way into saying that is what I am about. The reason I recommended this format to the Government and to the Oireachtas is because, while Deputy Murphy has his views on neutrality and Irish foreign policy, I have views on Irish foreign policy, as does the party opposite and as do others. I believe this is a better forum because parties themselves might want to make submissions in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: Yes. Deputy Murphy does not like debate-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----that is not on his terms and he lambasts anybody who suggests an open, transparent forum for a discussion on Irish foreign policy and an analysis of the security threats.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I will address Finland and Sweden first. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and the manner in which that took place shocked Finland, which has navigated the relationship with Russia and the Soviet Union before it with great dexterity ever since its foundation, but it shook Finland to the core. I remember Finland's prime minister saying to me that everything they were taught in school and which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: I predicted this would happen. It is a nasty tactic of the far left, best exemplified by the Deputy here, to assassinate the person who is appointed. It is reprehensible behaviour but the Deputy does it all the time. His movement does it all the time. They attack the person who is appointed.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: That person has a distinguished academic record. She was born in Waterford and rose to the top in the academic world in Oxford and the UK. She has a record in her own right as a political scientist. She is a person who will chair this consultative forum in an admirable, objective way. It speaks to the Deputy's hostility to anything this side of the House might suggest in respect of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (16 May 2023)

Micheál Martin: -----with some countries which are in NATO.