Results 9,721-9,740 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, initial supporting documents for this application were received on 7 February 2023. Processing time starts from the date that supporting documents are received. On 2 March 2023 the Passport Service requested a new Consent form, as the witness verification details for the first Consent form could not be verified with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 240 together. Addressing the status of undocumented Irish citizens in the United States is a priority for the Government, a key issue in ongoing engagements with the Administration and political leaders in the United States. In their meeting in the White House on St. Patrick's Day, the Taoiseach raised immigration matters directly with President Biden....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The UK Nationality and Borders Act 2022 provides for the establishment of a scheme under which non-Visa required nationals will need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK. This requirement will not apply to Irish citizens due to the Common Travel Area arrangements. The scheme will enter into force on a phased basis from October this year. Since 2021,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Equality Issues (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: On 15 June 2021, the Hungarian Parliament passed a Law imposing multiple prohibitions on the portrayal to persons under the age of 18 of homosexuality, sex reassignment, and gender identities that do not correspond to the sex assigned at birth. On 15 July 2022, the European Commission announced it was referring Hungary to the Court of Justice in relation to this law. The case for doing so was...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Military life places unique demands on individuals and it is necessary that Defence Forces personnel are prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations. For this reason compulsory retirement ages for ranks in the Permanent Defence Force are considerably lower than in other employments. The Public Service Pay Commission in their report on recruitment and retention in the Permanent...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Since my appointment as Minister for Defence, I have corresponded with a number of my EU colleagues and I look forward to engaging with them in-person in the future, both bilaterally and in the format of formal and informal meetings of EU Defence Ministers. I recently attended the 59th Munich Security Conference which was attended by a large number of Defence Ministers from the EU and beyond,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The Equipment Development Plan (EDP) published in June 2020, completed through extensive joint civil-military work, provides a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. In this context, the principal aim over the period of the White Paper is to replace and upgrade, as required,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron carries out aerial surveillance of the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) using the two CASA CN 235 maritime patrol aircraft. These aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment which offers aerial assistance to the Naval Service in patrolling the Irish EEZ. Following a competitive tender competition in 2019...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. In this context, the principal aim over the period of the White Paper is to replace and upgrade, as required,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, and its report was published on the 9th of February 2022. The Commission has undertaken a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It recommends significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high-level Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (23 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The Equipment Development Plan (EDP) published in June 2020, completed through extensive joint civil-military work, provides a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Court of Human Rights (22 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Government’s approach to legacy and reconciliation in Northern Ireland has always been that it should be victim-centred, with the starting point the approach agreed by both Governments and the Executive parties in the Stormont House Agreement, further endorsed in the Fresh Start and New Decade, New Approach Agreements. The UK's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (22 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The full and effective operation of all of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is a key priority for this Government. The people of Northern Ireland are entitled to a functioning Assembly and Executive. Their vote in last May's Assembly elections must be respected so that the political leadership and institutions required to address the issues facing communities and families can be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Bodies (22 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: On 15 June 2021, the Hungarian Parliament passed a law imposing multiple prohibitions on the promotion or portrayal to persons under the age of 18 of homosexuality, sex reassignment, and gender identities that do not correspond to the sex assigned at birth. Following the law’s introduction, Ireland was one of 18 EU Member States to sign a joint declaration criticising the measure and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (22 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The passport service is successfully meeting the current high demand. All turnaround times are at their target level and there are no backlogs. The current processing times are as follows: Online simple adult renewal - 10 working days Online child/complex adult renewal - 15 working days Online first time application, adult or child - 20 working days Post Passport via An Post, adult or child...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (22 Mar 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. We have, however, 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (22 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is pursuing a Digital First strategy and promoting Passport Online as the quickest, most convenient and least expensive channel for applicants. This has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing resulting in greater efficiencies for the Service and for customers. The majority of Passport Service operations take place at the newly expanded Balbriggan Campus...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Travel (22 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) is delivered primarily by the use of the Learjet 45 aircraft, which came into operation in 2004. Where it is unavailable, the CASA 235 and/or other Air Corps aircraft may be used. The Learjet is currently approaching its natural end of life. Based on current serviceability issues, discontinuation of manufacturer support and limited part...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (22 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: To answer the Deputy's question, the modalities of engagement with the upcoming German-led EU Battlegroup, and any and all ancillary aspects arising from that, remain under discussion within Military Management and within my Department. Any decision on which allowances, if any, will apply, will await the outcome of the civil-military determinations in that regard.