Results 10,441-10,460 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I take it that the Deputy is referring to the process under Section 13(2) of the Army Pensions Act, 1923 that applies to the award of disability pensions and gratuities under the Army Pensions Acts, and the notification of this process to individual applicants. The Army Pensions Acts provide for the grant of pensions and gratuities to former members of the Permanent Defence Force in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (1 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department and its Embassy network has engaged in promotion online where there is important information that needs to be brought to the attention of citizens, and for the wider promotion of Ireland around the world. This had included campaigns relating to Passports, Consular Assitance, St Patrick's Day, and 'all of Government' campaigns relating to Covid-19 and Brexit. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (1 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I can confirm that my attention has not been drawn to any instances where the public relations unit and/or press office of my Department undertook to create social media accounts under false names, which were operated in order to further the messaging or communications of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (1 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I wish to advise the Deputy, my Department spent the following as outlined in tabular form on online advertising, for the period 2013-2023. Year Expenditure Comment 2013 Nil 2014 €3,690.00 Winter Ready Twitter campaign 2015 €5,041.78 Winter Ready...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (1 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I wish to advise the Deputy, my Department’s Press Office has not created social media accounts under false names, for any purpose.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Naval Service (1 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: As a result of previously acknowledged recruitment and retention difficulties in the Naval Service, in particular for specialist positions, the Naval Service has concluded that the LE Roisin should be placed into operational reserve with effect from 31 January 2023 and that the LE Niamh should be placed into operational reserve on completion of its mid-life refit later this year. They...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Protection (1 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department is continuing to engage across Government, including through the Senior Officials Group on the Ukrainian humanitarian crisis, in relation to requests for accommodation or other supports that are required from the Defence Organisation in response to the refugee crisis. Following a request from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: As I said earlier, I am very concerned by the demolitions and evictions in the occupied Palestinian territory. Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian property and humanitarian aid accelerated in 2022, which saw a record number of Palestinians affected by demolitions, evictions and confiscations. I have been consistently forthright in voicing my opposition to Israeli settlement activity,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is doing everything it can within its diplomatic and political capacities, particularly, as I said earlier, in multilateral fora such as the United Nations Security Council, where we have consistently raised these issues. Our position was most recently reiterated on 19 December at the meeting of the UN Security Council which focused on the issue of Israeli settlements, and we were...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Early last year, the Estonian Prime Minister was the first to put forward the idea of utilising Russian assets that have been frozen to facilitate reconstruction in Ukraine. When this suggestion was put forward at the European Council, there was not a big take-up in respect of it. I gave support to Prime Minister Kallas of Estonia and stated that we needed to pursue the matter. Momentum...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I was very pleased to launch the shared island civic society fund earlier this month. The fund forms part of the Government’s shared island initiative, which I established more than two years ago, and will build on all of the progress already made on infrastructure, research and community projects. Through the shared island dialogue series, we learned that civic society groups across...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy. Applications are invited from a range of civic society community organisations, business and trade union representative groups and regional or national representative bodies. Of course, we are also including the under-represented voices of women, young people, older people, ethnic minorities, the LGBTQI+ community. Applications will have a North-South dimension....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: North-South Implementation Bodies (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The deadline for applications for the current funding round is Monday, 27 February, so the Deputy had better get the application in. Officials in my Department are happy to engage with anyone who has a query regarding the eligibility of a specific organisation or project. Further funding rounds will be scheduled and will take account of any learnings gained from the first call for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his comments. The response of the US and the White House to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine has, fortunately, been balanced. That was the case when the US wanted to avoid the war. It has also done everything possible to support Ukraine in its pursuit of its entitlement under the UN Charter to self-defence. The US has done that in a way that avoids, if at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his comment and agree with him. I hope that if outstanding issues are resolved, we could create a platform for further investment in the economy of Northern Ireland. Historically, it has not done as well as other regions on the island. The cessation of violence and the Downing Street Declaration helped economic development in the North and it has improved...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy. In Ukraine last July, I heard first-hand accounts from civilians of the brutality and violence visited upon men, women and children by occupying Russian forces. Where Russia's forces have been pushed back, we have seen wanton destruction and the uncovering of mass civilian graves in towns and villages. Ireland supports initiatives to bring to account the individual...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The principle of accountability is very important. At the commencement of and during all wars in the past, accountability has seemed a long way off and appeared an almost unachievable proposition. We should know from history that accountability can and does happen in the aftermath of terrible wars. We saw that recently in the Balkans. We must pursue those who perpetrate war and engage in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: It is important to reiterate and reassert the constitutional position of the Good Friday Agreement, that is, that the principle of consent remains intact. That is the bona fide position of the Irish Government and of all parties to the agreement. Second, in all my meetings with all parties in Northern Ireland, no one has suggested that access to the European Union or the Single Market...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Since Russia commenced its unjustified and unprovoked further invasion of Ukraine, we have consistently expressed Ireland's unwavering solidarity with Ukraine and support for its sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We have used our voice at the UN Security Council, UN Human Rights Council and other multilateral fora to call for accountability...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am sorry; I thought political representatives could be mentioned.