Results 10,481-10,500 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Motion [Private Members]: Ukraine War (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: To the best of my knowledge, the only country to question Ireland's neutrality last year was Russia. In my view, Russia has zero credibility in that regard. We are militarily neutral. We are not politically neutral. We are members of the European Union and the United Nations. The UN Charter is very strong on self-defence. Ukraine is entitled to defend itself against appalling...

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Motion [Private Members]: Passport Services (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 67 together. Last year was an exceptionally busy year for the passport service, with over 1.085 million passports issued. This represents the first time in the history of the State that over 1 million passports were issued in a calendar year. The passport service surpassed its previous busiest year of 2019, when 935,000 passports were issued. The...

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Motion [Private Members]: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: We are concerned about the situation in Palestine and about the position of the new Israeli Government, especially in the context of its attitude towards expansion. There is real concern regarding the statements that have been made, the visit to the holy site and so on. Ireland has been active on this issue at the UN Security Council over the past year and a half to two years, so much so...

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Motion [Private Members]: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is correct that the programme for Government states that the Government will honour its commitment to recognise the state of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or in advance of that, when we believe that doing so will progress efforts to reach a two-state solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian territory. We are working with like-minded states in...

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Motion [Private Members]: Ukraine War (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his comments and for raising this issue. While Ireland is a militarily neutral country, meaning that we do not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements, we are not politically or morally neutral in response to Russia's unprovoked aggression against Ukraine. Ireland strongly condemns the ongoing, despicable and indiscriminate...

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Motion [Private Members]: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Would the Deputy believe my pass would not work and I was locked in?

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: Motion [Private Members]: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his kind remarks. I appreciate them and I look forward to working with the Deputy and others on these issues. At the outset, I want to put on record again my strong condemnation of last Friday's shocking attack in Jerusalem, and to convey my thoughts and sympathies to the victims and their families. Turning to the Deputy's question, it is Ireland's long-standing...

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: To what is the Deputy referring?

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I attended a meeting of the European Council on Thursday, 15 December in Brussels. The agenda covered Ukraine, energy and economic issues, security and defence and external relations issues. In his contribution to the debate, the Minister of State, Deputy Burke, will provide further detail on discussions on European Union enlargement and outline the priorities of the Swedish Presidency of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The annexation by Israel of any part of the occupied Palestinian territory would be a clear violation of international law. It would have no legitimacy, and would not be recognised or accepted by Ireland, or by the international community more generally, and would be deeply damaging to the two-State solution. I am concerned by the statements of some Israeli officials regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the report published by Amnesty International last year, entitled “Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity” (February 2022) I note also that the issues outlined in this report have also been raised in a number of other reports from UN Rapporteurs and from civil society organisations. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 124 and 131 together. Since taking up my role as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have engaged on legacy issues, in particular our opposition to the Legacy Bill, as a matter of priority. Prior to this, as Taoiseach, I raised this issue with Prime Minister Sunak. I have engaged formally with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 80, 90 and 106 together. The full implementation and effective operation of all of the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement, including the devolved power-sharing institutions provided for under Strand One and the restoration of the North South Ministerial Council, is of upmost importance to the Government. The refusal by one party to nominate a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, I travelled to Lebanon last week. While there I met with both the Lebanese Foreign and Defence Ministers. I also met with UN Under-Secretary General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix who is currently in the region. I visited our UNIFIL contingent in Camp Shamrock and conveyed my sympathies and those of the government to the colleagues of Private...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Thanks to significant investment by the Government and the dedicated work of the Passport Service staff, substantial improvements have been made during 2022 and all passports are being issued within the advertised turnaround times.  The current processing times are as follows: Online adult renewal - 10 working days Online child/complex renewal - 15 working days Online first...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: British-Irish Co-operation (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 121 together. A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) took place at Farmleigh House, on 19 January 2023. The Government was represented by myself, Minister Ryan and Minister Harris. The British delegation was led by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris, and Ministers of State Steve...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) provides for continued trade and cooperation between the European Union and the United Kingdom. While the seamless pre-Brexit relationship with the UK cannot be replaced, the TCA provides for tariff- and quota- free goods trade between the EU and the UK as well as cooperation in a wide range of areas of importance to Ireland such as energy,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: 2022 was an exceptionally busy year for the Passport Service, with a record 1,085,000 passports issued. 2023 is set to be a similarly busy year. There has already been a marked increase in the number of applications received this year, signifying that the next busy season for passports is commencing. Applications have increased from an average of 1,400 per day in December to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 96, 109 and 117 together. The Foreign Affairs Council addressed a number of important issues, in particular the ongoing war in Ukraine, human rights violations in Iran, and the EU’s relationship with the Palestinian Authority. We took a number of decisions in relation to these issues and others.  The Council was addressed by...