Results 10,501-10,520 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 105 together. Ireland has consistently used its voice at all multilateral fora, including the UN and the EU, to categorically condemn Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine and the blatant disregard for international law and international humanitarian law it represents. As an elected member of the UN Security Council for the first 10 months of this...

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

Micheál Martin: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict remains a key foreign policy priority for Ireland. Israel’s new Government took office on 29 December. I have written to Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, reiterating Ireland’s close engagement and unwavering commitment to supporting a just and sustainable peace on the basis of a two-State solution. I look forward to having the chance to speak...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose taking Question Nos. 88, 123, and 130 together. I am deeply concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given the serious medical condition that he is in. There continues to be extensive engagement on the citizen's case with the Iranian authorities at senior political and official levels. In my recent direct contact with Iran's Minister of Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Ireland Canada relationship is deeper on many levels than ever before. Canada is home to millions of people with strong Irish connections in both historic and new Irish communities. The influence of those with Irish heritage in Canada and the depth of their affinity with Ireland is the pre-eminent factor in the nurturing of our relationship with Canada, especially in recent decades. ...

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

Micheál Martin: The situation in Haiti, already at breaking point for some time, deteriorated even further during the course of 2022 and again over the last number of weeks. The security situation is in crisis, with gang control inhibiting a humanitarian response and depriving citizens of key infrastructure. Accounts of violence, particularly sexual and gender-based violence, are deeply disturbing. Cases of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have not met the Russian Ambassador to Ireland since taking up the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs. However, officials in my Department have met with the Ambassador on a number of occasions – most recently in December 2022 and January 2023 - to make clear our utter condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and to discuss a range of operational issues, in line with our...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 116, 118 and 120 together. Sanctions are an important foreign policy tool, used to deter States from pursuing actions which threaten international stability, or from harming citizens in their own country. Since 2011, the EU has applied sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for human rights violations in Iran. Ireland works with our EU...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 115 together. Ireland’s position on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is 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 on 19 December, which focused on the implementation of UNSC Resolution...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 104, 113, 125 and 137 together. The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody in Iran on 16 September, 2022 was a tragedy. The fact that she was arrested simply due to the way she was dressed understandably provoked a strong response from the Iranian people and the international community. The subsequent violence perpetrated by...

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

Micheál Martin: I was concerned by the renewed fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan last year, and by reports of the ongoing obstruction of the Lachin corridor since 12 December. These developments severely affect the civilian population, especially ethnic Armenians living in Nagorno Karabakh. During our tenure on the UN Security Council, which ended in December, Ireland repeatedly called for a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has consistently been a strong advocate for Ukrainian integration into the EU. We were pleased to see it granted EU candidate country status in June 2022. EU membership has been transformative for Ireland, its people and economy, and we are eager to see these benefits extended to the people of Ukraine. In his recent phone call with President Zelenskyy, the Taoiseach confirmed...

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

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs and its mission network play an important role in promoting Irish trade throughout the world. The Department’s network of embassies and consulates are central to the Team Ireland approach, which sees Government Departments and State Agencies working closely with other Irish stakeholders to strengthen Ireland's international reputation and drive the...

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland has been providing support to Ukraine both bilaterally and through the EU budget. That support has been directed at addressing the humanitarian consequences of Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine as well as supporting the Government and business sector in Ukraine.  In terms of humanitarian assistance Ireland was among the first to respond to the crisis in...

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

Micheál Martin: The ongoing programme of Passport Service Reform focuses on the future of service delivery by continuing to identify and implement projects to enhance the customer experience and provide for business continuity while maintaining the integrity of the Irish passport. The standout achievement of the programme thus far has been the introduction of the Passport Online service to our citizens....

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

Micheál Martin: The number of passport applications currently in the Passport Online system from County Cork are outlined below in tabular form.  The table also breaks down the number of applications that are currently being processed by the Passport Service and the number of applications that require further action from the applicant, such as the submission of additional documentation. These...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has always been, and will remain, a strong supporter of enlargement of the European Union, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary conditions for membership. We recognise the value of enlargement as a transformative driver for stability and peace in candidate countries. There are currently eight recognised candidates for membership of the European Union: Albania,...

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

Micheál Martin: While Ireland is militarily neutral, the Government has been clear that Ireland is not politically neutral in terms of our response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine. Ireland believes in and is fully committed to the core principles enshrined in the UN Charter. These include the sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States. Ukraine has...

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

Micheál Martin: We have been consistent in our condemnation of Russia and have supported measures to support Ukraine at every opportunity. Ireland has consistently supported imposing strong sanctions against Russia and is fully committed to their implementation. The EU has imposed the most expansive and hard-hitting sanctions in its history in response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Religious Persecution (31 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. The promotion of freedom of religion or belief&#x a0;is a priority for Ireland and the EU’s human rights engagement at both bilateral and multilateral levels, as reaffirmed in The Global Island: Ireland's...

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

Micheál Martin: While Ireland is a militarily neutral country, meaning that we do not participate in a military alliance 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 missile and drone attacks against civilian targets across...