Results 10,641-10,660 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. We were all shocked at the potential impact of such a disastrous fire in one of our major acute hospitals. If you stand back and think about what the implications could have been, it is clear we owe an extraordinary debt of gratitude to all of the essential services involved, especially the fire service and Civil Defence personnel who got there...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I attended the Munich Security Conference from 17-19 February.  It provided an excellent opportunity to meet with a range of leaders, decision-makers and policy-thinkers globally including from UN agencies, international organisations and the private sector, and to discuss a range of global foreign and security policy challenges. The Conference aims for wide and diverse...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222 and 223 together. Ireland’s focus is on seeking to find a way to change the reality on the ground and to protect and encourage a peace process that can deliver a two-State solution, which is the Government's priority.  I have been consistently forthright in expressing concern regarding the unequal treatment of Palestinians in Israel and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: The number of passports issued by the Passport Service in 2021 and 2022 to applicants residing in each county on the island of Ireland is outlined in tabular form below.  These figures are for passports that were applied for through Passport Online. Passport Online is now used by over 90% of applicants worldwide. It is the fastest and most cost-effective way to apply for a passport,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Whilst my Department has no immediate plans to increase staffing resources at the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels, this is being kept under review in the context of planning for Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the Passports Act 2008, as amended (the 2008 Act). The Act requires that a person must be an Irish citizen in order for the Minister to issue a passport to that person. Accordingly, every applicant for a passport must submit a complete application form with supporting documents positively confirming to the satisfaction of the Minister, amongst...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (1 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship.  Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am advised by the Military Authorities that no Engineer Corps Officers have been seconded to the Department of Defence in the last four years.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Leave of Absence is taken to mean Special Leave without Pay and Allowances.  I am advised by the Military Authorities that seven (7) Engineer Corps Officers were granted Special Leave Without Pay and Allowances between 2012 and 2022. In addition, there were no Engineer Corps Officers seconded during the time specified.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Leave of Absence is taken to mean Special Leave without Pay and Allowances. I am advised by the Military Authorities that, within the time frame specified, there were two (2) applications from Engineer Corps Officers for special leave without pay and allowances that were not granted. In addition, there are no records maintained of secondments not granted for Officers.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: There are no Defence Forces’ engineer corps officers currently serving in transformation and innovation roles in Defence Forces Headquarters or in the Department of Defence level.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Derelict Sites (1 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91 and 92 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Curragh Camp is now the Defence Forces Training Centre and as such is no longer a self contained military installation as was the case in the past. I am advised that there are sixty-two (62) vacant former married quarters properties in the Curragh Camp, County Kildare. The Deputy will also be aware,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Capital Expenditure Programme (1 Mar 2023)

Micheál Martin: Vote 36 Defence is managed through a single programme with all operational outputs delivered from a single set of forces encompassing the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. Expenditure by my Department is mainly on pay and allowances, operational costs and capital investment across the Defence Forces. My Department does not provide capital funding on a geographic basis, with the limited...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Repatriation Costs (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of recent media reports indicating that researchers have succeeded in identifying the possible location of the remains of Patrick Sarsfield, first Earl of Lucan, in Belgium. This is a welcome development and one of great historical significance if confirmed. I applaud the efforts of all those involved including the Honorary Consul of France in Limerick, Dr Loïc Guyon,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I took part in over 20 meetings and events at the Munich Security Conference from 17-19 February. Unfortunately, schedules did not allow for a meeting with my South Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Park Jin, at this year's event. This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland the Republic of Korea and the bilateral relationship is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Staff (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ms Gráinne Weld and Ms Laura Mannion are Special Advisers employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Both Ms Weld’s and Ms Mannion’s appointment are subject to government approval, pursuant to section 11(1) of the Public Service Management Act 1997 (No. 27 of 1997). Ms Weld is Special Adviser to the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 316 together. I am aware of this case and would like to extend my sincere sympathies to the citizen and his family who have suffered a terrible ordeal. I wish to acknowledge that this has been, and remains, a difficult time for them. The Department of Foreign Affairs is precluded from intervening in the legal processes of another jurisdiction, in line...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has not retained any social media influencers and online personalities, television and or radio personalities for any media campaigns during the years 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue by date. The issue by date for the application is 8 March 2023. The Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly to advise of the option of booking an Urgent Appointment for passport renewal at the Passport Service...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has contracted a number of the listed management consultancy firms in the period 2018-2022, primarily for the provision of audit services to Embassies managing significant development cooperation programmes, as well as to a small number of units at Headquarters. In overseas locations, the contracts are awarded locally to independent affiliates in each...