Results 10,661-10,680 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 597 to 599, inclusive, 603, 610, 611, 613 and 630 together. I commend the courage of the Iranian women and men who continue to exercise their fundamental rights to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. While their protests were prompted by the tragic death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, many more children, women and men have died since. I extend my...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2021, The Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020 and The Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2019 have all been commenced in the last ten years. Not all sections of the Acts were commenced. The Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2021 was commenced by order on 17...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I note with concern the details in the case referred to by the Deputy. Respect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels. Officials from my Department have raised concerns over the human rights situation in Bahrain directly with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: As per the UN position, Ireland recognises Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory. Under international law, the economic resources of a non-self-governing territory may only be exploited for the benefit of the people of the territory, on their behalf, or in consultation with their representatives. Any exploration and exploitation activities that proceed in disregard of the interests...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The UK Nationality and Borders Act provides for the establishment of a scheme under which non-Irish and non-British citizens would need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK. While details of how this scheme will be implemented still need to be established, I am deeply concerned at the potential impact of the scheme on non-Irish residents of Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 (VCDR) identifies three categories of Mission staff as follows: - Diplomatic staff; - Administrative and Technical staff, and; - Service staff. There are currently 21 officers at the Embassy of the Russian Federation who have been notified to my Department under Article 10 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations - 9 Diplomats and 12...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 606 and 616 together. Each year the Passport Service proactively plans for the demand forecasted for the following year. Part of this planning involves a public communications strategy carried out by my Department, with a view to ensuring passport demand is manageable throughout the year, by encouraging citizens to apply in plenty of time for their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Special Committee on Decolonization, or C-24, was established in 1961 by the General Assembly, as its subsidiary organ devoted to the issue of decolonization. The Committee’s mandate is to examine the application and implementation of General Assembly resolution 1514 of December 1960, also known as the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Sanctions (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 608 and 609 together. The Cross-Departmental International Sanctions Committee (CDISC) monitors, reviews, and coordinates the implementation, administration and exchange of information on international sanctions regimes in Ireland. The Department of Foreign Affairs chairs CDISC. In this capacity, I am responding to these two related questions on behalf of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (18 Jan 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 Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Responsibilities (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: There are two Ministers of State at my Department, Peter Burke TD and Seán Fleming TD.  On 21 December 2022, Minister Burke was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for EU Affairs and Minister Fleming was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora. The Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No.2) Act, 1977 provides...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I can confirm that my Department has not contracted any company or organisation or persons to provide media training to the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1 January 2021 to date. I can also confirm that the Department of the Taoiseach did not contract any company or organisation or persons to provide media training to me, as Taoiseach, from 1 January 2021 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 617, 619, 622 and 625 to 627, inclusive, together. I am deeply concerned by developments in Masafer Yatta in the occupied West Bank, which could amount to the forcible transfer of over 1,000 Palestinians. I again urge the Israeli Government not to proceed with any planned demolitions and evictions, and to abide by its obligations under international law....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs continues to closely engage with the communities and the company in Colombia referenced by the Deputy. This continuing engagement with all parties ensures my officials have a deep understanding of this highly complex situation, to best support inclusive dialogue to resolve the issues at play. Officials from the Embassy of Ireland in Colombia have visited...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and Thailand continue to enjoy good bilateral relations, which have deepened in recent years following the opening of Ireland's Embassy in Bangkok in 2014.  In the normal course of events Embassy officials regularly engage in work across the many regions of Thailand, including for trade and promotional purposes, to engage with the Irish community, and to provide consular...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 623 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants. 

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: I would note that I do not agree with the terminology used by the Deputy in framing the issues that she has raised. Ireland’s position on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory is crystal 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (18 Jan 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. Ireland has 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 produced...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Due to periodic changes in the format of documents issued by civil registration authorities, and to protect the integrity of the Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) system, previous verifications of civil documents by the FBR service cannot be relied upon for subsequent FBR applications. Accordingly, FBR applications that are submitted separately each require a full set of supporting...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Legislative Measures (18 Jan 2023)

Micheál Martin: Apart from the Defence Forces (Evidence) Act 2022, all other Acts from the Department of Defence which were passed over the last 10 years have been fully commenced. In relation to the Defence Forces (Evidence) Act 2022, the Deputy might note that this Act was signed by the President on the 6th of July 2022. The principal purpose of this Act, which contains 94 sections, is to provide...