Results 10,741-10,760 of 51,889 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (23 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: At the Foreign Affairs Council on 23 January 2023, EU Foreign Ministers had a lunchtime exchange with the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Shtayyeh, and Palestinian Foreign Minister, Dr Riad Malki, affording them the opportunity to brief EU Ministers on the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory. There was a strong message of support from the High Representative and EU Ministers...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (23 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned by the recent negative developments in the occupied Palestinian territory and reiterate that the focus of all parties, including the international community, must be on urgent de-escalation and on the restoration of a genuine political horizon. I welcome that the UN Security Council, following a request by the Palestinian Authority, expressed itself in clear terms...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (23 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the position to which the Deputy refers and would recall that it is Ireland’s long-standing position that policies and practices of successive Israeli governments relating to illegal settlements and their expansion, as well as expulsions, forced transfers and demolitions, undermine prospects for a two-State solution, and are a major obstacle to a just, lasting, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (23 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 current estimated issue date for the application is 22 March 2023. The turnaround time for paper-based applications is 8 weeks. The Passport Service would like to advise the Deputy to encourage his constituents...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The current number of live studies is 3. In addition there are 2 live reviews and 1 live research project as commissioned by my Department. The details are set out in the table below. Activity Details Scheduled date of completion Study Project 88 under the White Paper is a Defence funding study to capture in a new way the expected...

Anniversary of Russian Invasion of Ukraine: Motion (22 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: This Friday we will mark one year since Russia commenced a full-scale illegal and immoral invasion of its neighbour, Ukraine. That invasion was unprovoked, unlawful and unjustified. That invasion was the choice of one man seeking to impose his distorted vision on the people of Ukraine. The people of Ukraine have made clear in their response and in their defence of their nation that they...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (22 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I have provided below figures on the turnover of civil servants employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs for each of the years 2020, 2021 and 2022, in tabular form. I have also provided the percentage of total staff which this represents in each category of staff. 2020 Staff Turnover Grade Staff Leavers Turnover Assistant Secretary and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (22 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I remain deeply concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given his serious medical condition. I can assure the Deputy that the citizen's release remains a strong priority for me and my Department. To that end, there continues to be extensive engagement on the citizen's case with the Iranian authorities at senior political and official levels. I emphasised...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Appointments to State Boards (22 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: There are no State boards, authorities or other State-appointed bodies under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Lobbying Reform (22 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The names of the Department of Foreign Affairs' officers who are Designated Public Officials, are publicly available on the Department's website at the following links: www.dfa.ie/ie/maidir-linne/ce-muid-fein/antachtumbrustocaire achtarialail/ www.dfa.ie/about-us/who-we-are/regulation-of-lobbying-act-20 15/ There are no state bodies under the aegis of this Department.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (22 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am advised that the Club in question have had access to military facilities on a non-regularised and unlicensed basis. As a result of recent building inspections, I am advised that the building in question will would require considerable remediation works to conform with the required health safety standards. I am sure the Deputy will understand that safety concerns must always take...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (22 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The details of turnover in my Department for the years in question are set out in the tables below. 2020 Staff Turnover Grade Staff Leavers Turnover Assistant Secretary + 4 1 25% PO & Equivalent 20 3 15% AP & Equivalent 52 3 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Communications Surveillance (22 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I am advised by the military authorities that the Defence Forces do not comment on any risk assessments conducted on devices or any communications systems for security reasons.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Appointments to State Boards (22 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The only State body currently under the aegis of this Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927. The Act specifies that the Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members. The two ordinary members must be qualified medical practitioners of whom one must be an officer of the Army...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Lobbying Reform (22 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: None of the members of my Department's Management Board, are also on the boards of bodies registered for lobbying purposes under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, or on the board of bodies which have had to disclose that they engaged in lobbying State authorities. The only State body currently under the aegis of this Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Patent Applications (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application was cancelled on 4 April 2022 following a request by the applicant's parent. The Passport Service subsequently refunded the paid passport fee to the parent on 5 June 2022. It is, of course, open to the legal guardian(s) of the applicant to apply again on behalf of the child. All passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Repatriation Costs (21 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: Passport Services (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 334 together. 2022 was an exceptionally busy year for the Passport Service, with over 1,085,000 passports issued. 2023 is set to be a similarly busy year, with demand forecasts showing that just under 1.1 million passports are projected to be issued again. Thanks to significant investment by the Government and the dedicated work of the Passport Service...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Sign Language (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs recognises fully the right of Irish Sign Language users to use Irish Sign Language as their native language in accordance with the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. The Department makes provision to provide Irish Sign Language Interpreters to assist employees who are deaf when this is required. Additionally, the Passport Service has two members of staff...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (21 Feb 2023)

Micheál Martin: I remain deeply concerned about the continued detention of this Irish citizen, especially given his serious medical condition. I can assure the Deputy that the citizen's release remains a strong priority for me and my Department. To that end, there continues to be extensive engagement on the citizen's case with the Iranian authorities at senior political and official levels. I emphasised...