Results 1,401-1,420 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: Over the past five years, the Department of Foreign Affairs has grown as Ireland’s diplomatic footprint has expanded and as our Passport Service continues to successfully meet high demand for passports with turnaround times at or well-ahead of target. As of end-December 2024, the Department employs 2,271 civil servants, which is 629 more than at the end of 2019. In that context, we...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes - Vote 27 (International Cooperation) and Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs). The policy of the Department is to operate competitive tendering as standard procedure in order to achieve best value for money. Procurement takes place in the context of Directive 2014/24/EU and supported by Procurement Guidelines published by the Office of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: I have not yet spoken to Vice President elect J.D. Vance. However, I look forward to working constructively with the new US administration on a wide range of issues of mutual interest and priority. Maintaining and growing our close and mutually beneficial relationship with the US is among Ireland's highest foreign policy priorities, including through frequent high-level political...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: Ireland’s overseas missions are staffed by posted Irish civil servants and locally recruited staff. The payroll costs for mission staff (2023 and 2024) is detailed in the table below. Please note that the 2024 costs are draft and subject to audit. The 2025 staff budget figures are not yet available.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and Egypt have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1975. Egypt is an important bilateral partner for Ireland and there is a long-established Egyptian Embassy in Dublin, and Irish Embassy in Cairo. President of Egypt, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, visited Ireland in December 2024. There are no current plans to open a Consulate General in Luxor. Any decision on the opening of a new embassy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: Ireland’s overarching foreign policy goal is the achievement of a more equal, peaceful and sustainable world. It is evident that this cannot be achieved if half of the world’s population does not enjoy equal rights and freedom from discrimination. The attainment of gender equality and equal rights for women and girls is therefore a policy priority across Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs, via TravelWise, the department’s travel advice service, publishes advice online for outward travel in over 200 countries. The advice provides an objective assessment of the risks individuals could face if travelling, whether by air or other modes of transport, working, or living overseas, with a view to helping Irish citizens make informed decisions...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Electoral Process (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Government's current Diaspora Strategy concludes at the end of this year. The Department of Foreign Affairs will shortly begin working on the next strategy which will include consultations with our global Irish community to reflect their evolving circumstances in our new strategy.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: The approach of any Government in relation to Irish unity is guided by Article 3 of the Constitution, as amended by the people in 1998. The Government respects everyone’s right on this island to make the case for the constitutional future they wish to see for Northern Ireland - whether the continuation of the union with Great Britain or a sovereign united Ireland. The Good Friday...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: The approach of any Government in relation to Irish unity is guided by Article 3 of the Constitution, as amended by the people in 1998. The Government respects everyone’s right on this island to make the case for the constitutional future they wish to see for Northern Ireland - whether the continuation of the union with Great Britain or a sovereign united Ireland. The Good Friday...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: The book launch event was hosted by the Ambassador as part of the Embassy of Ireland in London’s outreach and event programme, which included over 100 events in 2024. These events have included 13 book launches over 2023 and 2024, 7 of which were hosted by the Embassy in London throughout 2024. The Embassy also supported the Irish Writers Weekend at the British Library in November,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: 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: Passport Services (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the Act“). The Act provides a legal basis for the various policies and procedures that are applied by the Passport Service in the issuing of passports. Section 10 of the Act provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on a person's birth certificate or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (22 Jan 2025)

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 through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: The promotion and protection of human rights is a core pillar of Irish foreign policy. Ireland is active bilaterally and as a member of the European Union on human rights issues, including in relation to China. I remain deeply concerned by the continued repression of civil society in China, including harassment of human rights defenders; restrictions on freedom of expression, including in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has repeatedly expressed deep concern about the situation in Hong Kong since the introduction of the National Security Law in June 2020. The National Security Law, together with the subsequent Article 23 legislation, adopted in March 2023 introduces crimes such as treason, sedition and collusion with foreign forces, and allows for trials to be held behind closed doors. Such...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has been clear in our unwavering support for the people and Government of Ukraine since the launch of Russia’s unprovoked and illegal full-scale invasion in February 2022. We remain committed to providing Ukraine with the political and practical support it needs to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity, in line with Article 51 of the UN Charter, and make progress...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is fully committed to preserving outer space as a safe and secure global commons for the use and benefit of all, and to the prevention of an arms race in outer space. We continue to support the Outer Space Treaty, oppose the placement of weapons in outer space, and actively participate in the multilateral process to prevent an arms race in outer space. At the United Nations...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: Maintaining and growing our close and mutually beneficial relationship with the US is a key foreign policy priority for Ireland, as reflected in the 2025 Programme for Government, and as it has been for successive Irish Governments. As with all political developments taking place globally which are likely to impact on Ireland’s international and domestic priorities and interests,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Artificial Intelligence (22 Jan 2025)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has developed a policy on the use of Generative AI in line with advice and guidance issued by Government and the National Cyber Security Centre. ICT related policies are available to all staff. The Department is actively exploring the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence and the various policy considerations that arise. The Department has...