Results 1,601-1,620 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Neutrality (6 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: In April 2024, the Government approved the proposal to draft the General Scheme of a Bill to govern overseas deployments into the future. Work on drafting those proposals, including consultations with the Office of the Attorney General, Government Departments and key stakeholders, has progressed since then, and a draft General Scheme has been prepared. It is Intended to revert to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Capital Expenditure Programme (6 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: Expenditure by my Department is mainly on pay and allowances, operational costs and capital investment across the Defence Forces. Capital expenditure on projects in the Louth East Meath constituency by my Department are limited to expenditure on the maintenance and upgrade of military installations, including Aiken Barracks. The capital expenditure on the maintenance and upgrade of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Chairperson in his capacity of Chair of this committee for his distinguished service both as a Minister down through the years and as a Member of the House. He has always put the interests of Ireland and the Irish people first as did his late father before him. He has carried on a distinguished contribution as a Member of Dáil Éireann for County Laois. In this...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: First the Department of Foreign Affairs will prepare amendments to be ready for the next Government. There has already been meeting between our officials and Senator Black and her team. That dialogue can continue but a new Government will want to have sight of the amendments as well. There will be a continuing dialogue.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: On purchases from the occupied territories, we have made our decision on defence procurement.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: The State does not buy anything from the occupied territories.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have outlined substantive amendments that have to happen to strengthen this Bill to make sure it can be robust against any challenge to it. Someone asked earlier if there was a similar case. I did not get a chance to respond to Deputy Devlin's point. The Attorney General has alerted us to a case involving France related to the differentiation of goods in the western Sahara and that...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I understand why people are saying this. On that point about France, and Deputy Devlin did ask me about a similar case, it illustrates how far this can go. The Government, in signing the money message, is preparing now to go the full distance on this. It goes through the Oireachtas, and if it has to go through the European courts, it will do that.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will ask the legal advice to come in.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: So it is relevant.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have made that decision already.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: No.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I pay tribute to the eloquence of Deputy Stanton. He summed it up very well. All efforts have to be on a ceasefire. I hope with some certainty the American presidential election might help and the work that is under way on a ceasefire in Lebanon could reach across to Gaza. Draft agreements have been tabled in respect of the Lebanon situation. People are working flat out in respect of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I do not want argumentation. Can we take this as a point? The reason I want to do the Bill is because it a reflection of our opposition to the occupation and we now have the advisory opinion from the ICJ, which does actually place an obligation on us not to support the illegal occupation. There is clarity there. I do not have great hope that the Bill itself will change Israeli behaviour....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have signed a money message, which contradicts the Deputy's point. The Government has approved the progression of the Bill.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Discussion (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: We have, actually.