Results 1,681-1,700 of 49,960 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I can be flexible but the Cathaoirleach outlined the arrangement at the beginning of the meeting which I think most members agreed with. If we proceed now we can get this dealt with and move on.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: Are we falling down on what?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: The €12 million is for the fit-out of existing and new properties overseas. I would not agree at all that the staff is light. In fact, there has been a very significant expansion in numbers working in our missions. We have grown the missions. We always seem to have contradictory discussions about the public service. Sometimes we say we are spending too much and we do not get value...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Supplementary) (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Cathaoirleach very much for his forbearance and facilitation. I also thank the members of the committee. With the Cathaoirleach's agreement, I will now present for the committee's consideration the Supplementary Estimates for the Department of Foreign Affairs. These relate to Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs. In total, the request we are making is for a net increase of €88.3...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: Engagement with third-country counterparts is a central part of my work and that of my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Such engagement routinely includes exchanges on issues relevant to the bilateral relationship between Ireland and the country concerned. Since assuming the role of Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs in December 2022, the Control of Economic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for processing applications for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Once a person is entered on the Foreign Births Register, they are deemed an Irish citizen and are entitled to apply for an Irish passport. By its nature, Foreign Birth Registration...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2024)

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-September 2024, the Department employs 2,181 civil servants, which is 539 more than at the end of 2019. In that context, we...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: British-Irish Co-operation (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: Following discussions in 2011 between the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the British Foreign Secretary, the British and Irish Governments agreed to seek to address and resolve the jurisdictional issues relating to both Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough. Since that time, a series of meetings have taken place at official level between the Department of Foreign Affairs in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Rockall Island Ownership (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: Reaching an agreement on issues relating to Rockall continues to be a priority for the government. I continue to work closely with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in this regard. I discussed issues related to Rockall during my meeting in September with my Scottish counterpart, Cabinet Secretary for the Constitution, External Affairs and Culture, Angus...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: The number of civil servants on career break from the Department of Foreign Affairs at comparable dates in 2023 and 2024 is provided below. None of the career breaks were for longer than five years. In exceptional circumstances an officer may be granted an additional career break without the required period of service between career breaks, in line with the procedures outlined in Circular...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Civil Service (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am fully satisfied that the provisions of Circular 4/2013 (Career Break Scheme in the Civil Service) are being properly implemented by my Department. Civil servants on career break are required to comply with the provisions of the circular and once a notification of a return from career break is received by my Department, the officer’s assignment is then confirmed. I am not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate that this is a very difficult situation for the citizen and their family. I can confirm that officials in my Department are aware of this case and are providing consular assistance. As with all consular cases, a case officer has been assigned to the family and are in regular contact. The case officer has provided advice and guidance to the family. Please be assured that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (5 Nov 2024)

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: Military Aircraft (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, these are paper applications which were received on 01 October 2024. The turnaround time for paper applications is 8 weeks. The applications are within the standard turnaround time and have not yet reached their issue by date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 to 81, inclusive, together. I am aware of the reports of concerns about the Bahraini prison system and the continued imprisonment of human rights defenders. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Human Rights Committee expressed concerns about reports of prison conditions and facilities, particularly in Jau prison. Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: The recent first EU-GCC Summit meeting was an important step in further developing the EU's relationship with an important group of countries in a volatile area in the EU's immediate neighbourhood. The joint statement was an agreed document between all participants, rather than a reflection of every view expressed. A number of leaders, including the Taoiseach speaking on behalf of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 to 86, inclusive, together. To date this year, the Passport office has issued over 936,000 passports. 900,000 applications have been received in 2024. This year, 92% of passport applicants applied through the Passport Online channel. 6% of applicants have applied by post, while 2% of applicants have applied through the public counter of the Passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (5 Nov 2024)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, under which Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth, by...