Results 81-100 of 2,354 for long speaker:Micheál Martin

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: It has been a long saga, without question. Issues arose about structures and all the rest of it, but I am in no doubt that in the context of our current services in Crumlin or Temple Street, the sooner we get this hospital built and operational, the better. It will be transformative for children in terms of having single suites, the theatre capacity, infection control and, especially for...

Recent Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...ireann a phlé. Cuirim fáilte roimh filleadh na n-institiúidí agus guím gach rath ar gach éinne a bheidh páirteach iontu sna blianta amach romhainn. Two weeks ago, on 1 February, we celebrated St. Brigid's Day, long recognised in Ireland as signalling the beginning of spring. As the poet Raftery wrote, describing the change of the seasons: Anois teacht...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foreign Conflicts (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...’s peace process through political support, advocacy, and by regularly engaging with relevant institutions, organisations and communities. These actions have served to consolidate Ireland’s long-standing reputation as an honest, trusted and credible interlocutor with all parties to the Agreement. Our key messages have included the need for comprehensive implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Foreign Conflicts (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...significant progress that has been made in the implementation of Colombia’s 2016 Peace Agreement and the Total Peace initiative, as well as the various obstacles that remain in both the short-term and long-term. These achievements and challenges are also clearly set out in the UN Secretary General’s most recent report on the UN Verification Mission in Colombia. Challenges...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Human Rights (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...the case of Abdullah Öcalan specifically in my bilateral engagements with Turkish contacts, I continue to strongly advocate for fair trials and on the treatment of prisoners in Türkiye. As a candidate country for EU membership and long-standing member of the Council of Europe, it is important that the Turkish authorities follow up on the recommendations of the European...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...reported figure as one further induction that occurred in December was added to the military reporting system in January. In addition to current recruitment and retention measures for the RDF, a long term regeneration plan is being prepared following the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF). This plan is being developed by the Office of Reserve Affairs (ORA) which was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (13 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...Dublin when I wrote to him on 13 July 2023 congratulating him on the successful Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Ireland and Sweden share excellent relations, featuring a long history of aligned values, and close and likeminded work at United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) level. At the UN, our cooperation in the field of peacekeeping has been a focus...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (13 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...particular for the UN Charter, is the bedrock of international peace and security. This will continue to be the guiding principle for Ireland’s approach, including at The Hague next week. It is the only way to ensure the long-term security of both Israelis and Palestinians.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: To answer the Deputy's questions, since its establishment in 1974, the UNDOF mission has helped maintain an area of separation over 75 kilometers long between the Israeli and Syrian forces in the Golan Heights, thereby substantially contributing to fulfilling its UN mandate. In recent years, the region has encountered varying escalations of conflict, which have affected the UNDOF area of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Foreign Policy (13 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...to by a wide and varied perspective of views on this matter, and which was subsequently reflected in the Chair’s report. This debate provided ample evidence of ways in which to continue Ireland’s long-standing record on peacekeeping, while ensuring adherence to the highest standards of international law. I wish to re-confirm that any change to the Triple Lock will...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...happens internationally, as well as the specifics of this case. The review has since been published. EirGrid is still engaging with farmers in the area. The project has been delayed for quite a long time. Issues will arise in that regard as well from an energy-security perspective. There are no easy answers to this right now.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Not particularly. It flows from the earlier point that we now go on the actual strength as opposed to the establishment figure. The finances were based for a long time on the establishment figure. It is like teaching where one gets the demographic dividend automatically. That used be the row with DPER when I was in the Department of education. If pupil numbers went up, one automatically...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...plan and, meanwhile, I am asking for accelerated action on this. I was not happy with where we were when I came into my position. There were issues with medical assessments, which were taking too long, and I have asked the office to look at outsourcing some of that, which it has done, to get faster throughput. Plenty of people are applying but there is an issue with the conversion of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I jest. It is a Corkonian expression, although they put the word "Irish" before "Examiner", but that is a long story. No, seriously, people speculate all the time.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: Did the Deputy say long service increments?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (1 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...of Ukraine. I am delighted with the news today that €50 billion has been greenlit by Europe, which is very important and sends a very strong signal to Russia that Europe is in it for the long haul. What is happening in the United States is very important. If the US flank was to become weaker in the context of European security and the guarantee that is essentially there for that...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (1 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...crisis in the Middle East. Combined with a potential global economic slowdown, the number of people who are food insecure and living in extreme poverty continues to rise. The UN estimates that more than 345 million people are living in acute food insecurity today. Meanwhile the longer-term adverse effects of climate change continue to intensify and global inequality continues to rise....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (1 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: .... By coming out early, it was important for others to see that we were not budging. I think the UNRWA leadership has handled it well and strongly in terms of ordering an independent review and suspending the personnel involved. There has been a long-running situation in respect of UNRWA. In my view, Israel has always sought to undermine UNRWA as an organisation. It goes back to the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (1 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am not referring to Deputy Carthy here but more generally. Our diplomatic service works well in the way it is modelled. In North America, it works superbly well. Long-established links with the Hill, with both sides of the aisle, both Senators and Congress people, are very good. I am not a fan of sending political envoys to override that because one asks who speaks for Ireland then....

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 27 - International Co-operation
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (1 Feb 2024)

Micheál Martin: ...his enduring interest in securing a consulate in Perth. I appreciate his view on that. We will keep it under review and there will be due diligence. I take his point that eight months is a long time for foreign birth registration numbers, but it is a complex process because it involves a number of generations and therefore a large number of documents from many jurisdictions are often...