Results 721-740 of 1,024,609 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' speaker:Eoin Ó Broin

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Réada Cronin: 53. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the latest worrying statements by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu on Israel Defense Forces, IDF, action in Rafah will speed up Ireland’s recognition of the state of Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20882/24]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Réada Cronin: I ask the Tánaiste whether the latest worrying statements by the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Netanyahu, on IDF action in Rafah will speed up Ireland's recognition of the state of Palestine. I note that there has been some movement in that regard and I ask him to provide some chink of light to the tortured and beleaguered people of Gaza.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am extremely concerned by the start of Israel's ground offensive and military operation in Rafah. The international community has been clear that the humanitarian consequences of a large-scale offensive in Rafah would be catastrophic. I urge the parties to make every effort to come to an immediate ceasefire deal. All hostages must be released and further civilian casualties must be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: We are doing so. The manner in which we have approached this issue is to increase the number of appointments at public counters for the one-day or four-day renewal service at the Mount Street office in Dublin and the four-day renewal service in Cork. As I said, every week there are about 221 one-day and 264 four-day renewal appointments available in Dublin and 280 four-day renewal...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (9 May 2024)

EU Agreements

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (9 May 2024)

Marian Harkin: 51. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the actions he has taken to persuade the European Commission to suspend the EU-Israel association agreement. [20548/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (9 May 2024)

Marian Harkin: I very much welcome the fact that Ireland, along with some of our European colleagues, proposes to recognise the state of Palestine before the end of the month. I believe the Minister's work and leadership on this matter has been very positive. However, I want to raise another issue that is very important, namely, the EU-Israel trade agreement, something I have raised many times in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for her kind comments. As she is aware, the then Taoiseach, Deputy Varadkar, and Prime Minister Sánchez of Spain wrote to the President of the European Commission on 14 February of this year, requesting an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel association agreement. The letter further requested that the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (9 May 2024)

Marian Harkin: I am pleased to hear that by February the Government had moved to this point. I, along with my colleagues in the Independent Group, wrote to the Commission last November. Article 2 of the trade association agreement is very clear and states that the provisions of the agreement shall be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles to guide internal and international policy and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the Deputy's contribution. She is correct that when the EU signs and supports association agreements, these clauses have to mean something. I refer in particular to Israel's compliance with the essential elements clause of the agreement. The Commission needs to carry out a review. Josep Borrell has initiated a discussion on this, and I understand some work has been done in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (9 May 2024)

Marian Harkin: I thank the Minister. As I said, I appreciate his work on this. At the same time, we are a party to this trade agreement. We signed it and voted for it in the European Parliament, and the Government ratified it. Therefore, the Government has a responsibility to do whatever it can. I know this issue was raised by the Government in February. As I said, I raised it with the then Minister,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Agreements (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy knows, trade relations between the European Union and Israel are governed by a free trade area as part of the EU-Israel association agreement. That agreement was signed as far back as 1995 and entered into force in 2000. It forms a basis for relations between the European Union and Israel, governing the trade relationship as well as including political aspects. The last...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Confirm which?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Matt Carthy: The recognition on 21 May. We also must recognise that a Palestinian state today is unviable precisely because Israel has made it unviable. A further incursion and invasion into Rafah will make not only a Palestinian state but any prospect of a lasting peace settlement virtually impossible to contemplate. Does the Minister agree there is a need for the international community and states...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: First, in terms of the declaration of intervention, we would be making it under Article 63. States do not join one side or another in filing an intervention in the case. Rather, they submit a statement that sets out their interpretation of one or more provisions of whatever convention is at issue before the court. This declaration of intervention must then be deemed admissible by the court...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (9 May 2024)

Passport Services

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (9 May 2024)

Matt Carthy: 50. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his proposals to ensure the Passport Office operates efficiently throughout the busy summer period; if he will ensure that applicants can avail of urgent passport renewal or first-time in-person application and collection services when required; and if he will outline the number of additional staff who will be appointed to the Passport...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (9 May 2024)

Matt Carthy: I commend the staff in the Passport Office, who have been going through probably the busiest two or three years the office has ever faced. I think everybody in this House has at some stage added to their burden in terms of dealing with urgent cases in particular. Will the Tánaiste ensure there are sufficient staff within the Passport Office to deal with demand during the busy summer...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I pay tribute to the team and all of the staff working at the passport service. It has issued 450,000 passports to date this year and is on track to have issued half a million passports by the end of this month. Virtually all complete passport applications are being processed within advertised turnaround times. The passport service is well-staffed and in an excellent position to deliver...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (9 May 2024)

Brendan Howlin: The Tánaiste should have a look at the Oireachtas query service for passports as well. It is not great at the moment