Results 281-300 of 1,028,700 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Michael McGrath OR speaker:Paul McAuliffe)

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

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

Matt Carthy: I have said a number of times that when the passport service works well, it works very well. That is the experience for many people. I know a lot of people who have applied, particularly for passport renewals, who have actually been surprised at the speed at which their passport has arrived in their letterboxes. That is an absolute credit and testament to the staff and the operation that...

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

Micheál Martin: The first point I would make is there is a balance as well. We have to consistently tell people to remember to get their passports updated, to apply online and in time. We do everything we possibly can to facilitate urgent cases. Most people in the House would acknowledge that, and we will continue to do it. However, we do not want to create a new scenario whereby people think they can...

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

Matt Carthy: The urgent passport service is the gap within the services. It is primarily for first-time applicants. I am not talking about people who apply on 1 May and wish to travel on 20 May. In most instances we deal with, these are people who submitted their applications late last year or in the very early weeks of this year. They subsequently received notification from the Passport Office that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Services (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I love libraries. They are wonderful places and do fantastic work. They are hives of activity for all the community. Older people learn computer skills. There are language classes for people who are looking to learn a new language. There are book clubs, which are a great way to meet people. A lot is happening in our libraries. We have 330 libraries across the country. They come in...

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

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

Middle East

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

Matt Carthy: 49. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the timeframe in which he intends to submit a declaration to intervene in the case of South Africa v. Israel taken under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice, ICJ. [21105/24]

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

Matt Carthy: What is the timeframe in which the Government intends to submit a declaration to intervene in the case of South Africa v. Israel taken under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice? In his remarks will he also confirm to the House that Ireland, along with other states, intends to recognise the state of Palestine on 21 May, as reported?

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

Micheál Martin: I think the latter issue will come up in a later question. I will respond on the question as tabled. As Deputies will recall, South Africa initiated its case against Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice by filing an application with the court on 29 December 2023. South Africa also sought a number of provisional measures pending the outcome of the case....

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

Matt Carthy: I am sure the Tánaiste agrees that it is impossible to imagine what parents, children, men and women in Rafah are going through right now, considering all they have come through in the past seven months. In many instances, they have been moved up to six times already and are living in a situation that can only be described as depraved, and now they have the anxiety of wondering when the...

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

Micheál Martin: We should endeavour to be fair, straight and honest with people. I have never deviated. I have been consistent from the outset about how the ICJ operates. We have been consistent with how we responded to the Ukrainian situation. Sinn Féin's motion talked about Ireland indicating a willingness to file. I made it clear that first South Africa needs to file its memorial, and that takes...

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

Matt Carthy: It is welcome that the Government has made this commitment. The point is, in some ways, down to the timeframe. It is also down to the substance of the intervention, when Ireland makes it. We want it to be as strong as possible. The ICJ has made it clear in previous rulings that there is no specific timeframe in which a state can intervene. In other words, a state can intervene at any stage.

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

Micheál Martin: Sorry?

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

Matt Carthy: Legally, there is no need in this instance, for example, to wait until the substantive submission by South Africa is filed.