Results 261-280 of 1,021,054 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Ciarán Cuffe OR speaker:Paul Murphy OR speaker:Pádraig Mac Lochlainn) in 'Committee meetings'

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputy Griffin for his question and kind remarks. Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine remains a grave threat to all of Europe. Russia is demonstrating a clear desire to continue escalation and has projected momentum on the battlefield in recent weeks, taking advantage of Ukraine’s shortage of military material, particularly air defence, by launching...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (9 May 2024)

Brendan Griffin: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply. I also welcome the forthcoming summit, which is important. Whether anything meaningful will arise from it is yet to be seen but all possible efforts must be made. I ask the Tánaiste to elaborate on Ireland's position on the use of seized Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine. Does he believe that those assets should be sold or should...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland welcomed the agreement reached at EU level in February to set aside the revenue generated from Russia's immobilised sovereign assets to support Ukraine. The windfall revenues earned and generated from the assets that are immobilised at the moment will be used to support Ukraine. Our view is that when a country like Russia illegally invades another country and destroys its...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (9 May 2024)

Brendan Griffin: I welcome all such moves. They are all heading in the right direction but the question is whether enough is being done. The question of using the revenue generated rather than realising the full value of assets is something that needs to be revisited. The EU also needs to co-ordinate with other world leaders in terms of a response to this. This is one of the most horrendous conflicts in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The World Bank estimates that the reconstruction bill for Ukraine will be $486 billion over the next decade. That will continue to rise each day. We are engaged in discussions on short-term recovery efforts including the provision of prefabricated homes to support communities. We have made financial support available to do that. A recovery conference will be held in Berlin in June. ...

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

Middle East

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...