Results 1-20 of 19,808 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan remain an issue of concern for Ireland and the European Union. Ireland joined EU leaders in condemning Azerbaijan’s military escalation in September 2023 and calling for a return to dialogue. The military operation resulted in the mass exodus to Armenia of over 100,000 people – almost the entire ethnic Armenian population of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of reports regarding the incident in question. The incident described took place in the context of a protest within Berlin’s government district. I understand that the rules surrounding this protest related to all languages other than English and German, and not to Irish in particular. There are domestic German administrative and legal avenues open to the group to raise...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of reports regarding the incident in question. The incident described took place in the context of a protest within Berlin’s government district. I understand that the rules surrounding this protest related to all languages other than English and German, and not to Irish in particular. There are domestic German administrative and legal avenues open to the group to raise...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, further supporting documents for this application were received on 25th April 2024. Turnaround time from the receipt of further supporting documents is 15 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I travelled to Egypt and Jordan from 23 – 25 April 2024 as part of this Government’s continued efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both Egypt and Jordan are at the forefront of regional and international efforts to halt the conflict in Gaza, address the dire humanitarian situation and resume a meaningful political...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Media Sector (2 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: In December 2020, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced the establishment of the Global Ireland Media Challenge Fund (GIMCF) on a pilot basis. The Fund aims to support the provision of information about major geo-political developments and the changing nature of Ireland’s role in the world, to the public in Ireland, by helping build the capacity of Irish media outlets to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (1 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, further supporting documents for this application were received on 25 April 2024. The Passport Service has reviewed the application, taken action as appropriate and contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (1 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has reviewed the application, taken action as appropriate and contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (1 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 84, 85 and 86 together. The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports and has issued over 400,000 passports this year to date. Adequate staffing of the Passport Service to respond to demand continues to be a priority for the Department in 2024 and is an issue that is kept under constant review. Demand for passports fluctuates...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (1 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service has issued over 400,000 passports to date this year. The majority of online adult renewal applications issue within two working days and over 90% of applicants now apply online. The Passport Online service offers Irish citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (1 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 72 together. Funding provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs to international organisations in the years 2019 to 2023 and in 2024 to date is set out in the table below. The table includes mandatory payments arising from Ireland's membership of organisations - often known as assessed contributions - as well as additional voluntary contributions...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (1 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's active participation in international bodies and organisations sees Ireland seeking election to various positions within their structures. Such appointments serve to enhance Ireland’s profile and standing on the global stage and offer internationally recognised platforms for us to express our views on significant issues. From January 2016 to date, funding was expended on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (1 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2026. Preparations for Ireland’s Presidency are progressing across both policy and operational strands of planning, led by my Department in close cooperation with the Department of the Taoiseach, and with input from all Departments across Government. The Inter-Departmental Group on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (1 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is actively engaged in making a positive impact across the work of the entire United Nations. We can have particular influence when we serve on decision-making bodies such as the Security Council and the Human Rights Council. Ireland is seeking membership of the Human Rights Council for the period 2027 – 2029, where we will continue to use our voice to push for accountability,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Bodies (1 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has a long history of membership of and active participation in various international bodies and organisations. Our membership of such bodies allows us to fully engage in a manner that allows us to use our voice to push for accountability, compliance with international law, observance of the rules based system and to express our views on issues of global importance. With...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (1 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has consistently opposed all use of the veto at the UN Security Council. During Ireland's term as an elected member of the UNSC (2021-2022) we saw first-hand how the veto can be used to prevent the Council from fulfilling its mandate. Ireland has consistently called for the power of the veto held by the Permanent Five (P5) members of the Security Council to be abolished. The veto...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (1 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service has issued over 400,000 passports to date this year. The majority of simple online adult renewal applications issue within two working days and over 90% of applicants now apply online. The Passport Service strongly encourages Irish citizens to use the Passport Online service as the quickest, easiest and cheapest way to apply for a passport. The Passport Online...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (1 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are currently 911 people employed as local staff across Ireland's network of diplomatic missions overseas. In 2023, the payroll costs of these locally recruited staff was €32 million. The locally recruited colleagues serving across Ireland's Mission network play an invaluable role in supporting the delivery of the Department's goals and objectives and work principally on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (1 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The number of civil servants in my department not currently posted abroad is provided below broken down by grade as at 31 March 2024. All departmental staff are paid in accordance with civil service salary scales and relevant public service pay agreements. Grade Staff not posted abroad Secretary General 1 Deputy Secretary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (1 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland’s diplomatic missions are staffed by posted Irish civil servants and locally recruited staff. The number of civil servants from my Department posted abroad to diplomatic missions at 31 March 2024 is detailed in the table below by grade. Salary costs of all Departmental staff are paid in accordance with civil service salary scales and relevant public service pay agreements....