Results 241-260 of 19,751 for speaker:Micheál Martin in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13, 18, 27, 69 and 73 together. I remain focused on the dreadful situation in the Gaza Strip, where the current situation is a humanitarian disaster. I fully believe that an Israeli military escalation in Rafah, where almost 1.5 million people are sheltering in desperate conditions, would be catastrophic. We need an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I was appalled at Mr. Navalny’s death, which further underpins the lack of respect for the rule of law and the protection of human rights in Russia. There must be a full and transparent international investigation into the circumstances of his death. My EU counterparts and I met with Yulia Navalnaya at the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 February, when we discussed the circumstances...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The ongoing destruction of Ukraine by Russia makes it difficult to assess the eventual cost of reconstruction. Most recent World Bank estimates have put the eventual reconstruction cost at US$486 billion, a figure which continues to rise. Ireland has provided both humanitarian and stabilisation support bilaterally to Ukraine, focused on early recovery efforts, while engaging at EU and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 19 February, I attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, where the Council’s discussion focused on the EU’s approach to Ukraine, the Middle East and the Sahel. The Council met with the UN Senior Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza, Sigrid Kaag, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports. So far in 2024, the Passport Service has issued over 200,000 passports. There are currently 147,000 passport applications in the system. 83,000, or 56%, of these applications, are with the Passport Service for processing. The remaining 64,000 are awaiting further action by the applicant before they can be progressed....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 21 together. Ireland's overall financial support to Ukraine since February 2022 amounts to over €212 million, comprised of over €90 million in stabilisation and humanitarian funding and commitments of approximately €122 million in non-lethal military assistance under the European Peace Facility. Within these overall figures,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: On 14 February, officials from my Department met with visiting representatives of the Polisario Front to discuss the ongoing political situation in Western Sahara. This meeting was an opportunity to discuss a variety of issues including the return to armed conflict in the region, engagement with the United Nations, the peace process, and human rights issues, including within Sahrawi refugee...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 31 together. I have been closely monitoring developments in the case taken under the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide (‘Genocide Convention’) by South Africa against Israel in the International Court of Justice. I welcomed the Court’s order of provisional measures in this case on 26 January,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 55 together. I attended the Munich Security Conference from 16-18 February. The Munich Security Conference continues to be one of the world’s leading platforms for debate and policy exchange on international security and foreign policy, including Russia’s ongoing illegal war in Ukraine and its impact on European and global security, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 26 and 53 together. As Ukrainians face into the third year of war, we must make clear that we are unwavering in the strength of our commitment to supporting Ukraine. Ensuring that Russia does not succeed in its imperial ambitions is existential for Ukraine, but is also fundamental for European and global security. This is true now, as it was just over...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is meeting its turnaround times which are at or well-ahead of target, with no backlogs. The majority of online adult renewal applications issue within two working days and over 90% of applicants now apply online. There are currently 147,000 passport applications in the system. 83,000, or 56%, of these applications, are with the Passport Service for processing. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 35 together. The implementation of the All-Party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings continues to be a priority, in fulfillment of the Programme for a Partnership Government. The continuing absence of a substantive response from the British government on these motions is a matter of concern and is an issue I consistently raise...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 67 and 71 together. The Taoiseach and the Prime Minister of Spain wrote to the President of the European Commission on 15 February calling for an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. The letter was addressed to Commission President von der Leyen, and was copied to High...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Programme (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government Legislation Programme published on 16th January 2024 sets out Government legislative priorities for the current parliamentary session. The current Legislation Programme does not include any bills in preparation within the Department of the Foreign Affairs. The Department’s Statement of Strategy 2023-2025 sets out the high level goals that officials of my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I was delighted that the citizen returned to Ireland yesterday where he was reunited with his wife and three young children. This was the outcome which I, along with my officials in Dublin and our Embassy in Jordan had been steadfastly working towards since his detention on February 26. I had a number of very constructive conversations with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: As I have made clear on previous occasions, I have been engaging intensively with our partners in the European Union, in the region, and internationally since the beginning of this crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Within the EU, Ireland has urged partners to support an immediate ceasefire, impose sanctions on violent Israeli settlers, and restore funding to UNRWA as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The targeted sanctions adopted in response to Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine are the most expansive and hard-hitting sanctions in EU history and target not only Russia. The sectoral measures introduced to date have resulted in a significant decrease in access by Russia to dual use and advanced technology goods from Europe. However, while direct exports from Europe have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is a safeguard fundamental to the Good Friday Agreement and sets a clear benchmark against which to assess actions and legislation affecting Northern Ireland. On 28 February, Mr. Justice Colton delivered his judgment in the High Court in Belfast on the UK government's Legacy Act, finding that that a number of provisions of the UK Legacy Act are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 49 and 76 together. The restoration of the Assembly and Executive is a positive opportunity for a new beginning for politics in Northern Ireland and to address the challenges that the people of Northern Ireland face in their daily lives. I have been clear that the return of Northern Ireland's political institutions, and by extension, the return to full...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (7 Mar 2024)

Micheál Martin: The deliberate and strategic targeting of European societies with false and manipulated information by certain foreign governments, their proxies and aligned groups, is an issue of concern. The objective of this online activity is to generate confusion, to sow division and fear, and to undermine trust in Government and in democratic institutions. The second annual EEAS Report on Foreign...