Results 381-400 of 46,387 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: As I have said since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, this represents a threat not just to Ukraine, but to the peace and security of all of Europe. The European Union was founded on the principle of cooperation amongst states and with the aim of avoiding future conflicts. As Russia continues to directly attack a neighbouring country, undermine regional...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 and 81 together. Discussions at EU level on foreign policy issues continue to be focused on the crises in the Middle East and Ukraine, but the most recent Council also offered an important opportunity to address the situation in Sudan. The Union continues to face a grave security threat from Russia, and its escalation of war against Ukraine has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: As I have set out in response to previous Parliamentary Questions, and most recently earlier today in response to a question from Deputy Carthy, Ireland intends to file a Declaration of Intervention in the case initiated by South Africa against Israel under the Genocide Convention at the International Court of Justice after South Africa has filed its Memorial. On 5 April, the ICJ made an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: A number of countries globally are witnessing protests over the conflict in Gaza. Ireland is strongly committed to the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of expression and defending the rights of freedom of assembly and association. The rights to assemble peacefully and associate freely are essential to ensuring the full enjoyment of civil and political rights, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 83, 85, 91, 99, 107 and 114 together. As I stated in Dáil Éireann on 9 April, it is my intention to bring a formal proposal on recognition to Government following the completion of discussions with international partners. These discussions are ongoing. The manner in which Ireland and like-minded partners could support regional efforts to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I remain extremely concerned about the situation on the ground in Ukraine. We have witnessed in recent months how Russia has sought to intensify its aerial bombardment of Ukraine, with ongoing drone and missile strikes against Kyiv and other major cities and ports, including widespread targeting of critical infrastructure. We now know that more than 80% of Ukrainian coal, gas and power plants...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 80 and 109 together. I have been engaging intensively with EU, regional and international partners, including the US, since the beginning of this crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. During all of these engagements I have conveyed the same message: there is an urgent need for a sustainable humanitarian ceasefire, the unconditional...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Our policy of military neutrality, as practised by successive Governments over many decades, means Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. As I have said in this House on many previous occasions, the Government has no plans to alter our long-standing policy of military neutrality, join a military alliance or enter into a mutual defence...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Asylum Seekers (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: On Monday 29 April, I co-chaired the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference meeting in London with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton-Harris. Matters related to migration and asylum were not on the agenda of the meeting. However en marge of the BIIGC, I had the opportunity to discuss recent reporting on the issue with the Secretary of State. I also...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The leveraging of anti-extremism laws to target reporters in Russia is greatly concerning. This is part of a broader deterioration in the domestic human rights situation, which has been severely undermined by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. I share the concerns raised by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on 7 May that Russia’s legislative...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 94 together. The presidential elections held by Russia on 15-17 March took place in a highly restricted environment exacerbated by Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. These elections were neither free nor fair and ultimately reflect a wider deterioration in human rights and democracy in Russia under Vladimir Putin. They...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Russia’s ongoing military aggression against Ukraine has fundamentally altered the security situation in Europe. Together with wider global instability, this has led to a renewed focus at EU level on issues relating to security and defence. Against this backdrop, I regularly engage with leaders at the EU, UN and in our bilateral relationships on these topics, including on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: While Ireland and the United States have differing perspectives on aspects of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, both governments are committed to working towards an end to the violence as soon as possible, the unconditional release of all hostages, and full, safe and unhindered humanitarian access. The Government engages with the US on an ongoing basis as a close partner. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 112 together. The Passport Service has issued 450,000 passports to date this year. Virtually all complete passport applications are being processed within or ahead of advertised turnaround times and the majority of online adult renewal applications are processed within two working days. There are currently 156,000 passport applications in the system....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: In the context of the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory, Ireland remains fully committed to supporting and funding civil society organisations and human rights defenders on the ground as a key part of our support for the Palestinian people. As I previously stated, Ireland repeatedly expressed serious concern on the matter of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 97 and 102 together. I travelled to Egypt and Jordan from 23 – 25 April 2024 as part of the 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I regularly engage with my Slovak counterpart, Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs, Juraj Blanár, on a wide range of issues, particularly at meetings of EU Foreign Ministers in the Foreign Affairs Council. Ireland and Slovakia enjoy positive relations, both bilaterally and as members of the European Union. I look forward to continue to work with Minister Blanár...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Planning for the opening of a Consulate General in Melbourne is underway following the Government's approval of the opening of five new diplomatic and consular missions on 5 March. As set out in the Government's announcement in relation to the new missions, they are due to open by 2026. I am pleased that we will open a Consulate General in Melbourne. In addition to being an important...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Moldova has been significantly impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In addition to taking in the highest number of Ukrainian refugees per capita in Europe, there is ongoing evidence that Moldova has been systematically targeted with hybrid attacks by the Russian Federation, with the aim of destabilising Moldova’s democracy and derailing its EU membership path. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: British-Irish Co-operation (9 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: With the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris, I co-chaired a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in London on 29 April. The BIIGC warmly welcomed the return of the Executive, Assembly and North South Ministerial Council. I have had the opportunity to engage directly with the new Executive since they took up their positions, as indeed as the...