Results 621-640 of 48,492 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Online service allows citizens to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Passport Online is an award-winning, user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times up to four times faster than paper-based passport renewal applications. Over 90% of passport applications are made through Passport Online, which is available to 99.9% of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The prohibition of the unauthorised carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft is an international rule, as set out in Article 35 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, 1944, known as the Chicago Convention. Article 35 of the Convention provides that no civil aircraft may carry munitions of war in or above the territory of a state without that state’s permission. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I will attend the next Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), which will take place in Luxembourg on Monday 14 October. The meeting comes ahead of the European Council, which takes place on 17-18 October. Since February 2022, Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has been discussed at each meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council. The meeting next week will be an opportunity to discuss the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned by the situation in the West Bank, including the ongoing large-scale military operations Israel is conducting, resulting in casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. Regarding the wider situation in the West Bank, Ireland welcomed the Advisory Opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice in The Hague on 19 July, which largely confirms the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Co-operation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 58 together. The Shared Island Initiative, which I established as Taoiseach, is a whole of Government endeavour that aims to deliver practical benefits for the whole island by working with all communities for a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. While the Shared Island Fund is administered by the Department of the Taoiseach, my...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are currently 15 officers at the Embassy of the Russian Federation who have been notified to my Department under Article 10 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations – 6 Diplomatic and 9 Administrative and Technical staff. Despite our fundamental opposition to Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine, the Government's view is that diplomatic channels...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Respect for the rule of law and other EU fundamental values is enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on the European Union (TEU). It is a primary responsibility of each EU Member State to uphold these values. Not only is the EU a union of values, respect for the rule of law and good governance are cornerstones for the proper functioning of the internal market and for a healthy business...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports. So far in 2024, the Passport Service has issued over 883,000 passports. Forecasts indicate that the Passport Service will issue over 1 million passports this year. Thanks to significant investment by the Government and the work of the Passport Service staff, virtually all complete passport applications are processed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware, the Government’s legal advice is that the Occupied Territories Bill is not compatible with EU law, as the EU has exclusive competence for external trade. A key pillar of Ireland’s foreign policy is our strong commitment to international law and our promotion of respect for international law. To adopt an approach that runs contrary to legal advice would...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Developing an agreed approach on legacy which responds to the needs of victims is essential to progressing the vital work of reconciliation in Northern Ireland. Legacy issues, both specific cases, and the wider approach, feature in all of my engagements with my UK counterparts. I welcome the British Government's stated intention to repeal and replace the Legacy Act. I have noted the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: As I have previously confirmed, the Government intends to file a declaration of intervention in these proceedings before the International Court of Justice once South Africa has filed its memorial. On 5 April 2024, the Court fixed the time limits for the filing of written proceedings in this case. South Africa is required to file its memorial by 28 October 2024, while Israel is required to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (10 Oct 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: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I want to thank the Deputy for his question regarding the situation of Irish citizens in Lebanon. Throughout the current crisis, my Department, including through our Embassy in Cairo, has remained in regular contact with Irish citizens in Lebanon. As part of ongoing consular coordination amongst states, we worked closely with our EU, UK and other partners to exchange information and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 60 together. I am deeply concerned about the surge of violence in Lebanon in recent days, including continuing Hezbollah rocket fire on Israel, Israel's massive aerial bombardments and ground incursions across the Blue Line by the Israeli Defence Forces. Recent developments in Lebanon represent a further dangerous escalation in an already tense and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Russia’s illegal and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine continues to cause devastating consequences for the Ukrainian people. Recognising the disproportionate impact of the war on women and children, Ireland will continue to prioritise the protection of all vulnerable groups and the prevention of sexual and gender based violence. Ireland also supports a gender-responsive and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I have repeatedly condemned the gross, widespread and systematic human rights abuses by the Taliban across Afghanistan, particularly against women, girls and individuals from marginalised communities. In August 2024, on the third anniversary of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan, I issued a statement strongly condemning the gross human rights abuses carried out by the Taliban...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I had a constructive meeting with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, on a range of issues when I attended the British Irish Association conference on 6-7 September in Oxford. This followed on earlier engagements with him, shortly after his appointment. I have been consistent in my view that issues around reform are best addressed from a position of stability, when...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The rise in far-right non-state actors is a matter of serious concern for this Government. Misinformation and disinformation is being used to sow division across the EU and beyond, and is driving the propagation of far-right narratives. Democracies depend on reliable information and trust in democratic processes. Disinformation campaigns, and foreign information manipulation and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I attended the 79th UN General Assembly in New York last month alongside the President, Taoiseach, Minister Eamon Ryan and Minister of State Sean Fleming. The President addressed the plenary session of the Summit of the Future, focusing on poverty, hunger, and UN reform. He held bilateral meetings with leaders from Barbados, Malawi and South Africa, and also had engagements with other...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Palestine is a central priority for the Government and a key focus of my international engagement. I welcome that I had the opportunity to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa during UN High Level Week in September, enabling a detailed exchange of views on the situation on the ground as well as on Ireland's ongoing support for the Palestinian Authority. ...