Results 661-680 of 48,492 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (9 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in...

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

Micheál Martin: 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. The Government’s approach has not changed since the matter was considered by the Oireachtas in 2018 and 2019 and it has not been the focus of any recent engagement on my part, with Israeli or other counterparts. Engagement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (9 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions which include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out a programme of project delivery for the years 2023 to 2027. Under the programme, the following capital works in the DFTC, (Curragh Camp, Kildare) are completed or nearing completion:Cadet SchoolEngineers Logistics OfficeEngineer StoresNew Electric Target RangeUpgrade of Accommodation at Plunkett Barracks The Deputy may also...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together. At the outset I want to assure the Deputy that every effort is being made to support all of the Defence Force personnel who are serving in Lebanon during these very volatile times. The situation in Lebanon is still tense and unpredictable. Both I and the Government are deeply concerned about the surge of violence in Lebanon and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The granting of Annual Leave to members of the Permanent Defence Force is governed by Defence Forces Regulations. I am advised by the Military Authorities that under these Regulations, a member may carry forward annual leave not granted or availed of in the leave year concerned, to a subsequent leave year, subject to a maximum of 24 days in the case of Commissioned Officers; 19 days in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The first ever Ireland House in Chicago will be located in the Equitable Building on North Michigan Avenue in Chicago’s commercial district. The fit out of the premises is currently under way. A competitive procurement process was launched in March 2024 to identify a building contractor to undertake fit-out works for the project. Tender documents were issued to six general...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Provision or Services) Act, 1993, empowers specific staff, serving abroad, to perform any notarial act that a Notary Public can perform in the State. This includes witnessing statutory declarations. In circumstances where the services of a solicitor, notary public or those authorised to take statutory declarations are available in the country of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I want to thank the Deputy for his question regarding the situation of Irish citizens in Lebanon. I also want to recognise the extremely challenging and distressing situation for all of those families in Ireland whose family members remain in Lebanon. Throughout this crisis, my Department and our Embassy in Cairo has remained in regular contact with Irish citizens in Lebanon. We have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. In order to meet this requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement. Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service has issued over 883,000 passports to date this year. All passport applications are subject to the requirements of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. First-time applications are the most complex applications due to the necessary checks involved to verify the identity and citizenship status of the applicant. The turnaround time to complete first-time online applications is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the case in question and the request to meet the family. While this is primarily a matter for the Department of Justice as it relates to a death that took place in this jurisdiction, I have asked officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs to meet with the family next week. I am conscious of the enormous loss and enduring suffering that bereaved families of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department is making increasing use of electronic methods of payment for improved security and more efficient business practices. To facilitate this, credit cards are issued to Diplomatic Missions where there is a specific business need, including a regular pattern of low value or infrequent payments, a need to make online payments, or where suppliers require a hold to be placed on an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Government is continuing with the planned expansion of Ireland’s mission network, in line with the Global Ireland Strategy. While a range of possible locations remains under review, there are currently no plans to open a new Consulate General in the Algarve region of Portugal. However, I am pleased to confirm that, following an open competition and completion of the associated...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes - Vote 27 (International Cooperation) and Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs). Overall expenditure under both Votes for consultancy services engaged by my Department in 2023 and 2024 to date are set out in the table below. My Department engages external expertise in line with national and EU procurement rules when it is clear the skills...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (8 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, in February 2024, the then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of Spain wrote to the President of the European Commission requesting an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. I have continued to underline the importance of such a review at successive...

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: There is a full allocation for that now. Come on. Give it a rest.

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----and a series of actions, which would make things much worse-----

Financial Resolutions 2024 - Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (2 Oct 2024)

Micheál Martin: -----fewer houses, slower building and cancelled support for first-time buyers. That is the reality of Sinn Féin's brave new future.