Results 141-160 of 46,698 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Ireland enjoys warm bilateral relations with Moldova, and I and my colleagues in Government regularly engage with our Moldovan counterparts on issues of importance. In December, Ireland supported the European Council decision to open accession negotiations with Moldova, with the negotiating framework to be adopted once Moldova had met certain key outstanding requirements. This was in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service has issued over half a million passports to date in 2024. The Customer Service Hub has responded to over 200,000 queries this year and is now handling up to 16,000 queries per week. The Passport Service is well staffed with a total of 845 staff currently, and is in an excellent position to deliver the level of demand forecasted for this year, even with the busy summer...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service requested further documents for the application on 22 May 2024. The application cannot proceed until the required supporting documents have been received.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The Irish Government views the terrible events which resulted in the deaths of a large proportion of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire as a tragedy, and has expressed deepest sympathy for the enormous suffering of the Armenian people during this period. The term ‘genocide’ has a particular meaning under international law. The Government has not taken a stance on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 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: Official Engagements (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: The role of the Minister of State for International Development and the Diaspora underlines Ireland's long-standing commitment to supporting development programmes that help to bring about positive change in the lives of people around the world, as well as ensuring our continued strong links with Irish communities worldwide. Since the beginning of the 2024, Minister Fleming in his role as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: In the context of our partnership with NATO via Partnership for Peace, Ireland works closely with a number of other militarily neutral and non-aligned countries in Western Europe that are not members of the organisation. The countries involved are Switzerland, Ireland, Austria and Malta. All four countries have concluded Individually Tailored Partnership Programmes (ITPP) with NATO,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Each year, as part of the budgetary cycle, the Department estimates and makes provision for payments to multilateral organisations. Such payments may be mandatory, arising from Ireland's membership of organisations - often known as assessed contributions - or voluntary contributions linked to Ireland's support for particular organisations, legal instruments, programmes or projects. It...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 95 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs currently maintains a total of 99 overseas missions, including 71 embassies, 20 consulates general and 8 other missions. Under the Global Ireland Strategy, and as approved by Government in September 2022, three additional new missions will be established this year: an embassy in Islamabad and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: No formal functions of the Minister for Defence have been delegated to the Minister of State and full responsibility for Defence policies, the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces remains with the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence. However the Minister of State assists and performs functions, including Oireachtas business, as assigned by me as Minister for Defence on my behalf....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Through the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), the EU takes a leading role in peacekeeping operations, conflict prevention and the strengthening of international security. The following are the details for the costs related to Ireland’s participation in the CSDP EU military missions with a peacekeeping focus since 2008, as reported in the Vote 36 - Defence annual appropriation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: There are no plans to engage a career guidance officer in the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces Personnel Support Service (DF PSS) routinely provides support to personnel who are preparing to leave the Defence Forces through appropriate guidance and signposting to available services. The DF PSS also coordinates and conducts transition to civilian life training on an ongoing basis. This...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Funding (28 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: My Department provides support to two recognised Veterans Associations. These Veterans Associations, which represent all former personnel, are Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA). My Department engages on an ongoing basis with these Veterans Associations and...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Business of Select Committee (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for his amendment and thoughtful contribution. Throughout this process, I have been engaging and we have been taking on board very carefully the comments made by members of the committee. We have had correspondence with the committee. We have amended and taken on board two substantive issues in the presentation of this Bill to the House in terms of representations that...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2024: Committee Stage (23 May 2024)

Micheál Martin: Yes, that is generally the direction of travel. Others will have views on that. Where responsibility is held or allocated, there has to be accountability.