Results 43,221-43,240 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: ICT equipment in my offices is in line with that provided to all staff in the Department. Details of the costs involved are set out in the table below. Year Computer Hardware Software 2007 Nil Nil 2008 â'¬25,000 â'¬12,536 2009 Nil â'¬1,331 2010 Nil â'¬2,787

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). Over the five years 2006 to 2010, no payments were made from either Vote to the consultants referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: My Department currently operates six websites for which costs are set out below. The costs include support & maintenance, hosting and domain registration services. Website Cost for Maintaining Sites for 2010 Average Number of Unique Visitors per month Department of Foreign Affairs family of websites including 68 Mission websites â'¬59,075 The Department website receives 2,880 visits...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware from my previous replies on this matter, I am very conscious of the discriminatory treatment of the Baha'i community in Iran and of the particular case of the seven former Baha'i community leaders (known collectively as the Yaran), who have been in detention since 2008 and were sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment in August 2010, with this sentence subsequently...

Written Answers — Product Labelling: Product Labelling (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: The regulation of produce labelling is not the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs, but is overseen by a number of domestic Departments. In my reply to Question number 299 on 9 November 2010, I reported to the House on the results of my Department's discussion of this issue with those Departments. Taking the matter further forward within the regulatory framework would be a...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: The achievement of a Palestinian State on the current Occupied Territories has been an important objective of successive Irish Governments. This state must be based on the 1967 borders, and no alteration to those borders will be recognised unless it is the subject of mutual agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. This is also the policy of the EU. The Government works in a number of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: In 2008, my Department placed a number of questions in Lansdowne Market Research's regular omnibus survey of 1,000 adults throughout the country. The surveys took place from 21 February 2008 to 6 March 2008 and from 2 December 2008 to 24 December 2008. The questions explored the public's attitude to a number of development issues. The amount spent was €14,000. This was part of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: There are four bodies operating under the aegis of my Department - the Development Education Advisory Committee (DEAC); the Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee; the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group; and The Board of the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission). The three advisory committees, the administration of which are serviced...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: The Department avails of the Mobile Telephony Services Framework operated by the Department of Finance. (Under this Framework, O2 were awarded the contract from October 2008 and again from May 2010. The contract was previously held by Vodafone under the Department of Finance contract.). The table below sets out details of the number of mobile phones and bills paid for by the Department of...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: The United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and their Property was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 2 December 2004. The Convention sets out rules on the immunities of states, and the property of states, from the civil jurisdiction of the courts of other states. It does not address the jurisdiction of courts in criminal proceedings. The Convention...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) is intended, when it comes into force, to set up a mechanism that will make it possible for individuals or groups of individuals to submit a complaint to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in regard to alleged violations of their economic, social and cultural rights by...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: Rockall is a small uninhabitable rock, 25 x 30 metres wide, located approximately 160 nautical miles west of the Scottish islands of St. Kilda and 230 nautical miles to the north-west of Donegal. It marks a point at which the Rockall Bank, part of the very large Hatton-Rockall area of continental shelf extending under the north-east Atlantic Ocean, protrudes 21 metres above sea level....

Written Answers — Legal Services: Legal Services (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: My Department has a Legal Division, staffed by qualified legal professionals who provide legal advice on a wide range of international legal issues. Having such 'in-house' legal experts reduces the costs which would be incurred if the Department was to engage externally for similar services. The majority of other instances where legal advice and services have been required by my Department...

Written Answers — Legal Proceedings: Legal Proceedings (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: According to my Department's Litigation Database no court cases were initiated during the period in question in which either myself or my predecessor were named as a defendant in the District Court, Circuit Court or High Court.

Written Answers — Legal Services: Legal Services (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: My Department has not engaged in tendering for legal services or engaged legal advice for the preparation of tenders for such services during the period in question. There are no State Agencies for which my Department is responsible. There are four bodies which operate under the aegis of my Department - the Development Education Advisory Committee (DEAC); the Government Emigrant Services...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (16 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: For 2011, the Government has provided an overall allocation for Official Development Assistance (ODA) of €669 million.Of this total, €534 million will be administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and a further estimated €135 million will come from other Government Departments, including Ireland's share of the EU Development Cooperation budget. The 2011 allocation ensures our ODA...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware from my previous replies on this matter, I am very conscious of the discriminatory treatment of the Baha'i community in Iran and of the particular case of the seven former Baha'i community leaders (known collectively as the Yaran), who have been in detention since 2008 and were sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment in August 2010, with this sentence subsequently...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: The original Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) for the civil service was introduced in May 2000 following central discussions between Civil Service Management and Unions. Following its evaluation by external consultants in June 2004 it was agreed to expand the system in June 2005 by integrating it with other aspects of human resource management including in relation to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department is set out in the table below. Information regarding the previous public service employment of the staff in question, if any, is not readily available. Post Numbers employed in 2009 Salary Scales Number employed in 2010 Salary Scales Temporary Clerical Officers 53 Clerical Officer Standard Scale€23,175- €37,584 per...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (15 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: The charge that will apply in future to passport applicants over sixty five will be that of a standard adult passport. The cost of such a passport at present is 80 euro.