Results 43,421-43,440 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department is set out in the table below. There are no agencies under the aegis of the Department. Post Numbers employed in 2008 Salary Scales Number employed in 2009 Salary Scales Temporary Clerical Officers 111 Clerical Officer Standard Scale€23,175- €37,584 per annum 53 Clerical Officer Standard Scale€23,175- €37,584 per...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department has direct telecommunications contracts with eight providers namely AST Connections Ltd, BT Ireland, Colt, Datasat Communications Ltd, Eircom, Hibernia Atlantic, T Systems and Telstra International. These contracts are generally for a three year period. In addition, the Department draws down the services of O2 and Vodafone operating under the terms of the relevant Department...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department has the following contracts in place with energy providers in the State: electricity supply agreements with the Electricity Supply Board for eight office premises located in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Balbriggan. They are standard business user agreements and costs are charged according to electricity used. agreements for the supply of gas with Bord Gáis to seven office...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together. Since 2007, no new agencies, offices or state-owned companies have been established under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (19 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No 138 on 12 October, which was as follows: "Ms. Mairead Maguire was refused entry to Israel on 28 September on arrival at Ben Gurion Airport on a flight from Frankfurt. The basis for refusal was that she had been previously deported from Israel, most recently in June 2010 following her detention at sea on board the Rachel Corrie . She appealed this...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (19 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: In late June I became aware of an allegation that one of a group of persons arrested for allegedly carrying out long-term, "deep cover" assignments in the United States on behalf of the Russian Federation had travelled to Moscow using a false Irish passport. I immediately asked the Passport Service and An Garda Síochána to undertake an investigation into this allegation and this...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (19 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Passports Act, 2008 requires that before issuing a passport to a person, the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be satisfied that that person is an Irish citizen. Proofs of identity and entitlement to citizenship are required in respect of all passport applications. These requirements are outlined in the passport application form notes that accompany each application form. Details are...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Eleven officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs are currently e-working under a pilot e-working scheme introduced by the Department in 2006. The scheme provides for up to 15 officers to e-work, and was originally fully subscribed. In 2008 the scheme was extended for a further two years and a reserve list of 19 officers who expressed an interest in participating was created. It is...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: A total of 151 officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs are currently availing of the civil service work-sharing scheme, of whom 8 are male and 143 are female officers. My Department makes every effort to accommodate applications for work-sharing and other work/life balance schemes, including the shorter working year and the flexible working hours schemes. On occasion, however, notably...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes (The McCarthy Report) made a number of recommendations to Government in respect of my Department. These were considered in the context of this year's budget and public service estimates and it was decided to implement a number of them in full or in part. Recommendation in the report of the Special Group Comment...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (13 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my oral answer to Parliamentary Questions Numbers 107 and 110 yesterday. Ireland, along with other European Union member states, shared the objective of reaching a consensus on this issue on the basis of the work of the Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, Ms Catarina de Albuquerque, and...

Written Answers — EU Foreign Policy: EU Foreign Policy (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: For many years there have been discussions between the EU and NATO on questions of common interest related to crisis management. This is not surprising considering that twenty-one EU Member States are also members of NATO. In addition, where both the EU and NATO operate in the same area, cooperation on practical issues is logical and enhances the security of EU personnel deployed, including...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The systematic mass rapes which were carried out in the east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in July and August, in Luvungi and several other locations, were appalling and despicable. Ireland fully shared in the international condemnation of those responsible, which included statements by EU and UN representatives. In their 27th August joint statement on the violence, EU High...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The current phase of negotiations to find a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus problem began in September 2008, under the auspices of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General, Mr. Alexander Downer. By the end of March 2010, over 70 rounds of talks had taken place between President Christofias, the leader of the Greek Cypriots, and Mehmet Ali Talat, the then leader of the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Question Nos. 90 and 142 together. The 2006 Comprehensive Study on the All- Island economy identified the need to build on our competitive strengths, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and R&D. The recently published Innovation Task Force report was also clear on the benefits to be gained – not least to border regions - from jointly branding and promoting our...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland fully supports the free movement of persons within the European Union, which constitutes one of the fundamental freedoms underpinning the internal market. The Free Movement Directive (Directive 2004/38/EC) sets out the entitlement of EU citizens to free movement across the EU. Under Article 7 of the Directive, a Union citizen may reside in another Member State for a period of more...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The security procedures associated with the issuing of the Irish passport are under constant review. Passport Service staff remain in regular contact with other passport agencies worldwide to ensure that 'best practice' lessons are learned. I understand that a new UK passport will issue shortly and that this passport book will incorporate new security features. I am satisfied that the...

Written Answers — Overseas Elections: Overseas Elections (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: A general election was held in Bosnia-Herzegovina on 3 October. Under Bosnia-Herzegovina's complex constitutional system voting took place for the three-person state-level Presidency, the state-level House of Representatives as well as at a regional level within the Bosniak-Croat Federation and the Serb Republic. Provisional results indicate gains for moderates in the Federation while the...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Question Nos. 95, 128 and 387 together. On 7 August 2010 President Juan Manuel Santos Calderón was inaugurated as President of Colombia. In his inauguration address, President Santos indicated that one of his fundamental aims as President will be to re-establish ties with Venezuela and Ecuador, to restore trust between them and to privilege diplomacy and prudence in their...

Written Answers — North Korean Leadership: North Korean Leadership (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: There has been intense speculation about political developments in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, following the announcement late last month of the promotion of Kim Jong-un, the youngest son of current leader, Kim Jong-il, to the rank of four-star general. The promotion was announced to the North Korean media agency following the Worker's Party congress, the first to be held in...