Results 43,461-43,480 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Question Nos. 122 and 129 together. I utterly condemn the incident which took place on 5 October. As I noted in my subsequent public statement, this futile, destructive attack on the economic infrastructure in Derry took place at a time when the community is working hard to attract jobs, tourism and investment into the region. I know that great disruption was experienced by...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Question Nos. 124 and 136 together. The Government remains concerned about the political and human rights situation in Sri Lanka. In August, the Member States of the European Union, including Ireland, decided to suspend special duty-free access given to Sri Lankan exports under the Generalised System of Preferences - the so-called GSP plus. This suspension came after the...

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

Micheál Martin: Notwithstanding some progress, Cambodia`s compliance with international civil and political human rights standards and norms continues to be a cause for concern. This concern has heightened in recent years with the trend of prosecution on defamation charges of representatives of the opposition, media, trade unions and human rights organisations. The opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, has been...

Written Answers — Drugs Policy: Drugs Policy (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The International Drug Policy Consortium, an NGO which deals with drug policy, published a briefing paper in March 2010 entitled 'Time for an Impact Assessment of Drug Policy'. Under the heading 'Who should carry out an Impact Assessment?', the paper states: "Ideally national governments should commission IAs [Impact Assessments] of their drug policies at national level, and the EC (or...

Written Answers — EU2020 Strategy: EU2020 Strategy (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the new Europe 2020 Strategy which was adopted by the European Council on 17 June and the Government fully support the core elements. I believe that the Strategy will provide an essential framework for action by the EU and Member States to achieve higher levels of sustainable jobs and growth as economic recovery is secured. As the Deputy is aware, the European Council has agreed...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: In my address to the UN General Assembly on 27 September, I regretted that Israel had not renewed the limited freeze on settlement construction which had been a key element in allowing the direct negotiations to begin on 2 September. The renewal of settlement construction has threatened the continuation of those talks, which should be the first priority of both Israelis and Palestinians, and...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The annual General Debate at the UN General Assembly is a valuable opportunity for each Member State to address the wide range of issues and concerns facing the UN and its members. In my address to the Assembly this year, I raised a broad range of issues of concern to Ireland and the international community, including the ongoing requirement for UN reform; the need for decisive...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: 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 decision to the Central District Court and subsequently to the Supreme Court of Israel....

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

Micheál Martin: Globally, there are seventy eight countries where individuals may still face criminal sanctions on the basis of their sexual orientation or gender identity. A significant number, though not all, of these, are in Africa. Ireland is among those countries that have been active at the United Nations and internationally in promoting recognition of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights,...

Written Answers — EU Meetings: EU Meetings (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, Cathy Ashton was appointed as High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in December last year. Since that time, I have met the High Representative regularly, including at meetings of the monthly Foreign Affairs Council and at informal 'Gymnich' meetings of EU Foreign Ministers. I have also spoken with HR Ashton directly by telephone on a number...

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

Micheál Martin: The events to which the Deputy refers occurred on Thursday 30 September in Quito, when President Correa was assaulted by police officers demonstrating against a proposed law relating to their benefits and salaries. The President was subsequently confined by a group of police demonstrators in a Quito hospital until released through the intervention of the Armed Forces. Five persons were...

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

Micheál Martin: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is a very important part of the institutional architecture of the Good Friday Agreement. It sends a clear message to all communities in Northern Ireland that their fundamental rights will be protected. I met most recently with Professor Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, in Dublin on 9 September....

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

Micheál Martin: I have on many previous occasions expressed concern at the lack of results of the dialogue between the Dalai Lama and the Government of China. It is deeply regrettable that reports following the ninth round of dialogue, held in January 2010, indicate that very little progress has been made in achieving a resolution to the situation in Tibet. As stated on many previous occasions in this...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Article 29.5 of the Constitution requires that international agreements to which the State becomes a party, with the exception of agreements of a "technical and administrative character", be laid before Dáil Éireann. The policy of my Department is that all agreements, including those of a technical or administrative character, should be laid before Dáil Éireann as a matter of best...

Written Answers — Oireachtas Committee Reports: Oireachtas Committee Reports (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Lisbon Treaty provided for the strengthening of the role of national parliaments, as set out in Article 12 of the Treaty on European Union and in Protocols No 1 and 2 appended to the Treaty. This was part of the significant measures contained in the Treaty to enhance the democratic legitimacy of the Union. Last year I introduced to this House legislation which gave effect to a number of...

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

Micheál Martin: Transnistria is an area of the Republic of Moldova between the Dniester/Nistru River and the Ukrainian border inhabited mainly by Russian and Ukrainian speakers. In the course of the break-up of the Soviet Union, it unilaterally declared independence from the Republic of Moldova, due mainly to fears over a possible reunification of Moldova with Romania. Transnistria's independence has not...

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland is completely opposed to the use of stoning, a practice which has no place in the twenty-first century. Stoning is a particularly cruel method of execution which amounts to torture. I have made clear Ireland's concerns about human rights in Iran and our abhorrence of the practice of stoning in contacts with members of the Iranian Government, most recently at a meeting which I had...

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

Micheál Martin: There are several countries in Africa which are suffering from conflict or food shortages. I do not propose to go into details on each of them individually. The international community continues to intervene to address these issues on the African continent, whether on a bilateral or multilateral basis. With regard to the issue of hunger and famine, it is estimated that more than a billion...

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland, together with our EU partners, is committed to enhancing stability in the Western Balkans region. The EU perspective for the countries in the region, agreed at the June 2003 Thessaloniki European Council, is essential in helping to build and maintain this stability. The EU's Stabilisation and Association process provides the framework for cooperation on economic, political and...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Along with my EU colleagues, I continue to give a very high priority to supporting efforts to reach a comprehensive peace agreement in the Middle East. The issue is discussed very frequently at the Foreign Affairs Council, and I have made a number of visits to the region myself, to meet with the leaders, learn about the issues, and encourage their efforts. I have reported in more detail...