Results 43,501-43,520 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am willing to discuss this issue in detail with Deputy Barrett at any time.

Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I will attend the committee at any time. I did not interrupt the Deputy.

Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: We need to take a considered approach and, apart altogether from Mr. Brammertz's assessment, the European process for the western Balkans is the most effective way to embed democracy and the standards to which we aspire. The current Government of Serbia is progressive and pro-European Union. If we set the clock back any further, we would put all that at risk for other countries in the...

Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I make that general political point in the context of my assessment of the importance of moving ahead with the stabilisation and association agreement, which has experienced several setbacks since it was first negotiated in 2005. I have attended European Council meetings at which Mr. Brammertz made presentations. The last of these was in June, when he made a positive assessment of Serbia's...

Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am speaking about the Council. The chief prosecutor is, of course, anxious to maintain pressure but equally he has stated that he presents the matter as he sees it and it is for us as Ministers and Governments to make our decisions. When I met the Serbian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jeremíc, in New York he pointed out that his Government has already done the heavy lifting in regard...

Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I do not want to see the forces described by Deputy Barrett, which of course exist in Serbia, rising to the ascendancy. That was the political point I referred to earlier. I have clearly formed a view of the matter and I am entitled to put it on the record, just as the Deputy is entitled to set out his own views. I stated from the outset that I have no difficulty with an extended...

International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Lisbon treaty has provided new structures for external representation of the EU, including the appointment of the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton. The High Representative now carries out the foreign policy representation functions previously carried out by the rotating EU Presidency. The purpose of these changes is to allow the European Union to play...

International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy asked two separate sets of questions. The original question referred to the UN's refusal to allow the European Union the right to speak at a meeting of the General Assembly under new arrangements. On the wider issue of UN reform, Ireland has already taken a lead. My predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, was nominated by the Secretary General of the UN to lead reform by...

International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I hope the Deputies are not blaming Ireland for that. We believe in broadening representation on the Security Council.

Written Answers — Foreign Direct Investment: Foreign Direct Investment (6 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: 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 'Innovation Island'. An important initiative in this...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (6 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Three individuals are currently in receipt of public service pensions direct from the Department of Foreign Affairs. The pensions relate to employment in the former Agency for Personal Service Overseas (APSO) which was integrated into the Department a number of years ago. The annual amount in each case is less than €20,000. There are no public bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (6 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Details of expenditure by the Department of Foreign Affairs on Irish language training in 2009 and 2010 are set out in the following table, which also shows the number of officers that participated in the training. Year Expenditure Number of officers 2009 â'¬430 3 2010 â'¬1,505 4 My Department is currently finalising arrangements for the provision of Irish language classes for its...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (5 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The United Nations General Assembly has designated 2012 the International Year of Cooperatives. The aim is to highlight the contribution of cooperatives to socio-economic development and to draw attention to their impact on poverty reduction, employment generation and social inclusion. It is hoped that this UN initiative will help enhance public awareness of cooperatives and their...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (5 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: No record of the authorities of the State having received any such representations or proposals has been located in my Department.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (5 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: No record of the authorities of the State having received any such notification has been located in my Department.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (5 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I drew attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran in my address to the UN General Assembly on 27 September. In my remarks, I called upon Iran to respect and fulfil the international obligations it has undertaken in the field of human rights. I referred to some profoundly disturbing recent instances of human rights abuses, including the appalling sentencing of Ms Sakineh...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has no EU Directives awaiting transposition. While my Department has an overall coordinating role in EU matters, responsibility for transposing EU measures into law rests with those Departments with responsibility for the policy areas covered by individual EU measures. My colleague, Mr Dick Roche T.D., Minister of State for European Affairs, chairs an...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (29 Sep 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy refers to the case of Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, an Iranian mother of two whose stoning sentence has caused the gravest concern in Ireland and internationally. The case of Ms. Ashtianai has been raised with the Iranian Ambassador to Ireland by officials in my Department who have conveyed in the strongest terms that Ireland is completely opposed to the use of stoning, a practice...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (29 Sep 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1202 and 1203 together. The Deputy will be aware of the Government's strong views on the illegality of the construction of the separation barrier on occupied land. While we recognise the responsibility on the Israeli Government to provide for the security of its citizens, I have regularly expressed my serious concern about the negative consequences of the...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (29 Sep 2010)

Micheál Martin: The scheme whereby passports should be available free to persons aged 65 and over was introduced in 2005. Given the current budgetary situation and the need to cover the cost of passport production, I have no plans to reduce passport fees for any category of citizen.