Results 43,601-43,620 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland supports African countries' efforts to achieve the aims of the Maputo Declaration in a variety of ways. We are directly engaged in the agricultural sector in a number of countries particularly Malawi and Tanzania. Ireland's programmes of General Budget Support are also helping our partner countries meet the Maputo Declaration target. We also support the Comprehensive African...

Written Answers — UN Conferences: UN Conferences (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The International AIDS Conference, held biennially, is an occasion for partners in the fight against HIV and AIDS to congregate and review progress over the preceding two years, look at the current context and plan for the future. The Irish delegation to the International AIDS Conference in Vienna will include a senior HIV and AIDS advisor from Headquarters, experienced HIV and AIDS advisers...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 382 together. The achievement of universal access to reproductive health is one of the objectives of the Programme of Action agreed at the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo in 1994. It is also an objective of the Beijing Platform for Action and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) adopted in 2000. Specifically, the...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Government's White Paper on Irish Aid is the framework governing and guiding Ireland's overseas development programme, including the health sector. This overarching policy framework is further elaborated in documents such as Irish Aid's Health Policy and Strategy (2006) and the HIV and AIDS Policy and Strategy which is presently being updated. Health development policies emphasise the...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: A substantive partnership with UN Funds and Programmes, and Global Health Initiatives including those tasked with developing new products for neglected diseases, is an important element of Ireland's development cooperation programme and of our contribution to the realisation of the Millennium Development Goals. Ireland engages actively with these organisations, participating in meetings and...

Written Answers — Saville Report: Saville Report (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The deaths, injuries and suffering resulting from the actions of the British Army on Bloody Sunday, 30 January 1972, brought relations on this island and between Britain and Ireland to breaking point. This was compounded by the stain which the Widgery report placed on the characters of men now finally and publicly acknowledged to have been innocent. The publication of Lord Saville's report...

Written Answers — EU Agreements: EU Agreements (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Serbia was signed, subject to approval by the parties to it, including Ireland, in Luxembourg on 29 April 2008. At the time of signature of the Agreement, the Council of Ministers decided that the procedures for its formal ratification would begin when the Council agreed unanimously that Serbia was...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty has led to significant changes in the European Union's institutional arrangements. These include the creation of a full-time President of the European Council, the establishment of a new post of High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the creation of a European External Action Service (EEAS). The EEAS is intended to support the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 388, 393 and 394 together. Deputies will be aware that Ireland, along with our EU partners, has been seriously concerned about human rights violations in Iran for some time. I have consistently raised these concerns at the highest level with the Iranian authorities, most recently during the course of my meeting with Foreign Minister Mottaki in Dublin on 9...

Written Answers — Passport Security: Passport Security (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I would refer the Deputy to my answer to Priority PQs Nos. 27 and 30 of today. The current Irish passport system is one of the most secure in the world. The taxpayer has made significant investment in enhancing the security of our passports. The passport has been designed to ensure that the technologies used are those strictly controlled and mandated by the relevant international body, ICAO...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: 12.8 full-time equivalent staff work in my Private and Constituency Offices. A breakdown of their positions is provided in the following table. Position Number of staff Private Secretary 1 Higher Executive Officer 1 Executive Officer 2 Staff Officer 1 Clerical Officer 4.8 Special Advisor 1 Personal Assistant 1 Personal Secretary 1 Total 12.8 Eight of these posts are in my Private...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Western Balkans was discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council held in Luxembourg on 14 June which I attended. This came shortly after a high level meeting on the Western Balkans which took place in Sarajevo on 2 June and was organised by Spanish EU Presidency. The meeting in Sarajevo was attended by all EU and Western Balkans countries, including Serbia and Kosovo. Ireland was...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware from previous statements in this House, most recently on 20 May, the Government has long been deeply concerned about the situation in Burma. We remain very actively engaged at both the EU and international level in monitoring the situation in the country and in our efforts to support the Burmese people in their struggle for justice, democracy and development. The...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: Unfortunately, no part of the world is totally free from human rights abuses. As has been stated on previous occasions, in response to similar Questions, it is not the policy of the Government to draw up a 'league table' of countries deemed guilty of the most blatant human rights abuses. The complexity and specificity of individual country situations could render such an exercise difficult...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: It is not the policy of the Government to list countries most seriously affected by such issues as hunger, war, genocide or human rights abuses, which are issues that affect many countries in Africa and elsewhere, and I shall therefore not focus on individual countries. With regard to the issue of hunger and famine, it is estimated that more than a billion people today do not have enough...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department's largest print requirements are for passport application forms and passport booklets. Both of these contracts are currently held by Irish companies with all technical and production facilities located in Ireland. However, in accordance with Irish law (which gives effect to Ireland's international obligations in these matters), these contracts are tendered periodically and are...

Gaza Humanitarian Flotilla (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 33, 64, 75, 88, 384 and 397, together. I reported to the House on 1 June 2010 on my reaction to the events of 31 May 2010 involving the killing of nine Turkish citizens on board the MV Mavi Marmara. This vessel was part of an international flotilla heading for Gaza. The Government at its meeting that morning condemned the killings and expressed its...

Gaza Humanitarian Flotilla (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The meeting I had with the ambassador was specifically about the flotilla. I had earlier meetings, as the Deputy knows, with regard to the issue of Irish passports being used in an assassination in Dubai. I reported that to the House and there was considerable debate about it. I have had frequent discussions with the Israeli ambassador over the last number of months on different but...

Gaza Humanitarian Flotilla (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy and I are of similar mind in terms of what needs to happen with regard to the blockade. There was an interesting article in the International Herald Tribune yesterday which pointed out some obvious consequences of the blockade, that is, the complete destruction of the private sector in Gaza-----

Gaza Humanitarian Flotilla (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: -----and its semi-replacement by business elements under the control of Hamas.