Results 43,681-43,700 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (22 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Procedures for dealing with Ministerial correspondence, including representations made by Members of the Oireachtas, have been in place in my Department for a number of years. Related guidelines were formalised in line with requirements under the 2002 Civil Service Customer Charter Initiative and were most recently up-dated in October 2009. Under the guidelines the division handling the...

Order of Business. (22 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: An unfortunate choice of words.

Written Answers — Passport Offices: Passport Offices (16 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: As I indicated to the Deputy on 27 May last I have asked my officials to examine the feasibility of providing passport production equipment in other parts of the country. This could include the case for establishing a passport office service in the North West region. However, I do not expect that a decision in this regard will be made in the short term. The priority for the Passport Service...

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

Micheál Martin: I addressed a special debate in the Dáil on 1 June in relation to the deaths which occurred the previous day when Israeli forces intercepted and carried out a military assault on the Free Gaza flotilla. I spoke again on the subject in the Seanad on 2 June. These debates were important opportunities for members to express the shock and concern felt in the country, and on behalf of the...

Written Answers — Trade Relations: Trade Relations (16 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the primary responsibility for promoting Irish trade rests with the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Innovation. However, my Department has an important role to play in this area and I have set the promotion of our economic interests abroad as one of the key priorities for our Missions overseas. Ireland's trade with China has increased very substantially over...

Written Answers — Travel Documentation: Travel Documentation (16 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Irish passports are valid in Spain, including the Canary Islands, until the date of expiry written on the document. This has been confirmed with the Embassy of Spain in Dublin. In these circumstances the child should have no difficulty in travelling.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: I was very concerned to hear of the death in unexplained circumstances on 2 June in the Democratic Republic of the Congo of Mr Floribert Chebeya Bahizire, executive director of the organisation "La Voix des Sans Voix" (Voice of the Voiceless). The discovery two days later of the body of Mr Fidele Bazana Edadi, Mr Chebeya's colleague and driver, was reason for further concern. Mr Chebeya was a...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and its E.U. partners have been seriously concerned about human rights violations in Iran for many years. In the past year, these concerns have been greatly increased by Iran's large-scale actions to repress dissent. These measures include executions, arrests and actions against free speech, such as closing newspapers, blocking websites and arresting contributors to websites of...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am very much aware of the difficulties confronting undocumented Irish citizens in the United States and the distress which both they and their families in the US and Ireland experience arising from their situation. I would urge anybody who might be tempted in the current economic climate to follow in the footsteps of the undocumented to take account of the plight in which they now find...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Colombia has witnessed the longest period of upheaval of any country in Latin America - over 50 years in all. The Colombian people have endured relentless suffering, reflected in the more than two million persons who have been internally displaced over the past number of years, a number second only to that of Sudan. The degree of lawlessness that arises from the absence of peace presents a...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Together with its EU partners, Ireland attaches considerable importance to achieving stability in the Western Balkans. A significant factor in building this is the EU perspective of the countries in the region. The June 2003 European Council in Thessalonika agreed that the future of the countries of the Western Balkans was in the EU. The European Union's Stabilisation and Association...

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are some on the Opposition benches.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: It is a great pity that it was necessary to table a motion of confidence. This debate is unwarranted and unjustified. Many of the contributions of Opposition Members bear out what I am saying. We should engage in a detailed, reflective consideration of the two reports published last week. From what I have heard, however, it appears that most people have not read them.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: I only have five minutes in which to contribute and I did not interrupt previous speakers.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: If people read the reports, they would gain instruction in how we formulate and develop policy. I will deal further with that matter in a moment. Deputies referred to our record. During the past decade, there has been unprecedented growth and development and the country has been transformed.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Many of the benefits from it are still with us. During the period to which I refer, we managed to halve the national debt. That was a significant achievement which has stood us in good stead in the context of the current crisis.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: We established a levy of 1% of GNP to create the National Pension Reserve Fund. That was a wise and conservative move, particularly as the fund has been of enormous assistance in the context of recapitalisation of the banks.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Up to 2007, we used cash surpluses to transform road, health and education infrastructure.

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Will I be given the opportunity to speak? Are Members interested in engaging in a sensible debate?

Confidence in the Taoiseach and the Government: Motion (15 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: The level of infantile comment with which one must put up is ridiculous. People outside the Houses expect a bit more of Members.