Results 43,761-43,780 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Interception of Gaza Humanitarian Flotilla: Motion (1 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy asked quite a number of questions. I welcome the fact that this motion was drafted with the support of the entire Dáil. I discussed the matter with the spokespersons from the different parties beforehand, showed the text to everyone and took on board some suggestions in order that we might have a complete text that represents the democratic voice of the Irish people - through...

Interception of Gaza Humanitarian Flotilla: Motion (1 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy's contributions included questions and a general articulation of positions. The essential items question in terms of what is and is not allowed in has been farcical at times. Depending on who one talks to, or the week or the month, some items are on and some are off. It makes absolutely no sense. Much of what has happened could have been avoided if a more sensible approach had...

Interception of Gaza Humanitarian Flotilla: Motion (1 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Acting Chairman.

Interception of Gaza Humanitarian Flotilla: Motion (1 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: I move: That Dáil Éireann: gravely concerned at the events which took place on 31 May 2010 following the storming in international waters of the Turkish vessel the Mavi Marmara by Israeli forces which resulted in at least nine deaths and a large number of injured: — deplores the loss of life which occurred when the Free Gaza flotilla was intercepted at sea by Israeli military forces on 31...

Interception of Gaza Humanitarian Flotilla: Motion (1 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: Deputies will be aware from my earlier remarks that uppermost in my thoughts now is the progress of the ship that sailed from Ireland, the Rachel Corrie, on which a number of Irish citizens are continuing towards Gaza. It is thought that she might be approaching Gazan waters in the next number of days. I asked Ambassador Evrony to convey to the Israeli Government my request that, following...

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: What the Wall Street Journal said was interesting.

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: I have read it.

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (27 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department currently operates six websites for which costs are set out below. The costs include support & maintenance, hosting and domain registration services. Website Cost of Maintaining Sites for 2010(inc VAT) Department of Foreign Affairs family of websites including 68 Embassy websites â'¬59,075 Irish Aid family of websites â'¬32,435 Dublin Cluster Munitions Conference...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (27 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: As I indicated on 20 May last I have identified the necessity to examine further contingency arrangements for passport production. This could include the provision of passport production equipment in the North West and the South of the country. I have asked my officials to examine the feasibility of providing this service. However, as the examination is at a very early stage it is premature...

Written Answers — North-South Consultative Forum: North-South Consultative Forum (27 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The establishment of the North/South Consultative Forum, provided for in both the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement, has been discussed with the Northern Ireland Executive at all the plenary meetings of the North/South Ministerial Council since the re-establishment of the Executive in May 2007. At those meetings, the Government delegation is led by the Taoiseach, while the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (27 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The situation to which the Deputy refers concerns the attack on a humanitarian convoy in San Juan Copola, Oaxaca, on 27 April, in which a Mexican human rights defender, Ms Beatriz Carino and a Finnish observer, Mr Tyri Antero Jaakkola were killed by paramilitaries. Several other Human Rights Defenders and journalists suffered injuries. Ms Carino was a speaker at the Frontline 5th Dublin...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (27 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am happy to inform the Deputy that both passports were collected from the Passport Office in Molesworth Street on 25 May.

Written Answers — Child Abductions: Child Abductions (27 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I have been following developments closely in this case since the Irish citizen was abducted from France to Hungary in contravention of a custody order of a French Court. My officials, both in Dublin and in the Embassy in Budapest have been in regular contact with the father of the Irish citizen concerning this case. Diplomatic staff in our Embassy in Budapest, have met with the relevant...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: In the past 12 months 233 officers of the Department have received coaching in a foreign language. Total expenditure on language training for officers of the Department in 2009 and to-date in 2010 was €272,111. Language training was provided in the following languages: Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department arranges training for staff who are involved in providing consular support and assistance to Irish citizens abroad and their families in Ireland. Consular staff at HQ are provided with detailed instructions on how to deal with the range of consular cases that arise. As the Deputy will be aware, when a crisis occurs involving a substantial number of Irish citizens abroad, we...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is facilitating the prioritisation of applications on the basis of demonstrable urgent humanitarian need. The Passport Service has been in contact with the person concerned and the mater is in hand. Further information has been sought from the applicant and I understand this will be forthcoming shortly.

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: While my Department is not aware of this particular case, a number of other cases which have occurred in the context of the French leaseback system have been brought to the attention of the Embassy in Paris. The Deputy will be aware that the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs concerning private property transactions by Irish nationals abroad is limited, and that redress in such cases...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: As stated in the House in reply to a Parliamentary Question on 20 May, the Government is extremely concerned about the recent surge in violence in Thailand, including the Army assault on the protesters' encampment in central Bangkok early on the morning of 19 May and the violence which has occurred both in Bangkok and in the provinces following the military intervention. I am deeply...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I understand that there are no peace talks underway between the Government and the FARC and the ELN in Colombia. It is the stated position of the Colombian Government that it will not negotiate with the FARC or the ELN until they lay down arms, inter alia, in accordance with the Justice and Peace Law, 2005, of which the AUC and a number of individual FARC and ELN members have availed....

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The person in question lodged his application at the counter in the Molesworth Street Office on 10 May, 2010. As a direct result of the ongoing industrial action by the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) it is presently taking up to twenty five working days to process individual applications submitted through the Passport Express Service, the Northern Ireland Passport Express Service and...