Results 43,781-43,800 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Questions Nos. 1 and 2 on 20 May 2010. Over the past three months there has been frequent contact between Irish officials and the UAE authorities, representatives from other countries whose passports were also used in this incident and representatives of the Israeli Government. On 22 February, I met with Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are no state agencies operating under the remit of my Department. There are currently three bodies, which operate under the aegis of my Department: the Development Education Advisory Committee (DEAC); the Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as Díon); and the Fulbright Commission (The Board of the Ireland – United States Commission for Educational...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). The following table sets out the Department's net budgetary allocations and surrendered surpluses for the years 2007 to 2009 for Vote 28 and Vote 29: Vote 28 - Dept of Foreign Affairs 2007 2008 2009 €000 €000 €000 Net Budgetary Allocation 214,945...

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

Micheál Martin: At 21 May, 2010 there were 62,944 applications in the system. My Department has obtained the necessary sanction to recruit 50 temporary staff and arrangements have been made for staff to commence work at short notice. If necessary, we are prepared to recruit additional staff. These arrears are a direct result of the ongoing industrial action by the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU). ...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The difficult situation of the undocumented Irish in the US and the impact on their families in America and Ireland is a matter of deep concern to the Government. 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 themselves. Finding a solution for our undocumented...

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland and its EU partners have repeatedly expressed their concerns about democratic freedoms and human rights in Iran, and look forward to the day when these are fully established and protected. While the general principles set out in the document provided are entirely laudable, the National Council of Resistance of Iran is generally regarded as the political wing of the People's...

Written Answers — Democratic Stability: Democratic Stability (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 21 together. The first Parliamentary elections in Sri Lanka since the end of the civil war were held on 8 April. The campaign was quite peaceful by local standards although there were serious irregularities in two constituencies which necessitated new elections on 20 April. The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA), the party of President Rajapaksa,...

Written Answers — Overseas Visits: Overseas Visits (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am committed to a number of foreign trips for the remainder of 2010. As always all my travel as Minister for Foreign Affairs is carried out in pursuit of Ireland's foreign policy objectives, our economic interests, or both. The majority of my travel arises directly from Ireland's active and committed membership of the EU and UN. It is my intention to attend the next meetings of the General...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland remains keenly committed to ongoing participation in UN-mandated peace support operations. Our involvement in overseas operations over more than 50 years has enabled the personnel of the Defence Forces to develop a broad range of skills and competencies which have given Ireland a strong and widely recognised reputation in the field of international peacekeeping. While the Government...

Written Answers — Investigation of Death: Investigation of Death (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Since the House was last briefed on this case, during an Adjournment Debate on 11 November, there have been a number of developments in the case of Michael Dwyer, an Irish citizen who was killed by the Bolivian state security forces in Santa Cruz on 16 April 2009. Ambassador Philomena Murnaghan, the Ambassador of Ireland to Argentina, who is accredited also to Bolivia, travelled to La Paz on...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs, either through the Consular Assistance Section or our Missions overseas, receive a number of inquires each year in relation to Irish citizens that cannot be contacted by families or friends. It is important to recall that people go missing for a variety of reasons, including, in some cases, as a result of a deliberate decision to cease contact with family or...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I should state at the outset that this matter is one where the Oireachtas has primacy. The commitment to develop a joint parliamentary forum, which would bring together members from the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly, is contained in both the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements. The Government is committed to the full and effective implementation of these agreements; an aim...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 156 together. 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 recognise that the overwhelming majority of the undocumented travelled to the US in search of work in a period of...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: As I have stated previously in the House, the case of the seven Baha'i community leaders continues to be of grave concern. I have personally raised this case, and matters relating to human rights and religious freedom generally, directly with the Iranian authorities at the highest levels, including in person and by letter with Foreign Minister Mottaki. In addition, my Department frequently...

Written Answers — Military Neutrality: Military Neutrality (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality is not affected by our participation in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Ireland's approach to international security is characterised, inter alia, by our willingness to participate in peace operations throughout the world and a commitment to collective security through the United Nations, in particular....

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 64 and 157 together. Following long efforts by Senator Mitchell and the US Administration to bring the parties together, and an abortive launch in April, the long-awaited proximity talks between the Israelis and Palestinians have commenced. The US team will liaise between the parties. Senator Mitchell will be present in person regularly and frequently, and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Zimbabwe continues to be of great concern to the Government and to the European Union as a whole. I am particularly concerned by reports of continuing human rights violations, arbitrary arrests, torture of prisoners and abuse of the rule of law. Our Embassy to Zimbabwe, which is based in Pretoria, regularly raises our concerns over violations of human rights and the rule of...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The pattern of visits here by Foreign Ministers is determined by various factors including developments in bilateral relations, current international issues and of course availability and diary commitments on both sides. It will be appreciated that in many cases visits require to be planned and arranged at relatively short notice and in that regard, to the extent possible, we remain flexible...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: As has been reported in this House on many previous occasions, and most recently on 5 May, human rights issues in China, including issues relating to Falun Gong, are regularly discussed on a bilateral basis with the Chinese Government, both in Beijing and in Dublin. The Government continues to stress at such meetings the great importance attached by Ireland to human rights, fundamental...

Written Answers — Democratic Stability: Democratic Stability (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Angola's first parliamentary election since 1992 took place in September 2008. The ruling MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) party won a landslide majority, with 82% of votes and a total of 191 seats out of 220. The main opposition party UNITA (the National Union for the Independence of Angola) had held 70 seats but retained only 16. An EU election observation mission said...