Results 43,801-43,820 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Global Irish Economic Forum: Global Irish Economic Forum (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The success of the Global Irish Economic Forum held in September 2009 has had a transformative impact on Ireland's relationship with leading members of the Irish Diaspora. Extensive efforts have been taken by my Department, other Departments, the State Agencies and the private sector to advance the various initiatives that emerged from its deliberations and to further enhance the practical...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: As a direct result of ongoing industrial action by the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU), significant arrears of passport applications have arisen within the Passport Service. There are currently approximately 66,000 passport applications waiting to be processed within the system and it is presently taking up to twenty-two working days to process individual applications. Applications,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 50 together. The situation in Somalia is of extreme concern, as the country has been without an effective government since 1991. The UN-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) faces enormous challenges, not least the fact that it controls little of the country's territory and that significant armed groups remained opposed to the President. In the...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland established diplomatic relations with Venezuela on 29 November 1980 and is accredited on a non-residential basis through our Ambassador to Mexico. Ambassador Eamon Hickey is awaiting the offer of a date from the Venezuelan side to present his credentials in Caracas. On 13 January 2009, Dr. Samuel Moncada, Ambassador of Venezuela in London, who is also accredited to Ireland, presented...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The European Union has a long and close relationship with Turkey. Accession negotiations were opened in 2005 and Ireland makes a constructive input to those negotiations. As a beneficiary of a past enlargement, and on the experience of more recent accessions, Ireland is generally supportive of enlargement. Enlargement bolsters economic and political reform processes and helps to promote...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Rockall is a small uninhabitable rock, 25 x 30 metres wide, located approximately 160 nautical miles west of the Scottish islands of St. Kilda and 230 nautical miles to the north west of Donegal. It marks a point at which the Rockall Bank, part of the very large Hatton-Rockall area of continental shelf extending under the north-east Atlantic Ocean, protrudes 21 metres above sea level. During...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 49 together. EU relations with Colombia are conducted in the framework of regional relations between the EU and the Andean Community, comprising Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. In 2007, negotiations aimed at concluding a comprehensive Association Agreement between the EU and the Andean Community were formally launched. Such Agreements cover all...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 165 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs provides travel advice to Irish citizens wishing to visit Thailand thought its website. The current advice can be found at www.dfa.ie. There are two Irish Honorary Consulates in Thailand, one in Bangkok and the other in Phuket which provide consular assistance to Irish citizens in that country. The...

Written Answers — EU Relations: EU Relations (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 58 together. Following the recent British elections and the agreement between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrat Party on the formation of a Coalition Government, Conservative leader David Cameron was appointed Prime Minister on Tuesday 11 May and the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister on Wednesday 12...

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland and its EU partners oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, and make this position clear to all relevant authorities, including the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian law still provides for the death penalty in certain circumstances, but no execution may be carried out without the agreement of the President. The withholding by President Abbas of his agreement to carry out...

Written Answers — False Passports: False Passports (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of only one major incident which may have involved the unauthorised use of Irish passports by bodies, groups or agencies over the past five years. I have outlined the circumstances of this case in my reply today to Priority Question 65.

Written Answers — International Relations: International Relations (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will recall that I visited Cuba in February 2009. Yesterday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Mr Bruno Rodriguez Parilla, reciprocated with a visit to Dublin. We discussed a range of bilateral and multilateral issues, including recent economic developments in both countries. We looked at the progress made in developing a structured framework for our future bilateral...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware there is no legal requirement for Irish citizens to have a passport for travel from Ireland to Britain. The Common Travel Area is a passport-free zone between the two islands. The area's internal borders are subject to minimal or non-existent border controls and can normally be crossed by Irish and British citizens with only minimal identity documents. The maintenance...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Since 2002, the political situation in Chad has been dominated by threats of armed rebellion against the government of President Idriss Déby. While the government signed an accord with civilian opposition parties in 2007, providing for a degree of political reform, armed rebel groups had remained active and intent on overthrowing the government by force. In the past year, however, the...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, there are a large number of international agreements within the UN framework, covering a very wide range of subjects and falling within the functional responsibility of a number of Departments. The following is the present position insofar as it relates to Treaties on which my Department has lead responsibility. Two international agreements within the UN framework...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The European Union's relationship with Cuba takes place within the framework of the EU Common Position on Cuba agreed in 1996. In 2004, a Political Dialogue was established which covers a broad range of issues including human rights. Each year, the Foreign Affairs Council considers the EU's relations with Cuba and agrees Conclusions on the implementation of the Common Position. Discussions...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The issue of ensuring equality for women is a challenge facing every country in the world to a greater or lesser extent. While the situation in Zambia is of serious concern, I am confident that it is moving in the right direction, albeit slowly. Ireland is active in the drive towards greater equality in Zambia though the work of Irish Aid there. Zambia is one of Irish Aid's programme...

Written Answers — European External Action Service: European External Action Service (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Considerable progress has been made towards establishing the European External Action Service (EEAS) which is an important innovation under the Lisbon Treaty to support the work of the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton. Ministers reached a broad political understanding at the 26 April General Affairs Council on the essential elements of a...

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

Micheál Martin: The matter to which the Deputy refers is not a proposal of the Israeli Government. The Bill in question has been sponsored by a group of some twenty members of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. The Israeli Government declined to take this up as a Government Bill. It is understood that this Bill has not had a first reading in the Knesset. Ireland's Embassy in Tel Aviv together with EU...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am happy to inform the Deputy that Passports were issued by the Passport Office in Balbriggan to both the named persons on Friday 14 May, 2010. An Post have confirmed the delivery of these to the persons in question on the following Monday, 17 May, 2010.