Results 43,841-43,860 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

EU Targets (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I would not be that dismissive. We all know from research that education during the lifespan of an individual is the key to his or her progression in terms of employment attainment. Education is the one guarantee of exit from poverty and of a decent quality of life. It advances a society collectively. When I was Minister for Education and Science in 1999, we worked out what percentage of...

Election Monitoring (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The elections in Ethiopia on 23 May represent an important step in the country's democratic development. Opposition parties are contesting the elections throughout the country and 30 million Ethiopians have registered to vote. However, the violent aftermath of the last elections in 2005 left a disappointing and difficult legacy. We are following developments closely and Irish observers are...

Membership of International Organisations (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 22 together. Israel, along with Estonia and Slovenia, was formally invited to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development at a meeting of the OECD Council on 10 May 2010. On the basis of formal opinions and all relevant technical information gathered by the appropriate OECD bodies during the accession process which stretched back to...

Membership of International Organisations (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: My position remains that the Gaza blockade is unacceptable and represents a fundamental breach of international human rights and norms. I have always been clear in that regard. Ireland has always maintained a significant interest in and commitment to Middle East issues, particularly efforts to effect a resolution of the conflict there. There are several routes one could take to highlight...

Membership of International Organisations (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The invitation to Israel, Slovenia and Estonia was given back in 2007, at which stage Ireland did not oppose it. This is entirely incomparable to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty agreement with India.

Membership of International Organisations (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I have outlined my position. Moreover, I have written to every Deputy setting out our position on boycotts. We have argued that there is a balance to be struck in these matters. In regard to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty mentioned by the Deputy, Ireland is cheering the Middle East resolution because of the acceptance by all concerned of our bona fides. These are issues we must...

False Passports (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. On 15 February 2010, the Dubai chief of police confirmed that several suspects, believed to have been involved with the killing of Hamas chief, Mahmoud al Mabhouh, in January, had entered Dubai on the passports of a number of foreign countries. Twenty-six suspects were named, of whom three had travelled on Australian passports, four on...

False Passports (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: No. I have just received the report of the Irish Passport Office.

False Passports (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy that this is a serious matter. I undertake to share the report with the spokespersons present. While there are aspects to the report that I may not be able to publish as so doing in essence would compromise the security of the passport system itself, aside from that I wish to publish as much of the material as possible. It depends on one's definition of...

False Passports (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The presentation by the Deputy is a fair one in some respects. There is a difference between the British position and that of Ireland along the lines outlined by the Deputy. That said, in assessing both the information we have received from other countries that have been involved by the fraudulent use of or forgeries of their passports and our own assessment, there comes a time when one...

False Passports (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I agree wholeheartedly with the Deputy; if that was to happen, it would be an issue of the gravest concern. We must be vigilant to make sure the European Union External Action Service is in no way undermined by the activities of intelligence agencies or the crisscrossing or duplication. The Deputy is right to draw attention to that.

False Passports (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I received the report late on Tuesday evening. I want to bring it to Government and would prefer to share its contents when I am in a position to make a statement on it.

False Passports (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Within two weeks.

Passport Applications (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are currently 248 staff working in the passport offices in Dublin and Balbriggan and a further 72 in Cork. At 17 May 2010, there were 62,008 applications in the system. The 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....

Passport Applications (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I answered this question the last time. There are three machines.

Passport Applications (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: There is no machine in Cork. I have ordered one.

Passport Applications (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are a number of machines and equipment.

Passport Applications (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: If it is an emergency, yes.

Passport Applications (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: It depends on the flexibility and how people work in given situations.

Passport Applications (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: There is no production facility.