Results 43,861-43,880 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Passport Applications (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: There is a point to make, apart from the industrial action, in terms of contingencies, such as the building being flooded. There is a case for the north west to have a machine, and the south. Those are the two priority areas.

Passport Applications (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The north west is an idea because there have been so many applications from the North.

Passport Applications (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: That is an interesting proposition and I will look into its feasibility.

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. The prospect of enlargement bolsters economic and political reform processes and...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (19 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: While the advancement of Ireland's economic interests is a strong priority for the Department of Foreign Affairs, in particular through the efforts of our Embassies to promote trade, tourism and investment and our efforts to develop the Global Irish Network, I have not commissioned or published any policy papers specifically on employment creation as this is not an issue which comes within...

Written Answers — Rockall Island: Rockall Island (19 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 — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (18 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: A passport application for the named person was registered with the Passport Office in London on 12 April, 2010. As a direct result of the industrial action, significant arrears of passport applications have arisen within the passport service. Applications, other than those that are prioritised on the basis of demonstrable urgent humanitarian need, are being processed on a first come first...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (18 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 — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (13 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: As of 1 January 2010, the salary paid to me by the Department of Foreign Affairs is €98,745.00. This figure does not include the salary paid to me by the Houses of the Oireachtas. The accompanying table sets out the number and grades of staff in my Department whose salary scales are comparable to, or at a higher level than, my own. Grade Salary Scale Number of officers Secretary...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: As part of the Government's support for Irish communities abroad, funding has been provided, under the Emigrant Support Programme, for a number of Comhaltas led projects in Britain and the United States. The following table summarises the funding over the past five years. 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Britain (£) 55,000 99,500 134,518 172,201 157,501 USA ($) - - - - 20,000 As no Emigrant...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The table below sets out details of expenditure on IT services supplied to my Department over the period requested by the Deputy. In the time available it is not possible to break this down by year between companies. However, also included below is a table of the main companies who have provided the Department with IT services from 2006 to date. Year Amount Spent on IT Services No of Staff...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (11 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: A passport can be renewed before its expiry date. However, as it is currently not possible to guarantee a turnaround time for the processing of passport applications, because of the ongoing industrial action in the Passport Service, I have issued instructions and announced that passport applicants may submit a photocopy of the photograph page of any existing valid passport being renewed,...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Government takes a close interest in the situation of the Roma in Kosovo. The Taoiseach raised the living conditions of the Roma when he met with President Sejdiu and Prime Minister Thaci during his visit to Kosovo on 22 December 2008. My officials regularly pursue the issue at senior level within the EU both in Brussels and in Kosovo. An official of my Department met last October with...

Written Answers — Straitéis 20 Bliain: Straitéis 20 Bliain (11 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Leagann Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge amach líon réimsí gníomhaíochtsa a rachaidh chun leasa na Gaeilge agus na Gaeltachta sna 20 bliain atá romhainn. Ar cheann de chuspóirí na dréacht-Straitéise tá tacú le cur chun cinn is le múineadh na Gaeilge thar lear, trí mo Roinnse agus tríd an Roinn Gnóthaí Pobail, Comhionannais agus Gaeltachta. Ní leagann an Straitéis aon...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (11 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Council of the European Union is a key decision-making institution of the EU, at whose meetings all EU Member States are represented. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, and in my earlier Ministerial portfolios, I have represented Ireland frequently at Council meetings. Between May 2007 and November 2009 there were twenty-seven meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The organisation in question was established to provide a specific service to civil and public servants. In 2001, the organisation had need of a person with specific expertise to fill a vacant position. A member of staff of my Department had the requisite skills and experience and it was agreed that the staff member would be seconded to the organisation with effect from October 2001. I am...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (6 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Passports for two of the persons named were sent to the Irish Consulate in San Francisco by Diplomatic Courier on 22 April, 2010 and the third passport was sent on 29 April, 2010.

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (6 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: A passport application for the named person was registered with the Passport Office in Balbriggan on 14 April, 2010. As a direct result of industrial action, significant arrears of passport applications have arisen within the passport service. Every effort is being made to reduce the waiting time for applications, pending the resolution of the industrial action which is preventing the...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (5 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are currently four bodies, which operate under the aegis of my Department: the Development Education Advisory Committee; the Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as Díon); the Fulbright Commission (The Board of the Ireland – United States Commission for Educational Exchange); and the Audit Committee of the Department of Foreign Affairs. There are no...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (5 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: A passport application for the named person was registered with the Passport Office in Molesworth Street on 11 March, 2010. It was received through the ordinary post services which, due to the effects of industrial action, are currently being processed within six to eight weeks. Applications are routinely processed on a first come first served basis and the application in question will be...