Results 44,741-44,760 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: I thank all Deputies for their contributions to today's debate. By and large it was constructive and I will endeavour to respond to a number of issues that Members raised. To cut to the chase, Deputy Ó Snodaigh raised a number of points that need to be dealt with quickly. He put forward the idea that we had negotiated a behind the scenes deal which would mean having a commissioner for...

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: If one votes "No" this time we will lose our commissioner. I will quote from the Council's conclusions which state: Having carefully noted the concerns of the Irish people as set out by the Taoiseach, the European Council, at its meeting of 11-12 December 2008, agreed that, provided the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force, a decision would be taken, in accordance with the necessary legal...

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: We have negotiated and now we can.

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: That is a product of the campaign and I acknowledge it.

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The bottom line is that it would be honest of Deputy Ó Snodaigh to acknowledge it.

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: A "Yes" vote will enable us and every other member state to retain a commissioner. The package we are putting forward will also include legally binding guarantees on ethical issues, taxation and our traditional policy of military neutrality. Those who were concerned about those issues last year can be completely reassured by the guarantees we have secured. The commitments and legal...

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: It is important we engage with people who voted "No" the last time. It is important we acknowledge the points raised by those who voted "No". The guarantees we have secured do that in a comprehensive way. We must reach out to and engage with people to make progress on the big picture. The big picture is the economic situation. People may not realise it, but the Lisbon treaty is the...

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Tairgim leasú a a1: I leathanach 9, línte 10 agus 11, "ar acquis Schengen arna chomhtháthú isteach" a scriosadh agus "maidir le acquis Schengen arna lánpháirtiú" a chur isteach. I move amendment No. a1: In page 8, lines 10 and 11, to delete "ar acquis Schengen arna chomhtháthú isteach" and insert "maidir le acquis Schengen arna lánpháirtiú". I wish to make a general comment on the...

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Tairgim leasú a 1: I leathanach 11, líne 14, "by" a scriosadh. I move amendment No. 1: In page 10, line 14, to delete "by". Aontaíodh an leasú.

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Tairgim leasú a 2: I leathanach 11, líne 17, "by" a scriosadh. I move amendment No. 2: In page 10, line 17, to delete "by". Aontaíodh an leasú. Amendment agreed to Aontaíodh an Sceideal mar a leasaíodh.

Statement for Information of Voters: Motion (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Tairgim: "GO ndéanfar an ráiteas atá leagtha amach sa Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Rún seo a fhorordú mar fhaisnéis do vótálaithe de bhun alt 23 d'Acht an Reifrinn 1994 (Uimh.12 de 1994), i ndáil leis an togra chun Airteagal 29 den Bhunreacht a leasú, atá ar áireamh sa Bhille um an Ochtú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht (Conradh Liospóin) 2009, agus is ábhar do reifreann bunreachta.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: There are a number of proposals, in Congress, and from the Administration, for measures to address the use of tax havens by individuals or companies. Ireland is not considered a tax haven and proposals in this area should not be a threat to our interests. Nonetheless, the Embassy in Washington is closely following developments in this regard and promoting awareness among policy-makers that...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government attaches the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. We have emphasised our strong support for the undocumented in all our engagements with the US Administration and Congress, including during meetings with President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton in Washington this March. During that visit we also had useful...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Advertising undertaken by my Department typically includes; advisory notices on public opening hours over holiday periods, changes in passport application procedures and fees, and public information notices relating to significant developments in the European Union or in regard to Ireland's Official Development Assistance programme, Irish Aid. While much of this material is now placed on the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, Government Departments do not pay for the legal services provided by the Office of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitors Office or for advice from Counsel briefed by them. My Department has a Legal Division, staffed by qualified legal professionals who provide legal advice on a wide range of international legal issues. Having such 'in-house' legal...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The table sets out the costs relating to my official mobile telephony service since I was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in May 2008. Rental/ Subscription Calls Roaming Data Totals 2008 €239 €813 €140 €27 €1,219 2009 to Date €365 n/a n/a n/a €365 My Department avails of the Department of Finance Central Framework for the provision of mobile telephony services....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: In the past five years my Department has taken one court case. This case was taken in 2005, in Stockholm, against a planning permission which had been granted to develop the attic space of a building, which contained an Embassy property owned by the State. The Department initiated an appeal against this planning permission to the Stockholm Rent Tribunal (part of the Swedish court system). The...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government attaches the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. We have emphasised our strong support for the undocumented in all our engagements with the US Administration and Congress, including during meetings with President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton in Washington this March. The Taoiseach and I held extensive...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The formation of a unity government in Zimbabwe in February was far from being a solution to Zimbabwe's problems, but was nonetheless a sign of some limited progress in the political process. Five months on, despite some improvements in the situation on the ground in Zimbabwe, notably in curbing hyperinflation and adopting the South African rand as the reference currency, the political...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: In the past three years my Department has rented office space in one building in Dublin, the ground floor of Hospitality House, Cumberland Street, Dublin 2 at a cost of €144,900 per annum. All other rent commitments relating to properties in the State occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs are discharged by the Office of Public Works. The number of properties rented abroad for use...