Results 44,901-44,920 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Chad has long been characterised by north-south tensions, and since 2002 the stability of the country has been threatened by 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 have remained active and intent on...

Middle East Peace Process. (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 4 together. The search for peace in the Middle East is a major foreign policy priority for Ireland and for the European Union. The urgency of achieving that objective has been underlined by the events of the past six months. The crisis in Gaza at the end of the last year reversed the sense of momentum following the November 2007 Annapolis Conference....

Middle East Peace Process. (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: I take on board what the Deputy said about the situation on the West Bank where the policies run counter to facilitating a pathway to peace and a political settlement. The government of Mr. Salam Fayad and the Palestinian Authority has been weakened and undermined by the issues about which he spoke. In many instances, Mr. Mahmoud Abbas, Mr. Fayad and others have been endeavouring to develop...

Middle East Peace Process. (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: There is a widely shared understanding in the European Union that the new Netanyahu Government must clearly demonstrate its commitment to a two-state solution and its willingness to abide by previous international agreements. That consensus is emerging within the Union. The messages have been very clearly sent to all concerned. We recently met Javier Solana, the head of EU external...

Middle East Peace Process. (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The UN Human Rights Council has established a panel to examine violations of international human rights and humanitarian law committed during the Gaza conflict. It will investigate allegations on all sides. The distinguished South African Mr. Richard Goldstone will head the inquiry. His three colleagues include the retired Irish Army officer Colonel Desmond Travers. The story of the...

Foreign Conflicts. (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned about the situation in Sri Lanka, the grave humanitarian crisis taking place there and the growing evidence that horrific atrocities were inflicted by both Sri Lankan forces and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, LTTE. Reports of serious breaches of international humanitarian law include intensive shelling by government forces in areas in which significant numbers of...

Foreign Conflicts. (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: I agree with Deputy Higgins in regard to the language used towards the conclusion of the war, that is, the phrase "the elimination of terrorists". For some time, the Government and the EU have said there cannot be a military solution to this issue and that, ultimately, a conflict resolution process must be put in place. A fundamental humanitarian crisis has been caused as a result of the...

Foreign Conflicts. (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The use of cluster munitions is an important point.

Foreign Conflicts. (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: It is very relevant.

Foreign Conflicts. (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: To be fair to Deputy Higgins, the question relates to the independent investigation to ascertain the facts on civilian casualties. The country and the Oireachtas are keen to highlight and condemn the use of cluster munitions in conflicts and to ensure it does not happen.

Foreign Conflicts. (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: I take Deputy Higgins's point. Such consensus is difficult for the Chair to contemplate and deal with.

Diplomatic Representation. (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: My Department maintains a network of 75 overseas missions - 57 embassies, seven multilateral missions and 11 consulates general and other offices. It also maintains offices in Armagh and Belfast. Heads of mission carry different titles, including ambassador, permanent representative and consul general. There are currently 61 officials with the rank of ambassador, including a number serving...

Diplomatic Representation. (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: In terms of Kenya, there are no immediate plans, and we are examining the entire configuration of Irish embassies at the moment, reviewing our strengths and weaknesses, with a view to establishing our future strategy and where we should be represented, within existing resources, given the economic climate. Recently we announced the establishment of an embassy in Abu Dhabi, for example, as...

Diplomatic Representation. (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: That would frighten me even more. Present company excluded of course, Deputy Higgins would make a fine ambassador and a fine exponent of foreign policy. I am not comparing one system with another. The American system is much different from ours and has been since its inception, but then it is a different type of jurisdiction and can bring different types of resources into play when a...

Order of Business (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Quinn is a great admirer of the free market.

Order of Business (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Ring is perpetually independent.

Written Answers — Lisbon Treaty Referendum: Lisbon Treaty Referendum (27 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The December European Council agreed to a package of measures to respond to the Irish people's concerns as outlined by the Taoiseach. Specifically, the European Council agreed that, provided the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force, each Member State will continue to have the right to nominate a Commissioner. It also agreed that legal guarantees will be given to Ireland in the areas of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (26 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs, through its overseas development programme, Irish Aid, supports the work of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) through voluntary contributions. UNODC is mandated to assist Member States in their work against illicit drugs, crime and terrorism. Funding provided over the last three years is as follows: 2008: € 1,000,000 2007: €...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (26 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The applicant in question has informed the Passport Office that her birth was not registered and therefore she was unable to provide a birth certificate. A birth certificate is essential in order to obtain a passport. The Office of the Registrar General has responsibility for records relating to Births, Marriages and Deaths in the State. The person in question has been requested to contact...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (26 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: I deplore the arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy in Burma and esteemed Nobel Peace laureate, her imprisonment in the notorious Insein Prison in Rangoon and the laying of charges and institution of court proceedings against her. In a statement on 14 May, I condemned her arrest, saying that it represented the latest chapter in an ongoing effort to...