Results 45,221-45,240 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

UN Conventions. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Bill is on Committee Stage in the Oireachtas.

UN Conventions. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I agree 100% with that point. The other point I would make is that when one is ratifying a convention, it should be done properly. Any country that is ratifying should make sure it is dotting its i's and crossing its t's, and that there is an exhaustive examination of what the convention entails and its application to various legislative requirements, to ensure one is actually ratifying it...

Bilateral Relations. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and the United States enjoy close political, economic and cultural relations.

Bilateral Relations. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Successive Presidents and their Administrations and Ireland's many friends on Capitol Hill from both sides of the aisle have made an enormous contribution to bringing peace and economic prosperity to this island. The Government attaches the highest importance to strengthening the unique relationship between the two countries. I welcome the commitment of the Obama Administration to overcoming...

Bilateral Relations. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The question relates to the recovery and re-investment plan, which is fundamentally about the domestic US economy. Of course, if the American economy can effect a recovery, Ireland, as an open, exporting economy, stands to benefit. As I said in my reply, the US is extremely important to Ireland in terms of exports and investment from multinational companies. The broader issues raised by...

Bilateral Relations. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Our ambassador is lobbying in Washington and is in touch with his contacts on Capitol Hill. With the greatest of respect, it is not for us to tell President Obama and his Administration about the fine-tuning of their economic recovery plan, which is a matter for the domestic political agenda.

Bilateral Relations. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The ambassador and the IDA are vigilantly monitoring the issues that concern us, such as the key issue of international tax policy. This was flagged in the platform of the President during the election campaign. The indications are that nothing will be done straight away, but it may surface in due course. Of course we will be lobbying, as we did before, to protect Irish interests as far as...

Bilateral Relations. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Not really. Of course, we will work as effectively as possible on our issues. Sometimes it is not through shouting and roaring from the rooftops that one goes about getting one's point across. There are obviously issues of interest to us on which we will be engaged with the American Administration. That will relate to their international tax policy.

Bilateral Relations. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: We will be dealing with St. Patrick's Day later.

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (11 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government attaches the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. In the absence, to date, of comprehensive immigration reform in the US, we have actively pursued a bilateral approach in this area, aimed at reforming our overall immigration arrangements with the United States and facilitating greater legal migration between the two...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (11 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Embassy in Washington is comprised of the Ambassador and nine diplomatic staff who are dedicated to promoting and protecting Ireland's interests in the United States. Full attention is given to our economic interests and to the needs of Irish citizens, particularly those who are undocumented. Our Consulates General in New York, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco also engage actively on...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (11 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government attaches the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. In the absence, to date, of comprehensive immigration reform in the US, we have actively pursued a bilateral approach in this area, aimed at reforming our overall immigration arrangements with the United States and facilitating greater legal migration between the two...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (11 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and the United States enjoy close political, economic and cultural relations. Successive Presidents and their Administrations, and Ireland's many friends on Capitol Hill from both sides of the aisle, have made an enormous contribution to bringing peace and economic prosperity to this island. We enjoy in particular an excellent working relationship with the bi-partisan Friends of...

Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Timmins is swimming.

Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Burton knows well he did not.

Irish-US Relations. (11 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: We are keeping the country in suspense.

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (10 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government is strongly committed to trying to resolve the plight of the undocumented Irish in the United States. President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and other senior members of the new Administration have for some time been strong supporters of comprehensive immigration reform. Since the new year, there have also been helpful public indications that Senate Majority Leader, Senator...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I remain deeply concerned by the situation in Tibet. Reports in recent weeks suggest that the Chinese authorities have been engaged in a new security operation in the capital, Lhasa. Some reports indicate that checks on almost 6,000 people have taken place and that around 80 to date have been detained. At the same time, issues relating to the preservation of the religious and cultural...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The issue raised by the Deputy is of great importance to me personally and to the large number of host families and organisations who have organised annual visits to Ireland by children from Belarus for over 18 years. My Department became aware of possible restrictions on the children's travel in late August 2008. I met with Adi Roche of Chernobyl Children's Project International on 8...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (10 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The events of the past week, which saw the release of six hostages, including the last politicians to be held by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), are very welcome. The Government of Colombia has repeatedly stated its commitment to bringing to an end to all terrorism in Colombia within the framework of the Justice and Peace Law. This Law, passed in 2005, provides an...