Results 45,261-45,280 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (29 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's merchandise trade with Cuba was worth €0.93million in 2007, with exports valued at €608,000 and imports at €325,000. In the first half of 2008 trade with Cuba totalled €0.36 million, with exports valued at €170,000 and imports at €190,000. I will be visiting Cuba in February and will have an opportunity to explore if there are opportunities to further develop economic...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will appreciate, the annual cost of printing reports has significantly reduced in recent years as, in many instances, reports are no longer published in hard copy but, instead, are placed on the Department's website. This is the case with our Department's Annual Report. In cases where we are required to publish hard copies of reports, the number of copies printed is...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (28 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: The following table sets out the names, positions and cost of the non-established staff appointed by me in 2007 post election and 2008. Minister Micheál Martin, T.D. Name Responsibility Remuneration Ms. Deirdre Gillane Special Advisor Principal Officer standard scale: €86,168 – €100,191 Mr. Christy Mannion Special Advisor Principal Officer standard scale: €86,168 –...

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I wish to share my time with the Minister of State at the Department of Education and Science, Deputy Seán Haughey.

The Economy: Statements (Resumed) (28 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: Since credit markets around the world seized up last August, we have seen unprecedented turmoil in financial markets, rising unemployment and increased economic uncertainty. In Europe, in the Americas, in Asia, economic growth has stalled or is in decline. Referring to lay-offs by multinational firms around the world, a British newspaper yesterday carried the headline "More woe as 72,500...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 110, 113, 115 to 119, inclusive, 128, 129, 146, 151, 152, 159, 748, 754 and 757 together. I refer Deputies to my earlier reply to Priority Question numbers 100 and 102. Ireland and its EU partners have worked closely with others in the international community to promote a peaceful resolution of the Gaza crisis. The parameters for such a peaceful...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 139 together. Ireland established a humanitarian and reconstruction assistance programme in Timor Leste in November 2000. In March 2003, Timor-Leste was designated Ireland's first Programme Country in Asia, with a commitment to long term strategic assistance. Since 2005, through the Government's aid programme, Irish Aid, we have provided total funding...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 142 and 154 together. The Report of the Government's Hunger Task Force (HTF), presented to the Taoiseach on 25 September 2008 at the United Nations in New York, focussed on three specific thematic areas which, if addressed globally, will make an effective contribution to reducing world hunger. These three thematic areas are: increasing smallholder...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 749 and 762 together. The Democratic Republic of Congo is slowly returning to stability after the horrors of the 1996-2003 civil war, but it remains a weak state which requires significant international support. Serious fighting broke out in the east of the country in August 2008 between ethnic Tutsi militias and the armed forces of DRC, forcing 250,000...

Written Answers — Nuclear Proliferation: Nuclear Proliferation (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 133 together. Iran recommenced uranium enrichment and centrifuge research in January 2006. Since that date the international community, led on this critical issue by the 'E3+3' group (Germany, France and the UK, along with Russia, China, and the United States), have been trying to persuade Iran to suspend its enrichment activity as a necessary...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118, 120, 763 and 764 together. As I stated in reply to a Parliamentary Question on 16 December, I am deeply concerned by the escalation in fighting which has taken place in recent months in the northern part of Sri Lanka. Bilaterally, and with our EU partners, we have consistently sought to impress on both the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: The regime governing the exploration and exploitation of the continental shelf in international law is set down by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Under that Convention a coastal state is entitled to a continental shelf 200 nautical miles (approx. 370 km) in breadth regardless of whether its continental shelf physically extends that far, subject only to the similar...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122, 132, 137, 140, 156, 158 and 772 together. While the appalling violence and bloodshed in Gaza has finally come to an end, a wider concern now remains that the recent conflict has set back and undermined whatever progress had been achieved within the Annapolis framework towards an agreed two-State solution. I discussed this issue with my colleagues at the...

Written Answers — Energy Security: Energy Security (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 162 and 759 together. At the outset, I want to make clear our solidarity with our European partners, who have in some cases been extremely gravely affected by the energy shortages. Homes, businesses and public services have all suffered from the closing of gas supplies. It is absolutely unacceptable that this dispute should have been allowed to affect...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has long had a strong commitment to participation in peace support operations. Ireland's policy with regard to peacekeeping is grounded in the UN Charter and in the primacy of the Security Council for the maintenance of international peace and security. Irish troops participate in UN-led, EU-led and NATO-led UN-mandated missions, and participation in peace support operations has...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I last met formally with the Ambassador of South Africa to Ireland in July 2008. Officials in my Department have, of course, discussed issues with Ambassador Jana regularly since then, and ensured that she is fully aware of my thinking and that of the Government on all relevant issues. Likewise, our Ambassador and his colleagues in our Embassy of Ireland to South Africa have ongoing contact...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland, together with its EU partners, attaches great importance to achieving stability in the countries of the Western Balkans. The European Union's Stabilisation and Association (SAA) process provides the framework for co-operation on economic, political and legal matters and aims to bring countries closer to EU standards and principles. Stabilisation and Association Agreements have now...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I remain deeply concerned about the situation in Burma. Recent events there do not suggest that the military regime is in any way planning to ease its grip on the country. Aung San Suu Kyi remains firmly under house arrest and many other activists are also incarcerated. Further political activists were jailed in November last, in some cases for up to 65 years, in what appears to be a wide...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I have been pleased to be able to report to this House on a number of occasions on the substantial improvement in security in Iraq which has taken place over the last two years. This has been achieved by a combination of enhanced activity by Iraqi and international security forces, but also by progress in internal reconciliation and political action, which we have always stressed would be...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Afghanistan remains deeply troubling. The deteriorating security environment continues to be of particular concern, especially with regard to the high number of civilian casualties and the impact it is having on reconstruction efforts and the operations of international aid agencies, including Irish non-governmental organisations working in Afghanistan. Figures released by...