Results 45,321-45,340 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Middle East Peace Process. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: On the crossings, it was also agreed yesterday that it is unacceptable that they are not open as this is hampering humanitarian aid efforts.

Middle East Peace Process. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Egyptian and Palestinian Foreign Ministers told us that only 153 of the 800 trucks dispatched daily are getting through. There is increasing frustration among EU member states that despite the fact that the ceasefire was announced approximately ten days ago, the crossings are not yet open to facilitate access to humanitarian aid. Different countries are having different experiences in...

Middle East Peace Process. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am not saying Northern Ireland is the same as the Middle East. I never said that. We have always been careful to say that no one conflict situation is directly comparable to another. However, there are similarities in terms of peace building generally and in terms of the principles of resolving conflicts, which requires movement and the development of mutual respect on all sides before a...

Human Rights Issues. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, on 22 January, President Obama signed four Executive Orders concerning the closure of the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and related matters. I warmly welcome this decisive and immediate move by the President. As I said in my immediate reaction to the news, it represents an historic new beginning in efforts to uphold and promote human rights and will be...

Human Rights Issues. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: The issue was discussed formally over lunch yesterday at the EU Council Meeting. Considerable debate on the issue took place for quite a long time. Deputy Breen is correct that the Portuguese Foreign Minister, Luis Amado, circulated correspondence on the matter to all member states requesting that the issue be discussed. The issue is not one of whether a country takes one detainee or a...

Human Rights Issues. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: No, I did not say that. I said in my reply that the decision is ultimately one for each member state.

Human Rights Issues. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: On the Deputy's key point, each member state has the right to make its own decision in respect of detainees. Britain has already taken 12 detainees, all British citizens, from Guantanamo and will shortly take in two more. The Belgians took in two detainees in 2006. As regards the particular detainee referred to, informal discussions took place last year with the individual's lawyer.

Human Rights Issues. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: My colleagues in the Green Party have also raised the case with me. We are examining the matter. It was agreed at yesterday's meeting that more detailed work was required before people would take unilateral action. It must be pointed out that President Obama has not, as yet, requested anything of us. Undoubtedly, there will be further discussions on the matter. President Obama said it...

EU Presidency. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: Under an over-arching motto of "Europe Without Barriers," the Czech Presidency will focus on the economy, energy and the European Union in the world. Under the external relations umbrella, the Czech Presidency has identified three key priorities: the eastern partnership, transatlantic relations and Western Balkans-enlargement. The eastern partnership, which is part of the European...

EU Presidency. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: The major package on the economy was the one agreed at the December Council, initiated by the French Presidency, namely, the economic recovery plan, which was an over-arching framework for providing a stimulus to EU economies. In the Irish context the more than 5% investment in capital infrastructure, which will take place in 2009, represents our economic stimulus package on the economy. It...

EU Presidency. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: No, that is not correct. It will deal with the other dimensions, such as energy, which we dealt withyesterday. There is a key emphasis on energy infrastructure because of the Ukraine-Russian crisis.

EU Presidency. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the energy situation, clearly the issues that arose between Russia and Ukraine had severe impacts on quite a number of EU member states. In a spirit of solidarity all member states are very concerned at what transpired, in terms of the commercial and economic disruption as well as the inability of both countries to live up to their contractual responsibilities in terms of the...

Human Rights Issues. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: The peace process in Nepal has continued to progress since the elections of April 2008 and the establishment of a federal democratic republic to replace the monarchy. I welcome the recent agreement reached by the political parties on arrangements for the drafting of a new constitution. Likewise, the recent efforts by the Nepalese Prime Minister to ensure the return of property seized during...

Human Rights Issues. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: While I fully accept the Deputy's points, some progress has been made politically. The constituent assembly has chosen a President and Prime Minister and formed a coalition Government. It now has to work on drawing up a permanent constitution for Nepal. We will work and communicate the Oireachtas's views to the Indian Government on the role it can play. We will also work directly with the...

Human Rights Issues. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: Yes. The EU plays a very significant role in Nepal. The EU engagement centres around three focal areas, education, stability and peace building. It has allocated €60 million to funding projects that address these issues. We have had some criticism of the EU today but it is equally important to point to where it plays a positive role. The statistics about the humanitarian situation...

EU Treaties. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 109, 138 and 150 together. At its meeting of 11-12 December, and following intensive negotiations, the European Council agreed that the concerns of the Irish electorate regarding the treaty of Lisbon, as identified by the Taoiseach, will be addressed to the satisfaction of Ireland and of the other member states, including through the provision of legal...

EU Treaties. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am disappointed with the tone of the Deputy's remarks because the Oireachtas committee's report was published at the end of November.

EU Treaties. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: We then led into the December Council, secured significant concessions from our EU partners, as per the Deputy's question, covering many issues raised including those pertaining to neutrality, defence and taxation, which were part of the Oireachtas committee's report. We have delivered on all those recommendations. We are working on the areas the Deputy mentioned and they will be part of...

EU Treaties. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: We will respond specifically to the idea of the formal scrutiny reserve mechanism to deal with the issue of secondary legislation and whether we agree with the establishment of an EU panel for the Seanad. The political parties, independent of the committee's work, have put forward other ideas that have to be taken on board and considered and we are committed to doing that. Should we...

EU Treaties. (27 Jan 2009)

Micheál Martin: The charter of fundamental rights represents a significant advance on workers' rights. Having the Lisbon treaty passed with the charter intact would also be a significant advance for them. If it does not pass it will be bad for workers. That principle must be articulated time and again because it is conveniently forgotten whenever we mention workers' rights. The Deputy is correct in...