Results 45,441-45,460 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are three Advisory Committees and one Educational Commission operating under my Department's aegis the details of which are outlined below. None of them have recently been eliminated or amalgamated. The Advisory Board for Irish Aid, which replaced the Irish Aid Advisory Committee, was established in August 2002 to provide general oversight and advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together. These questions have also been addressed to my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the lead Department on the issue of resettling citizens of third countries into Ireland and the Minister is, I understand, providing a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The situation of members of the minority Baha'i faith in Iran has long been a matter of serious concern to the Government and to members of the Oireachtas, and has been discussed here on many occasions. There is in Iran no tolerance of the Baha'i faith, which is regarded as a heretical or apostate offshoot of Islam. In recent years, as conservative forces have again asserted control in...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The progress made under the Good Friday Agreement has been underpinned by the strengthening of economic and transport ties between the two jurisdictions. The opening in 2002 of the ferry connection between Greencastle and Magilligan Point was an important demonstration of the expanding nature of these links and of the Government's commitment to the North West. I am aware that in the recent...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). The amount of expenditure on consultancy by my Department in 2006 and 2007 is as follows. Year Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) Vote 29 (International Cooperation) Total (Vote 28+ Vote 29) € € € 2006 587,648 1,791,396 2,379,044 2007 283,174 3,033,339...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: In 2007, my Department made payments of €344,138 in respect of mileage costs incurred for official travel by 278 officials based in Ireland and throughout our network of 75 Missions abroad. Payments of €63,152 were made to 57 members of staff under the Vote 29 (Irish Aid) budget. Costs of €280,986were incurred in payments to 221 officials from within the Vote 28 (Department of Foreign...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The person in question called to the Irish Embassy in Hanoi on 28 October 2008 and reported the loss of his passport. At that time he was provided with a passport application form and the details of how he could obtain a replacement passport through the Embassy. The cost of the passport is 1,612,000 Vietnamese Dong which is equivalent to €75. As of Friday 21 November the person in...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The requested details for my Offices in the Department are set out in tabular form below. Private Office Constituency Office 10 5 2008 (projected) Private Constituency €558,300 €193,080 The above cost estimates include those related to the staff of my predecessor for the period 1 January 2008 — 6 May 2008. I would point out that the number of staff assigned to my Offices...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department Of Foreign Affairs employs the service of an off-site document storage centre in Dublin and Cork. The cost per 'banker box' in these locations is €5 and €4 respectively.

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the opportunity to present this Bill in the Seanad. I value the support of this House for the role played by the Government in international efforts to end the use of cluster munitions. The principal purpose of the Bill is to provide in domestic law for the obligations the State will assume under the Convention on Cluster Munitions. As the House will be aware, the convention was...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together. The continued fighting in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a matter of grave concern, in terms of its implications for both the humanitarian situation and the stability of the wider Great Lakes region. I am particularly distressed by reports of targeted attacks against the civilian population, and by...

Written Answers — State Visits: State Visits (20 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: No protest was made to the Czech Government in relation to any meetings held by the Czech President during his recent State Visit.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (19 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy may be aware, this is an issue of great importance to me personally and I am determined to bring this matter to a successful conclusion. Every effort is being made to ensure that Belarusian children can continue to visit Ireland for the purposes of rest and recuperation. I have replied to a number of questions on this matter, most recently on 11th and 12th of November and I...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (19 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Joint Committee on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement was established by the Oireachtas for the purpose of considering issues relating to the functioning and implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and other matters referred to it by Dáil Éireann. In addition to members of the Oireachtas, participation in the work of the Committee is open to Northern Ireland members...

Tribunals of Inquiry. (19 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: What is happening?

Tribunals of Inquiry. (19 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: It is true. It has happened.

Schools Refurbishment. (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter because it gives me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to outline to the House the Department's position regarding the allocation of funding for Ardscoil na mBráithre, Clonmel, County Tipperary. The main purpose of the emergency works scheme is to ensure the availability of funding for urgent...

Written Answers — Irish Prisoners Abroad: Irish Prisoners Abroad (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Flood Report, which was commissioned by my predecessor, is a seminal study into the needs of Irish Prisoners overseas. It will serve as the template for future Government action in this area for many years to come. On 21 October in the Seanad, I outlined some of the measures we have already taken to implement its key recommendations. One of the principal elements in the Report was the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I remain deeply concerned at the situation in Zimbabwe. Over the last number of years, but especially in recent months, ordinary Zimbabweans have suffered from state violence, economic chaos and the collapse of basic social services such as health and education. Now, as a result of drought, the disruption caused by violence, and a lack of basic inputs such as seeds and fertilisers which...

Written Answers — Benchmarking Awards: Benchmarking Awards (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Public Service Benchmarking Body, whose report was published on 21 December 2007, carried out a detailed evaluation of the pay and jobs of 109 grades in the public service in accordance with its terms of reference. While there is not a specific link between benchmarking and services to the public, "Sustaining Progress" and its successor "Towards 2016", the ten-year Social Partnership...