Results 45,481-45,500 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I move amendment No. 12: In page 12, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: "(2) Where a cluster munition, explosive bomblet or anti-personnel mine is to be delivered to the Defence Forces for destruction under subsection (1), the court shall, unless it is satisfied that there are special and substantial reasons for not doing so, order the convicted person to pay the costs and...

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the House will recall, I introduced a new Part 4 of the Bill by way of amendment on Committee Stage. That new part puts in place a clear legislative framework providing that any statutory investment mandate is qualified by requirement to exclude investments in the manufacturers of cluster munitions and anti-personnel mines. Part 4 sets down the requirement to avoid initial investments of...

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. They, on behalf of their parties, have shown a strong commitment that has endured. I appreciate their co-operation on the passage of the legislation through this House. I also pay tribute to my predecessor who was very involved at the initial stage of this with other like-minded countries. It is an achievement for Ireland that we negotiated...

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Order for Report Stage (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: We had a discussion on this on Committee Stage. It is not just about parliamentary convention but as the Deputy knows, it has arisen from important practical reasons, such as the need to take cognisance and make necessary administrative and other arrangements before an Act can be properly implemented. In the present case, Defence Forces training manuals must be adapted to take account of...

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I debated the issues with Deputy Higgins on Committee Stage. Section 2 makes provision for the interpretation of key terms as defined in the conventions on cluster munitions and the ban on anti-personnel mines. The key issue is consistency with what has been negotiated with all the other states. The success of the Dublin convention was the fact that up to 114 different countries arrived in...

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: It is a debatable point. If one takes it that the cluster munitions convention represents a substantive diplomatic achievement——

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: ——the modus operandi by which it was achieved is, by definition, deserving of commendation. Consider the consequences if, as a Minister, I agreed with ten other Ministers on the standard to be set and two or three of the countries, for example, had a difficultly. In the case of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown, intervened personally to enable the United Kingdom...

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under no circumstances do I perceive the Deputy's position to be one of an idle idealist. He has been committed to and active in this entire process. On the other hand, I would not describe the standards in the definitions achieved as minimalist. They are comprehensive and of a high order. The definition of what constitutes a cluster munition was, as we know, one of the difficult issues...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (13 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Details of the numbers of staff personally appointed by me and by the Ministers of State in my Department are set out in the following tables. Numbers of personally-appointed staff in each office Private Office Constituency Office Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin, T.D. 2 personal appointees 2 personal appointees Minister of State, Mr Peter Power, T.D. 3 personal...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (13 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: On behalf of the Government, the Taoiseach sent a message of congratulations to President-Elect Obama, in which he affirmed the Government's commitment to further build and strengthen relations between Ireland and the United States. He assured the President-Elect of the friendship and goodwill of the people and Government of Ireland as he prepares to assume the responsibilities of office....

Written Answers — International Summits: International Summits (13 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: In May 2008, the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) wrote to my Department requesting the inclusion of a youth delegate in Ireland's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in 2009. My Department is considering the NYCI's proposal which, however, gives rise to a number of administrative and budgetary issues. Our UN Mission in New York has also been in contact with those of...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's decentralisation programme announced in 2003, 125 posts attached to the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs were to decentralise to Limerick. The Division is the Headquarters of Irish Aid. Following sanction of an additional 20 posts by the Department of Finance in 2005, the total number of posts attached to Irish Aid Headquarters...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (12 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together. I would refer the Deputy to my reply yesterday to Question No. 410 on developments on this issue. As set out there, a second draft of a proposed Bilateral Agreement between Ireland and Belarus, to facilitate visits to Ireland by Chernobyl children, was conveyed to the Belarusian authorities on 26 October. I expect a response from the...

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (11 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 413 together. Our Embassy in Mexico, which is also accredited to Venezuela, has been monitoring developments in the case of the person to whom the Deputy refers since he was arrested in Caracas, on 3 February 2004 on drugs related charges. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison by the Venezuelan Supreme Court. In December 2007, our Embassy learned that...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The issue of extraordinary rendition has been raised on numerous occasions in this House. As has been made repeatedly clear, the Government is completely opposed to the practice of the extraordinary rendition of prisoners. The policy has not changed. The article to which the Deputy refers concerns a decision by the Government on 29 October to establish a Cabinet Committee on Aspects of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, Government Departments do not pay for the legal services provided by the Office of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitors Office or for advice from Counsel briefed by them. My Department has a Legal Division, staffed by qualified legal professionals who provide legal advice on a wide range of international legal issues. Having such 'in-house' legal...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department's capital allocation is part of the general administrative budget which supports the work of the Department. It funds such activities as the purchase and maintenance of properties on behalf of the State overseas, the purchase of office equipment, and ICT investment. Two capital projects have gone over budget in the last five years. Firstly, following a public procurement...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department does not pay severance packages to retiring staff. The calculation of the pension benefits payable to retired members of my Department, including the appropriate lump sum due, is a matter for the Department of Finance.

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (11 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Since our referendum on the Lisbon Treaty on 12 June, the Government has been engaging with our EU partners in trying to find an agreed way forward with regard to the Lisbon Treaty. The other Member States have shown great understanding of Ireland's situation and a willingness to work with us in finding ways of responding to the concerns of the Irish people. This is the cooperative spirit in...