Results 45,721-45,740 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: At a meeting in Washington on 24 September, the United States Deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte, and I signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a new working holiday programme between our two countries. The agreement represents a significant and positive development in our migration arrangements with the United States and will help foster the growth of new and lasting...

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: As I stated in my earlier reply, we expect the agreement to come into effect in November. People will be able to seek details of the programme from my Department. Initial applications may have to be sent through the US Embassy in Dublin. The definition of "post-secondary student" encompasses all those currently enrolled in a recognised third level degree programme. Students at vocational...

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: That is the case.

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: It is his military background.

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is the first country to achieve a working holiday agreement with the US. I do not want to understate the significance of that. Negotiations were held over several years and the scheme is not open ended in the sense that it is available only to those who are in post-secondary education or within 12 months of graduation from third level education. A similar agreement has been in place...

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: When the US-India civil nuclear co-operation deal was originally agreed in principle between President Bush and Prime Minister Singh in 2005, and during the lengthy and complex process which followed, Ireland was to the fore in raising concerns and asking questions in regard to its impact on the global disarmament and non-proliferation regime. However, we noted that the deal would extend the...

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: It is not fair to use pejorative language such as "you have done this or that", "you have thrown in the towel", or "rolled over".

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Those are not the facts.

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy talks about Hans Blix, for example.

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: As Dr. Blix said when interviewed in 2006, there are several aspects to the US-India deal. There is the non-proliferation aspect, the environmental aspect, and the energy security aspect, the latter two of which the Deputy has completely ignored in his commentary. These are legitimate issues that we can no longer ignore in the global climate in which we live. He said the rule was adopted...

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: ——or deter others from seeking nuclear weapons. In return, they would have access to the most advanced civilian technology. He went on to say it has been clear for many years that neither India nor Pakistan, nor Israel would walk away from their nuclear status and that under these circumstances the NSG rule has become a punishment instead of an inducement. The question, then, is...

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Where was the New Agenda Coalition, of which the Deputy spoke earlier? I will tell the Deputy. Of the seven members, only two — Ireland and New Zealand — worked hard to improve the deal. Two — Brazil and South Africa — were strong supporters on the basis of their overall relationships with India; Sweden and Mexico were broadly neutral and made clear they would not block a deal; and...

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: ——bringing the total to 14.

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Yes, and all future civilian reactors will also be covered. We said reluctantly that these are demonstrable improvements in terms of bringing plants under civilian safeguards.

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I accept the Deputy's disappointment that a consensus was arrived at, but we worked to achieve discernible improvements to the agreement. The final text will help ensure that the non-proliferation treaty remains the cornerstone of disarmament and non-proliferation and that India is held to its commitments, with observation and monitoring on an ongoing basis. The transfer of sensitive...

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Let me quote Daryl G. Kimball, for example, who is one of the major opponents of this treaty. He said: "The Irish Government did all it could. In my view no other country played a more energetic role in identifying the problems with this deal." That is not capitulation. It may be fanciful for Deputy Higgins to engage in that kind of hyperbole and rhetoric.

International Agreements. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: However, it does not really add anything to the debate.

Departmental Staff. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The number of staff employed by my Department on 1 October 2008 is 1,545. This includes 320 permanent staff who are working in the Passport Office in Ireland and approximately 300 local staff currently employed at missions abroad. The equivalent figure as of 1 January 2000 was 1,385. The increase of 160 staff during the intervening period was focused on two main areas: the Passport Office...

Departmental Staff. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The budget increased from €255 million in 2000 to €769 million in 2008.

Departmental Staff. (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I did not give that figure.