Results 45,821-45,840 of 51,305 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following tables set out the grades, numbers and remuneration of the civil service staff in my constituency office and those of the two Ministers of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Grade/Position Number Salary Scale Executive Officer 1 Executive Officer PPC Salary Scale €32,179 – €51,054 per annum Clerical Officer 2 Clerical Officer PPC Salary Scale €24,397 –...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are four bodies operating under the aegis of my Department. Details on these four bodies are set out below: Development Education Advisory Committee was established in 2003 following the recommendations of the Ireland Aid Review Committee. Its purpose is to advise the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister of State for Overseas Development and Irish Aid on policy regarding development...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: The establishment of the Irish Abroad Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2004 has greatly enhanced our capacity to develop and implement policies to support the Irish community overseas, in particular elderly people and those at risk of social exclusion. My Department remains very supportive of the excellent work of the Safe Home programme. The award of a €249,900 grant in April...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). I have set out in the following table details of expenditure under sub-head A7 (Consultancy) under both Votes in 2007 and to date in 2008. Expenditure under Consultancy Subhead (A07) Vote 28 Vote 29 € € 2007 245,462 2,840,000 2008 130,458 2,853,000 I...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The St. Andrews Agreement 2006 included a commitment to bring forward an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland, reflecting on the experience in Wales and our own experience in Ireland. It also called on the incoming Northern Ireland Executive to work to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language. The British legislation giving effect to the St. Andrews Agreement included a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). I have set out in tabular form below details of expenditure under sub-head A7 (Consultancy) and also the amount spent on public relations, marketing or advertising consultants, for the period in question. It should be noted that the figures relating to public...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are three advisory committees and one educational commission which operate under the aegis of my Department. The Advisory Board for Irish Aid, the Development Education Advisory Committee and the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee are advisory in nature and are serviced by staff of my Department. The Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission)...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department does not allocate monies to rural development and LEADER programmes.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 300 together. The situation in Sri Lanka is regularly discussed with EU partners, and the EU continues to play an active role as one of the four Co-Chairs of the 2003 Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka. Ireland is supportive of all efforts to bring about a sustainable and effective solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka and...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: It remains my strong view that dialogue is the only peaceful and sustainable way of ensuring the protection of Tibetan religious and cultural identity, as well as addressing Chinese concerns regarding its territorial integrity. I welcome the meetings on 4 May and 1 July between the Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama. I regret that the most recent meeting does not seem...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy has previously been informed, Ireland is fully supportive of efforts to bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Colombia. The Government of Colombia has repeatedly stated its commitment to bringing to an end all terrorism in Colombia within the framework of the Justice and Peace Law. This Law, passed in 2005, provides an overall legal framework for the demobilisation,...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will appreciate, the issuing of a Permanent Resident Card, known as a Green Card, to live and work in the United States, is the exclusive responsibility of the American authorities. However, in response to the Deputy's representations, our Consulate in Chicago made enquiries on behalf of the individual concerned with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following table provides the relevant details of the air travel undertaken by myself and other Ministers at my Department, including my predecessor, since June 2007. As the Deputy may be aware, the cost of the Government Jet is charged to the Vote of the Department of Defence. Rail travel costs totalling €128 were incurred by Minister of State, Peter Power T.D. in May 2008. No expenses...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are three Advisory Committees and one Educational Commission which operate under the aegis of my Department: the Advisory Board for Irish Aid; the Development Education Advisory Committee; the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee and the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission). The Development Education Advisory Committee and the Emigrant...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under both of my Department's votes, Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation), every effort is made, on an ongoing basis, to ensure that costs are kept under control and that value for money is obtained for all public expenditure. In line with the decision of the Government on the savings to be achieved this year, as announced by the Minister for Finance on 8th July,...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (9 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Office can only issue a passport to an Irish Citizen. In this case, an application for an Irish passport was submitted on behalf of a child by his parents. The child was born in Ireland in 2005. Under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 2004, persons born in the State after 1 January 2005, where neither parent is an Irish or British citizen or otherwise entitled to reside...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (9 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The grave situation in Zimbabwe is of the utmost concern to the Government. I have consistently stressed Ireland's utter condemnation of the conditions in which the 27 June election took place. The widespread state-sponsored violence and intimidation, which resulted in the deaths of close to one hundred supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and led to Morgan Tsvangirai's...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (9 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: I warmly welcome the release last week of Ingrid Betancourt and fourteen fellow hostages on foot of an operation conducted by the Colombian army. I would also renew my call for the release of all hostages held in Colombia. The European Union has not been involved in negotiations in Colombia. However, a number of EU Member States, which have a history of involvement in the region, have been...

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (9 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: Neither I nor the Ministers of State at my Department have plans to visit China in an official capacity in August. Separate from the above, additional consular resources will be deployed in China to assist Irish citizens as the need arises.

Written Answers — Departmental Publications: Departmental Publications (9 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: Presented in tabular form are details of the various publications and booklets produced by my Department for the period in question. Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) Cost (Design and Print) € Report on Irish Prisoners Abroad 6,066 Department of Foreign Affairs, Annual Report 2006 341 Information Sheets containing biographies of Taoiseach and Ministers, primarily for use by Missions abroad...