Results 5,241-5,260 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (8 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: As part of the estimates process each year, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I would normally have a formal bilateral meeting with the Minister for Finance to discuss the Department's needs for the year ahead. The dates of these meetings, in respect of each year of my predecessor's term as Minister for Foreign Affairs, are set out below. The bilateral meetings in previous years were, I...

Written Answers — Refugee Status: Refugee Status (8 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: I understand the person concerned to be an Uzbek national currently detained in the United States detention centre at Guantánamo, Cuba, since his capture by United States defence forces in Afghanistan in 2001. The Government has repeatedly stated its desire to see the United States Administration take steps to release or bring to trial all detainees in accordance with established legal...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (8 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: UN agencies and other development agencies have identified deteriorating security and internal displacement as two of the chief operational challenges they face in addressing the humanitarian situation in Chad in 2008. We are very aware of the situation and my colleague, the former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern TD, visited Chad in November of last year, to see the situation on...

Written Answers — An Teanga Ghaeilge: An Teanga Ghaeilge (8 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: Bronnadh stádas mar theanga oifigiúil agus oibre an AE ar an nGaeilge ar 1 Eanáir 2007. Sainmhíníonn Rialachán 920/2005 na socraithe a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil. Ciallaíonn an stádas go gcaitheann gach institiúid san AE, an Pharlaimint san áireamh, gach rialachán a ghlacfaidh an Chomhairle agus Parlaimint na hEorpa leo i gcomhpháirt a aistriú go Gaeilge....

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (8 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: This was a particularly shocking and brutal murder, one which has been widely, and rightly, condemned. My predecessor met with the parents of the deceased young man, as did the then Taoiseach and also the previous Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. They conveyed to them the sympathy of the Government on their terrible loss and the Government's determination to see justice done in...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (8 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government continues to attach the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. The former Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern T.D, strongly emphasised this commitment during his address to the US Congress on 30 April. During the visit of the former Taoiseach to Washington, my predecessor, Mr Dermot Ahern T.D., participated in his meetings with...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The pay roll system in operation in my Department is the CorePay system which was implemented on the recommendation of the Department of Finance in 2001. There are no bodies under the aegis of my Department which operate an independent pay roll system. The following table gives particulars of the maintenance and on-going development costs incurred by the CorePay system for the years 2004 to...

Written Answers — Emigrant Statistics: Emigrant Statistics (8 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The global spread of our Diaspora is very considerable. For a small nation, it is practically unparalleled. Our largest emigrant communities have consistently lived in Britain and the United States, Irish citizens have also been an influential presence in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, and Southern Africa for very many decades. While the precise number of Irish citizens resident...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (8 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's diplomatic network consists of 75 resident Missions abroad, in addition to offices in Armagh and Belfast. These Missions also have over 80 additional accreditations to other countries and organisations. There are also 21 Honorary Consuls General and 67 Honorary Consuls who provide assistance to Irish citizens in 59 countries. Ambassadorial appointments are made by the President on...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (8 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department works closely with Irish sporting organisations to ensure that our citizens attending major sporting events abroad receive a first class consular service. In accordance with normal practice, I intend to have additional resources allocated to our Embassy in Sofia, which is accredited to Georgia, and to our Embassy in Budapest, which is accredited to Montenegro, to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (8 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government consistently raises in its contacts with the British Government ongoing issues which are the legacy of the Troubles. These issues are currently being considered by the Independent Consultative Group on the Past, which was established in June 2007, under the chairmanship of Archbishop Robin Eames and Denis Bradley. The Government welcomed the establishment of the Consultative...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (8 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of this correspondence and share the concerns of the group regarding the situation facing the Palestinian people. The Government has consistently and actively promoted efforts to find a lasting, peaceful and just settlement to the Israeli — Palestinian conflict. We have been to the fore in arguing directly with the parties, in cooperation with our EU partners, and at the United...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is Irish Aid's Headquarters, will decentralise to Limerick. Good progress has been made and personnel have either been assigned to, or identified for, 108 posts or approximately 87% of the 124 posts being decentralised. The new permanent offices for Irish Aid...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (13 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together. The Government continues to attach the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. The former Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern T.D., strongly emphasised this commitment during his address to the US Congress on 30 April. During the visit of the former Taoiseach to Washington, my predecessor, Mr...

Written Answers — Miami Five Case: Miami Five Case (13 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the reports of recent prison riots in Colorado, U.S.A. According to media reports, guards at a high-security penitentiary in Florence, Colorado, shot and killed two inmates at a federal prison on 20 April 2008 after up to 200 inmates battled with homemade weapons in a fight that appeared to be racially motivated. One of the group known as the Miami 5 is detained in this prison....

Written Answers — Humanitarian Assistance: Humanitarian Assistance (13 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned by the devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis in Burma/Myanmar on 2 and 3 May. The scale of destruction is almost unimaginable. Completely accurate figures are not available, but there are estimates that more than 100,000 people have perished, with tens of thousands more missing. One and a half million people are without adequate shelter and are facing shortages of basic...

Written Answers — International Travel Requirements: International Travel Requirements (14 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) is the international body responsible for the specification of standards for international travel documents. ICAO policy requires that all passports in circulation in April 2010 be machine readable. Ireland commenced issuing machine readable passports in 1993. The ICAO has also defined the technical specifications for the issue of...

Order of Business (15 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: Have some respect for the Chair.

Order of Business (15 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am shocked at the absence of respect for the Chair.

Order of Business (15 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: Six.