Results 5,281-5,300 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (21 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government is deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in Zimbabwe. Since polling day on 29th March, the situation on the ground has deteriorated considerably. There are reports that at least 20 people have been killed, and over 28,000 displaced. State-sponsored beatings and torture meted out to opposition supporters and activists have reached appalling levels, and many of those who have...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (21 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: COMOSOC is a group of Colombian social and political movements including trade unionists, human rights groups, Church groups, indigenous groups, Afro-Colombian social groups and health groups. The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware that Grupo Raíces, a group of Colombian and Latin American residents in Ireland, hosted a delegation from COMOSOC last week. The Irish government supports...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (21 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Irish government supports both the Colombian government and civil society groups in their efforts to support the peace process in Colombia. In 2007, Irish Aid provided funding to the sum of €200,000 — the first of three equal yearly instalments — to Children in Crossfire, an NGO working to protect children's rights in Colombia and Brazil. In 2007, Irish Aid also provided...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (22 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The official car assigned for my use is driven by members of an Garda Síochána. I have been advised that such vehicles are exempt from tolls under section 62 of the Roads Act 1993. Accordingly, there is no cost to the Exchequer.

Written Answers — Departmental Procurement Policies: Departmental Procurement Policies (22 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The commitment in the Programme for Government 2007-2012 to which the Deputy refers has been brought to the attention of purchasers in all Government Departments and public bodies via the e-procurement network maintained by the Department of Finance, and information on the initiative is available on the Government's procurement portal website at www.etenders.gov.ie. The response to this and...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (22 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 to 122, inclusive, together. The Programme for Government proposed the development of an Irish Academic Centre for Conflict Resolution to provide academic and analytical expertise in this area, and to act as a resource for my Department's Conflict Resolution Unit. The development of the Centre will help to deliver on the Conflict Resolution Unit's mandate...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (22 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: Reaching out to and strengthening links with the Irish community in Britain and with those of Irish ancestry has been, and continues to be, a cornerstone of Government policy. This commitment is reflected in the unprecedented level of funding secured for emigrant services in recent years. Since the establishment of the Irish Abroad Unit in 2004, the range and extent of the Emigrant Support...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (22 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The extension of RTÉ and TG4 television programming to the Irish community in Britain has been a long-standing and key objective of the Government. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, following a series of meetings between the Irish Abroad Unit, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and RTÉ, my colleague Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (22 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government continues to be fully committed to extending the free public transport scheme to Irish emigrants of pensionable age when visiting Ireland. The most recent development in this regard is that the Department's Irish Abroad Unit, working closely with our network of Missions in EU Capitals, has researched the type of provisions made in other EU countries to subsidise pensioners'...

Order of Business (27 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy knows the story on that.

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (27 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 to 286, inclusive, together. The three States referred to in Deputy Mc Grath's question are among those which have decided not to take part in the Oslo Process because, as we understand it, they do not feel able to commit themselves to its objectives. Specifically, full participation in the Dublin Diplomatic Conference requires States to have endorsed the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are 309 officers serving in my Department at the grade of Assistant Principal or higher. Some 12 of these officers were recruited to their posts from outside the Civil Service. The officers in question were recruited to posts in the professional and technical grades which are equivalent to the grade of Assistant Principal Officer.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (27 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 288 and 293 together. The Government and our EU partners have expressed increasing concern at the serious and sustained erosion of human rights protections in Iran in recent years. We have been particularly concerned at the increase in the use of the death penalty, including executions of minors. Freedom of expression has been severely curtailed, and there has...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (27 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: In common with most Member States of the UN, and all EU partners, Ireland adheres to a 'one-China policy', recognising the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China. We therefore do not support Taiwanese membership of organisations where statehood is a prerequisite for membership, and take the view that any status granted to Taiwan by the WHO must...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (27 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: Requirements for entry into New Zealand are the responsibility of the New Zealand authorities. In this regard, I would suggest that in the specific overstay case raised in the Deputy's question, the person concerned should seek clarification directly from the Embassy of New Zealand, 80 The Haymarket, London SW1Y4TQ, www.nzembassy.com/uk . (New Zealand does not have a resident Embassy in...

Order of Business. (28 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: Promise and reality never really meet.

Order of Business. (28 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: We could have an inquiry about it.

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (28 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and Cuba in 1999, Ireland has been accredited to Cuba through our Embassy in Mexico City. Ambassador Dermot Brangan most recently travelled to Cuba last month for meetings with a wide range of interlocutors. In 2001, Cuba established a resident Embassy in Dublin, which has been headed by a resident Ambassador since October 2005....

Written Answers — Constitutional Amendments: Constitutional Amendments (29 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 78 together. The article in question refers and applies solely to Member States of the European Union. While the article sets down a requirement of aid and assistance to a Member State which is the victim of armed aggression, it provides no mechanism for implementation of such aid and assistance. Moreover, it specifically states that this commitment...

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (29 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: Many countries require non-nationals, before they can get married in their jurisdiction, to produce a certificate from their country of origin that they are free to marry. These are usually known as Certificats de Coutume, and, in effect, certify to the civil authorities of another State that a named Irish citizen is, in terms of Irish law, free to marry. My Department's Consular Section, in...