Results 5,441-5,460 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department's Reconciliation Fund has as its term of reference to assist organisations working to facilitate better relations within and between the two traditions in the North, between North and South, and between Ireland and Britain. Decisions on funding from the Reconciliation Fund are made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs on foot of recommendations from an interdepartmental Advisory...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (1 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: Ireland shares Amnesty International's objective of achieving a comprehensive international Arms Trade Treaty establishing common international standards for the import, export and transfer of conventional arms. In 2006 we cosponsored the UN resolution which commenced preparatory work within the UN to this end. The 2007 Programme for Government contains a specific commitment "to support a...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (1 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Zimbabwe is very grave and of the utmost concern to the Government and to the international community. This deep concern is strongly shared by members of the Oireachtas and by the Irish people. I have made consistently clear our utter condemnation of the conditions under which last Friday's run-off election took place. The widespread state-sponsored violence and intimidation,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (1 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 339 together. The Government are and have for some considerable time been very concerned about the welfare of the Irish community in Zimbabwe. In the last two years, the Irish Abroad Unit of the Department has supported two Irish community organisations in that country, the Mashonaland Irish Association and the Bulawayo Irish Association. This funding...

Seanad: Situation in Zimbabwe: Statements (1 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The eyes of the world are focused with sorrow and disgust on the continuing tragedy in Zimbabwe. It is opportune, therefore, to place on the record of the House our shared and utter condemnation of that situation and our rejection of the sham re-election of Robert Mugabe after a campaign of violence and other gross abuses that made free and fair elections impossible and forced the withdrawal...

Seanad: Situation in Zimbabwe: Statements (Resumed) (1 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: I thank all Senators for their contributions to this debate, begun by Senator Maurice Cummins. As he and many others pointed out, Ireland has strong links with Zimbabwe and Africa in general and we are genuinely concerned about the situation that has developed. I share the high level of concern articulated by all Members of this House. I reiterate the Government's utter condemnation of the...

Hazardous Waste: Statements (2 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: Was that the National Cancer Registry?

Hazardous Waste: Statements (2 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: Fine Gael sold it off for one pound.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Jul 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, is decentralising to Limerick. Following sanction by the Department of Finance of additional posts for DCD, the total number of posts decentralising to Limerick has increased from the original figure of 124 agreed by Government to...

Written Answers — Efficiency Reviews: Efficiency Reviews (3 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: In Budget 2008, the then Tánaiste and Minister for Finance announced that the Government agreed to an efficiency review of administrative spending across all Departments. As part of this process, Departments were required to examine their administrative spending and to provide specific proposals for savings to the Department of Finance. My Department has submitted relevant proposals to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following table sets out the number of staff broken down by grade/position working in my Department and the number of vacancies currently being carried. The figure of 1,242 excludes approximately 300 staff who are recruited locally to work in our Missions abroad, as well as 90 Temporary Clerical Officers engaged by the Passport Office on fixed term contracts to help meet the increased...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following table shows the numbers of staff from my Department who received support, or are receiving support, for post-graduate educational courses for the period in question. These figures are in respect of Masters and PhD programmes. Academic Year No. 2004-2005 16 2005-2006 19 2006-2007 17 2007-2008 13

Written Answers — European Parliament: European Parliament (8 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under the existing European Community Treaty, which governs seating arrangements for the European Parliament, Ireland will have 12 MEPs as and from the 2009 elections. The Lisbon Reform Treaty envisaged no change in that allocation.

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (8 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: In accordance with the Public Service Management Act 1997, proposals will very shortly be brought to Government for the appointment of Special Advisers in my Department and for the making of the required Orders.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following table sets out the number of established officers in the Department's Press Office, their grade and salary scale. Grade/Position Number Annual Salary First Secretary 1 Assistant Principal PPC Salary Scale €67,960 – €84,746 per annum Third Secretary 2 Administrative Officer PPC Salary Scale €34,275 – €60,693 per annum Clerical Officer 1 Clerical Officer PPC...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following table sets out the number of staff employed in my constituency office, their grade and salary scale: Grade/Position Number Salary Scale Executive Officer 1 Executive Officer PPC Salary Scale €31,394 – 49,806 per annum Personal Secretary (Non-established, based in constituency) 1 Executive Officer Standard Scale €29,820 – €47,321 per annum Personal Assistant...

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

Micheál Martin: The Value for Money and Policy Review of the Support for Irish Emigrants Groups Programme, which was undertaken by Goodbody Economic Consultants, was completed in July, 2007. Copies of the Report were lodged with the Houses of the Oireachtas on 1 August 2007 and with the Value for Money and Policy Review Secretariat of the Department of Finance at the same time. The Review was undertaken...

Written Answers — Ministerial Correspondence: Ministerial Correspondence (8 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The case to which the Deputy refers relates to five Cuban citizens who were convicted in the US in 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to first degree murder. As I have previously informed the Deputy, it is my understanding that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, has considered this case three times and most recently upheld the 2001 convictions on 4 June 2008. It is...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 460, 461 and 465 together. The situation in the ethnic Somali Ogaden region of Ethiopia has deteriorated sharply in the last six months. The conflict between the Ethiopian Government and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) is causing serious hardship for the mainly pastoralist and nomadic people of the region, whose livelihoods have been disrupted. Aid...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (8 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 463 together. In advance of the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the Government conducted an intensive information campaign aimed at providing the electorate with factual information about the Treaty. The Government did not commission any research on voter attitudes. However, individual political parties were of course free to conduct their own private...