Results 5,461-5,480 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: The number of staff employed in my Department is 1,242. This figure 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 demand for passports in the lead up to, and during, the busy summer period. With the exception of the 17...

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

Micheál Martin: There are no agencies operating under the responsibility of my Department. However, there are three Advisory Committees and one Educational Commission, which operate under the aegis of the Department. All individuals who serve on these four bodies do so in a voluntary capacity. Details on these four bodies are set out in this answer. The Development Education Advisory Committee was...

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

Micheál Martin: There are no State Agencies operating under the aegis of my Department. However, there are a number of bodies and advisory committees, some of whom have administrative budgets. The Advisory Board for Irish Aid, which replaced the Irish Aid Advisory Committee, was established in August 2002 to provide general oversight and advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State...

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

Micheál Martin: All staff employed by the Department are in receipt of a salary which is in excess of the national minimum wage.

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

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes, namely Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). Details of twenty three reports commissioned by my Department from 2002 to date in 2008 are set out in this answer. Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) Reports Task Force on Policy Regarding Emigrants The Government established the Task Force in December 2001 to...

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...

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...