Results 5,481-5,500 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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 — Irish Territorial Waters: Irish Territorial Waters (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1033 and 1034 together. In accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which Ireland is a party, all ships enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea. All ships, therefore, are entitled to enter the territorial sea without prior notification or consent, provided that their passage is not prejudicial to the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: While my Department has an overall co-ordinating role in European Union matters, responsibility for incorporating EU legislation into Irish law rests with individual Departments in their respective areas of responsibility. In Ireland's years of our EU membership, a large proportion of primary and secondary legislation has originated from agreements reached at EU level. It is not possible to...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1037 and 1067 together. I have in principle welcomed the agreement signed on 15 September by Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and the two factions of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), as have my EU colleagues. Ireland will reserve full judgment on this agreement until we have a clear picture of the allocation of Ministerial portfolios; and...

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

Micheál Martin: Vehicles for use by Ireland's diplomatic missions, including the Irish Aid programme, are purchased in line with State procurement guidelines, with particular regard to the overriding principles of safety and security. Vehicles purchased by Irish Aid for use in the developing countries in which they operate, are of necessity mostly all-terrain, 4-wheel drive vehicles, such as the Toyota...

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

Micheál Martin: No State agencies are operating under the responsibility of my Department. I can inform the Deputy that three advisory committees and one educational commission come under the aegis of the Department. The Development Education Advisory Committee was set up in 2003 following a recommendation made by the Ireland Aid Review Committee. Its purpose is to advise the Minister for Foreign Affairs,...

Written Answers — Reconciliation Fund: Reconciliation Fund (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Reconciliation Fund was established in the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1982. It provides assistance to organisations involved in reconciliation work to help to create a better understanding between people on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain. Since 1999, grants of over €24 million have been awarded to over 700 groups involved in a wide range of cross-community...

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

Micheál Martin: There have been no payments or contracts between this company and my Department, or any bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, from 2000 to date.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1042, 1045, 1046, 1053 and 1058 together. Ireland has a long tradition, dating back 17 years, of hosting children from Belarus for holiday periods with the agreement of the Belarussian authorities. Ireland can be proud of this generous response to those affected by the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl. I warmly commend the various charities and host families...

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

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs was not represented at the conference in question and, as a result, no costs were incurred.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am very concerned about the case of Bishop Jia Zhiguo, who was rearrested on 24th August in Zhengding. Though he was allowed to return home on 18th September, he is currently under house arrest. Bishop Jia Zhiguo has been the subject of repeated arrests over a great many years. His case has been raised on a number of occasions with the Chinese authorities through the EU-China Human Rights...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: All officials of my Department are bound by the provisions of the Official Secrets Act. In addition, on the day of their appointment, all officials are made aware of their responsibilities under the Data Protection Acts. Ongoing awareness training is also provided; each Division has a nominated Data Protection Coordinator and, earlier this year, my Department launched a dedicated Data...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: In the period in question two laptops have been stolen and one USB memory stick has been lost. No personal information was held on any of these devices and the data contained on them was unclassified. All laptops and USB memory sticks now issued by the Department are encrypted.

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

Micheál Martin: In total, the Government allocated €5.8 million to meet the costs associated with informing the public about the Lisbon Treaty, €5 million of which was allocated to the Referendum Commission. The balance of €0.8million was allocated from the budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs for expenditure in connection with the Government's information campaign on the contents of the Lisbon...

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

Micheál Martin: My Department pays an annual fee, currently set at €6,000, in respect of its corporate membership of the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA). In addition, the Institute has also received funding from my Department under the Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI). This scheme provides grants to organisations and individuals for projects aimed at increasing knowledge and...

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

Micheál Martin: Advertising undertaken by my Department in Ireland typically includes advisory notices on public opening hours over holiday periods, changes in passport application procedures and fees, recruitment notices and public information notices relating to Ireland's official aid programme. My Department's policy is to keep advertising costs to a minimum and much of this material is now placed on the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1052 and 1056 together. As has been made repeatedly clear, the Government is completely opposed to the practice of the extraordinary rendition of prisoners. The Government has received specific assurances from the US authorities that such prisoners have not been transferred through Irish territory, nor would they be, without our permission. These assurances...

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

Micheál Martin: The requested details for my Department during the periods in question are set out in tabular form: Numbers of staff by grade (Private and Constituency Offices) Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin, T.D. Minister of State, Mr. Dick Roche, T.D. Minister of State, Mr. Peter Power, T.D. Private Secretary 1 1 1 Higher Executive Officer 1 0 0 Executive Officer 2 0 1 Staff...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government continues to attach a very high priority to finding a solution for our undocumented citizens in the United States. At the same time, we have also argued that the long term strength of our bilateral relationship with the United States would benefit greatly by the establishment of new immigration arrangements which would facilitate greater legal...