Results 5,601-5,620 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Immigration Policy: Immigration Policy (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Immigration arrangements at Dublin Airport are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who answered a number of parliamentary questions on this case recently. In the circumstances, there has been no Ministerial or official contact between this Department and the Nigerian Embassy, although the Nigerian Ambassador, at an informal gathering, did...

Written Answers — Planned Coup: Planned Coup (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am aware from media reports of allegations of a planned coup against the Venezuelan Government. However, I am not in a position to assess the reliability of these allegations. I would also note that the recent meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Union of South America decided to make no statement on the matter, despite a Venezuelan request to do so.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 66 together. It is the policy of my Department to make all requests and replies made under the Freedom of Information Act, which are not of a personal nature, publicly available. There is a Freedom of Information Requests Database available on the website of my Department, which contains copies of the non-personal requests made since April 2004 to date....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I proposed to take Questions Nos. 42 and 67. I remain deeply concerned at the situation in Darfur, and the ongoing suffering of its people. The fracturing of the main rebel groups over the past year, and the apparent determination of the Government of Sudan to pursue a military solution, at a high price in terms of ongoing suffering for ordinary people, makes the search for peace even more...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Irish Aid provides support to anti-poverty initiatives in Latin America, and elsewhere in the developing world, through a number of funding mechanisms. Total Government support to civil society in Latin America exceeded €16 million in 2007. Through the Multi Annual Programme Scheme, (MAPS), Irish Aid has established a strategic and programmatic relationship with key Non-Governmental...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Burma remains of major concern. There has been a conspicuous absence of political progress since the Saffron Revolution in September 2007, and repression by the military of monks, political activists and others continues. In May, the military junta pressed ahead with a fundamentally flawed referendum on a new Constitution for Burma. At the same time, they also extended the...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Overall, there has been a substantial improvement in the security situation in Iraq over the last 18 months. This has been based both on intensified security actions by Iraqi and international forces, and on internal progress in reconciliation and political accommodation, which we have always stressed as an essential element in resolving Iraq's problems. While the level of violence remains...

Written Answers — Election Monitoring: Election Monitoring (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Together with our EU partners, Ireland has been monitoring preparations for the parliamentary elections planned in Bangladesh for December 2008. An election observation Exploratory Mission was deployed to Bangladesh between 15th and 28th June last to assess whether re-deployment of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EOM), suspended on 11th January 2007 when the elections...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 69 together. As I have reported to the House on a number of previous occasions, the Government is seriously concerned about the political, security and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka. I am particularly troubled at the extent of civilian casualties, the increasing numbers of internally displaced families and the disruption to the delivery of...

Written Answers — Sporting Events: Sporting Events (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the concern, and indeed the intimidation, that can arise from slogans and songs during and after Celtic-Rangers matches. Since its opening in 1998, the Consulate General of Ireland in Edinburgh has maintained a wide-ranging dialogue with the Scottish Government on all relevant issues. In September, for instance, the Consul-General met with senior officials in the Scottish...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 74 and 166 together. More than three weeks after the signing of a power-sharing agreement between Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, and the Tsvangirai and Mutambara factions of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), there has still been no agreement on forming a Government, and the situation in Zimbabwe remains deeply worrying. Although political violence...

Written Answers — Election Results: Election Results (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I accept the democratically expressed will of the Austrian people. I have no doubt that other EU member States take a similar position.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned about the situation in Afghanistan. As was the case when I last addressed this issue in the House on 1 May, there are very clear difficulties regarding security, human rights, governance and rule of law issues, and the production of narcotics. The security situation remains a particular cause for concern. In his most recent report on Afghanistan entitled "The...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Ireland established diplomatic relations with Bolivia in 1999. Ireland is accredited to Bolivia on a non-resident basis through our Embassy in Buenos Aires, while Bolivia is accredited to Ireland on a non-resident basis through their Embassy in London. In relation to the recent expulsion from Bolivia of the US Ambassador to that country, and the subsequent reciprocal expulsion of the...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: All locally recruited staff in Irish Missions abroad, including those based in the other EU Member States, are treated equitably regardless of nationality. Local staff are remunerated at the mid to upper end of local salary norms and are employed in compliance with the applicable labour legislation. Where Irish statutory minimum standards exceed local entitlements, Irish standards are...

Written Answers — Emigrant Issues: Emigrant Issues (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: According to Central Statistics Office estimates, approximately 16,200 Irish emigrants returned to live in Ireland in the past year, bringing the total number of returned emigrants since 2003 to over 107,000. As the Deputy will be aware, the vast majority of returning emigrants do not request State assistance in making arrangements for their return. However, some returning emigrants do...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: This matter has not arisen in discussion among EU colleagues. The Nuclear Suppliers Group decision to permit nuclear trade with India followed the statement on 5 September 2008 by the External Affairs Minister of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, reiterating India's voluntary steps in relation to nuclear non-proliferation, testing and related policies. This decision was specific to India. I am...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I had a meeting on 6 October with the Committee on Constitutional Affairs of the European Parliament which provided a useful opportunity to hear first-hand the concerns of MEPs from across the Union on issues related to the Lisbon Treaty. A number of MEPs also raised concerns about the funding of organisations seeking a No vote during our referendum campaign. I confirmed to the European...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The decision of the Irish people on 12 June has been the subject of considerable discussion with our European Union partners. Most recently, last week, on 1 October, I accompanied the Taoiseach as he travelled to Paris to discuss the matter with the President of the European Council, Nicolas Sarkozy. On Monday of this week, I had a series of meetings in Brussels with Members of the European...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The reduction of hunger, war and instability in Africa is one of the most important tasks of the international community in the 21st century, and continues to be a priority for both the European Union and the United Nations. In our dialogue with partners in the EU and the UN, Ireland is a strong advocate for the developing world and for international peace and security. Conflict has many...