Results 5,681-5,700 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (4 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned about the situation in Afghanistan. Very clear difficulties exist in the country in relation to security issues, human rights, governance and the rule of law, and narcotics. The security situation of course remains a particular cause for concern, including in areas along the Afghan-Pakistan border. In this context, I welcome the meeting of Pakistan and Afghan political...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (4 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I have received a letter from the group to which the Deputy refers. The Government remains deeply concerned about the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners in China. Questions in this regard — including specific cases — are raised regularly with the Chinese authorities, within the context of our own regular discussions with them on issues of human rights and fundamental freedoms and...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (4 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: More than six 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 has diminished, it has not stopped. The rate of inflation is...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (4 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Rwanda is one of the most stable countries in the Great Lakes region. It has made enormous progress in establishing peace, security and good governance since the genocide of 1994. Rwanda's stability is underpinned by strong levels of economic growth and it has won praise from international donors for its innovative approach to development. On 15 September last the country held its second...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (4 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: While my Department does not provide any frontline youth services, it does provide funding for many initiatives which are either directly or indirectly targeted at younger members of society. Ireland's annual budgetary contribution to the Council of Europe contains an item for the European Youth Foundation. Out of a total budget contribution of €2,692,472 in 2008, for which this Department...

Economic Competitiveness. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department works closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the State agencies under its aegis, in promoting Ireland's economic interests overseas. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I attach the highest priority to using our network of embassies to further the Government's economic objectives, including attracting inward foreign investment. Our embassy in...

Economic Competitiveness. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: American investment in Ireland is very significant and over 100,000 jobs have been created by American companies. The figures are available in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and can be supplied to the Deputy. The key point is that it has been a significant factor, not merely in terms of quantity of investment but in the types of industries that have come in such as life...

Economic Competitiveness. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I was very keen to get that figure when I was Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in order to tell Enterprise Ireland to do some homework regarding how many jobs Irish companies create in the US. The figure now is approximately 80,000 jobs. It is by no means a one-way street. I had the unusual circumstance about a year and a half ago of a US Senator lobbying me to see if a...

Economic Competitiveness. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The core issue here will be what is in the fundamental interest of corporate America, of the multinationals and of the American economy. As I said earlier, it can be argued that if companies become global economic powers in their respective fields this is ultimately beneficial to the American economy. That is ultimately what will inform the policy response in the United States.

International Agreements. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The current global economic crisis presents us with major challenges which require a global response. We are working with our EU partners to contribute to a comprehensive and genuine reform of the global financial system, on the principles of transparency, banking stability, integrity and improved economic governance. In doing so, it is important to maintain a spirit of co-operation and...

International Agreements. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am not entirely convinced by the Deputy's argument. It is much to early to rush into a definitive position on the best international mechanism to deal with the present circumstances. My understanding of the historical background of this issue is that the relationship between the International Monetary Fund and United Nations was governed by a broad framework agreement entered into in...

International Agreements. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: It is not a correct analysis of the Sarkozy position to state it does not amount to more than the making of adjustments. The French President would not agree with that perspective.

International Agreements. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: As I stated, these are still early days and I am not convinced by the Deputy's argument on what is the most effective international institution to address the issue. Without doubt, the existing institutions require fundamental reform as they are outdated in terms of membership, composition and so forth. The United Nations also requires significant reform to deal with modern global...

International Agreements. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Hedge funds are not the only fire to have spread from America. We also have problems arising from the sub-prime mortgage market.

Foreign Conflicts. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The resurgence of fighting in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a matter of grave concern, both in terms of its implications for the humanitarian situation and for the stability of the wider Great Lakes region. It has seriously undermined the Goma and Nairobi peace agreements and placed the progress made over the past year in the Great Lakes peace process in...

Foreign Conflicts. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The force was established in 1999 and there are 17,000 troops from the 20 different countries involved. It is clearly the largest and most expensive UN peacekeeping mission, with a budget exceeding $1 billion, so this is no mean attempt to deal with the problems. It is mandated to use all necessary means to protect civilians from physical attack. It is clearly signalling to the...

Foreign Conflicts. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: That is a very reasonable proposition and it has neither been ruled in or out. It will require the agreement of all the member states as regards participation, particularly in the context of the battle groups for rapid deployment under a UN mandate. Again, no decision has been taken and it is probably an issue that will surface at the GAERC meeting. We have an open mind with regard to EU...

Middle East Peace Process. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Ireland, together with its EU partners, is committed to a negotiated and comprehensive settlement in the Middle East, with a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at its core. Ireland strongly supports the Annapolis process, launched under US auspices in November 2007, aimed at reaching agreement between Israel and the Palestinians by the end of this year. While it is clear...

Middle East Peace Process. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I take the overall points made by the Deputy. With regard to the EU-Israel agreement, Ireland was one of the strong advocates for a linkage between it and political developments and commitment to a two-state solution. This was not entirely appreciated by the Israeli Government, as was articulated to me by Foreign Minister Livni, when I met her. I was asked why Ireland was so strong among...

Middle East Peace Process. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I empathise with the Deputy's views, but we make our stance, and continue to do so, within EU meetings and that is where we articulate our position. On the Hamas question, there cannot be an overall political settlement which does not include Gaza. It is, therefore, logical that Hamas must be involved at some point. However, the EU is not ready to negotiate with Hamas until it recognises...