Results 5,781-5,800 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — European Union Development: European Union Development (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The current international situation poses very real challenges for the European Union. The Union's agenda at present is dominated by such issues as the international financial crisis, climate change, the Union's role in the world and the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. The recent European Council dealt with all these issues in a very positive and effective manner. The Union is clearly...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Contacts: Diplomatic Contacts (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The EU has been involved in conflict resolution efforts in Georgia from the start of the recent crisis and has played a key role in every step which has reduced tensions there. The pledge of assistance made at the 22 October donor reconstruction conference for Georgia, which the EU co-sponsored, will help Georgia to develop economically and rebuild the damage done during the fighting in...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Contacts: Diplomatic Contacts (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: EU-Russia relations have inevitably been affected by events in Georgia, which have pointed to a new and worrying stance by Russia in relation to its right to intervene to protect its interests and citizens. Both Russia and EU Member States must abide by the international standards they have themselves signed up to through the UN, OSCE and Council of Europe. However, the EU and Russia share...

Written Answers — International Co-operation: International Co-operation (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: As neighbours and fellow members of the European Union Ireland and Britain enjoy excellent cooperation across a wide range of issues. One focus of cooperation is of course our intensive engagement on matters relating to Northern Ireland. In addition, the two Governments engage on matters of mutual interest through the British-Irish Council, established under the Good Friday Agreement to...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280, 285 and 286 together. The results of the comprehensive independent research, commissioned by the Government, which were published in September, confirmed that our people want Ireland to continue to be fully involved in the Union. Seventy per cent of Irish people agree that membership is a good thing, while just eight per cent disagreed. In that sense, the...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: At present, the Treaties make no provision for the withdrawal of a State from the Union. Under the Lisbon Treaty, if ratified, this however would change, as explicit provision is made there for withdrawal. The withdrawal of any country from the Union would have a profound impact, including on foreign trade. Such a move would require a country to re-negotiate the terms of its external trading...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 283 together. While there is no appetite among Member States for a renegotiation of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU always works on the basis of accommodating the interests of all Member States. It has in particular an admirable record of consistently finding satisfactory solutions to challenging issues. From discussions with EU counterparts, it is clear...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government are aware of the sensitivities surrounding the timetable for the coming year as it relates to the European elections which are due to be held in June 2009. In Brussels on 6 October, I addressed a plenary session of the European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee on the Lisbon Treaty. My appearance before the Committee provided a welcome opportunity to engage in a...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: To date, the Treaty of Lisbon has been ratified by twenty-two Member States, with ratification awaited by Germany, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Poland. Two of these states have already completed their parliamentary procedures. It is anticipated that by January next year, Ireland may well be the only State not to have ratified the Treaty. It is clear that the concerns expressed by the Irish...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: As I have stated recently in the House, the situation in Burma remains of major concern. There has been a conspicuous absence of political progress since the events of 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...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Press Office in the Department of Foreign Affairs consists of a Press Officer assisted by three support staff. The Press Office serves the needs of the Department's three Ministers and the Department of Foreign Affairs as a whole. In addition, as part of the Ministerial private office staff, a Press Adviser has been appointed. I do not have a separate Press Office. The Department's Press...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 290 to 292, inclusive, together. Under the Government's decentralisation programme announced in 2003, 125 posts attached to the Development Co-operation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs were to decentralise to Limerick. The Division is the Headquarters of Irish Aid. Following sanction of an additional 20 posts by the Department of Finance in 2005,...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's Decentralisation Programme, the Development Co-operation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which manages the Irish Aid programme, is currently completing its decentralisation to Limerick. In the coming weeks, the staff of the Directorate will move into the new permanent Headquarters in Limerick. We are advised by the Office of Public Works that,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together. Responsibility for dealing with constituency representations lies with the staff of the Constituency Offices of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and of each Minister of State. The following tables set out the grades, numbers and remuneration of such staff. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Micheál Martin, T.D. Grade/Position Number...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The issue of extraordinary rendition has been raised on numerous occasions in this House. As has been made repeatedly clear, the Government is completely opposed to the practice of the extraordinary rendition of prisoners. I wish to reiterate at the outset that none of the various investigations into allegations of extraordinary rendition have revealed any evidence, or even resulted in a...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (6 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Israel is a key partner of the European Union in the Mediterranean, and an active member of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership. The relationship between the EU and Israel is governed mainly by the EU-Israel Association Agreement and its associated Action Plan. The eighth annual meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council was held in June 2008, and the current EU-Israel Action Plan is due...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (6 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The relationship between Ireland and the United States is deep, close and enduring. Successive Presidents and their Administrations, and Ireland's many friends on Capitol Hill from both sides of the aisle, have made an enormous contribution to bringing peace and economic prosperity to this island. Following the US Presidential election on 4 November 2008, the President and Taoiseach have...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (6 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The presidential campaign in the United States has just concluded. President Barack Obama will take up office on 20 January 2009 and the new Congress will meet for the first time on 6 January 2009. The campaign of the President-elect put forward a range of proposals on the US economy, trade and taxation. However, it is too early to know how these proposals will take shape and, therefore,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department monitors absence through the Civil Service's Human Resources Management System (HRMS). All absences are recorded on HRMS, which is administered centrally by the Department of Finance. The recording of absences is managed by my Department's Human Resources Section. All HQ-based staff at grades up to, and including, Higher Executive Officer register their attendance using a...

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (11 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 413 together. Our Embassy in Mexico, which is also accredited to Venezuela, has been monitoring developments in the case of the person to whom the Deputy refers since he was arrested in Caracas, on 3 February 2004 on drugs related charges. He was sentenced to 8 years in prison by the Venezuelan Supreme Court. In December 2007, our Embassy learned that...