Results 5,841-5,860 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I remain deeply concerned at the situation in Zimbabwe. Over the last number of years, but especially in recent months, ordinary Zimbabweans have suffered from state violence, economic chaos and the collapse of basic social services such as health and education. Now, as a result of drought, the disruption caused by violence, and a lack of basic inputs such as seeds and fertilisers which...

Written Answers — Benchmarking Awards: Benchmarking Awards (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Public Service Benchmarking Body, whose report was published on 21 December 2007, carried out a detailed evaluation of the pay and jobs of 109 grades in the public service in accordance with its terms of reference. While there is not a specific link between benchmarking and services to the public, "Sustaining Progress" and its successor "Towards 2016", the ten-year Social Partnership...

Written Answers — Passport Fraud: Passport Fraud (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The figures for Irish passports reported as lost or stolen for 2007 and from 1 January to 13 November 2008 are: Year Total passports issued Lost or mislaid Stolen Total lost, mislaid or stolen % of total issued 2007 600,000 32,156 5,425 37,581 6.3% 1 January to 13 November 2008 539,000 28,624 4,458 33,082 6.1% These figures are in line with other comparable countries. Stolen passports...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following tables set out the average number of sick days per head of staff in my Department in each of the years specified. It is not possible to provide the average number of sick days excluding long-term illnesses for 2006 as our records for that year, and the years prior to that, do not distinguish between short- and long-term illnesses. The figure for the total number of employees...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The person in question was born in Scotland to an Irish-born parent. He was therefore automatically an Irish citizen at birth. In the year 2000, he renounced his Irish citizenship by lodging a declaration of alienage with the Irish Embassy in Berlin and surrendered his passport. Under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, a person born in the island of Ireland who has renounced Irish...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes â€" Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). I have set out in the following tables the names of the consultants engaged by my Department together with an indication of the work carried out and the amounts paid to each consultant for each of the years 2000 to 2008 (to date) under both Votes. I am very...

Written Answers — International Summits: International Summits (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my response to question number 182 posed by Deputy O'Caoláin on Thursday 13th November 2008: In May 2008, the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) wrote to my Department requesting the inclusion of a youth delegate in Ireland's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in 2009. My Department is considering the NYCI's proposal which, however, gives rise to a...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department is fully aware of the tragic death of the person referred to in the Deputy's question. My deepest sympathies go out to the family of the deceased. With regard to the assistance provided by the Irish Consulate General, New York to the family, I am satisfied that all possible measures were taken to assist the family at this very sad time. This included liaison with the Medical...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The calculation of the pension benefits payable to retired members of my Department, including the appropriate lump sum due, is a matter for the Department of Finance.

Tribunals of Inquiry. (19 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: What is happening?

Tribunals of Inquiry. (19 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: It is true. It has happened.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (19 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy may be aware, this is an issue of great importance to me personally and I am determined to bring this matter to a successful conclusion. Every effort is being made to ensure that Belarusian children can continue to visit Ireland for the purposes of rest and recuperation. I have replied to a number of questions on this matter, most recently on 11th and 12th of November and I...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (19 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Joint Committee on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement was established by the Oireachtas for the purpose of considering issues relating to the functioning and implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, and other matters referred to it by Dáil Éireann. In addition to members of the Oireachtas, participation in the work of the Committee is open to Northern Ireland members...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 138 together. The continued fighting in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is a matter of grave concern, in terms of its implications for both the humanitarian situation and the stability of the wider Great Lakes region. I am particularly distressed by reports of targeted attacks against the civilian population, and by...

Written Answers — State Visits: State Visits (20 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: No protest was made to the Czech Government in relation to any meetings held by the Czech President during his recent State Visit.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The ongoing crisis in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 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. I am particularly distressed by reports of attacks by all sides against the civilian population, by the prevalence of sexual and gender based violence as...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are three Advisory Committees and one Educational Commission operating under my Department's aegis the details of which are outlined below. None of them have recently been eliminated or amalgamated. 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...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together. These questions have also been addressed to my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Dermot Ahern. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the lead Department on the issue of resettling citizens of third countries into Ireland and the Minister is, I understand, providing a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The situation of members of the minority Baha'i faith in Iran has long been a matter of serious concern to the Government and to members of the Oireachtas, and has been discussed here on many occasions. There is in Iran no tolerance of the Baha'i faith, which is regarded as a heretical or apostate offshoot of Islam. In recent years, as conservative forces have again asserted control in...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The progress made under the Good Friday Agreement has been underpinned by the strengthening of economic and transport ties between the two jurisdictions. The opening in 2002 of the ferry connection between Greencastle and Magilligan Point was an important demonstration of the expanding nature of these links and of the Government's commitment to the North West. I am aware that in the recent...