Results 5,861-5,880 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). The amount of expenditure on consultancy by my Department in 2006 and 2007 is as follows. Year Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) Vote 29 (International Cooperation) Total (Vote 28+ Vote 29) € € € 2006 587,648 1,791,396 2,379,044 2007 283,174 3,033,339...

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

Micheál Martin: In 2007, my Department made payments of €344,138 in respect of mileage costs incurred for official travel by 278 officials based in Ireland and throughout our network of 75 Missions abroad. Payments of €63,152 were made to 57 members of staff under the Vote 29 (Irish Aid) budget. Costs of €280,986were incurred in payments to 221 officials from within the Vote 28 (Department of Foreign...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The person in question called to the Irish Embassy in Hanoi on 28 October 2008 and reported the loss of his passport. At that time he was provided with a passport application form and the details of how he could obtain a replacement passport through the Embassy. The cost of the passport is 1,612,000 Vietnamese Dong which is equivalent to €75. As of Friday 21 November the person in...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The requested details for my Offices in the Department are set out in tabular form below. Private Office Constituency Office 10 5 2008 (projected) Private Constituency €558,300 €193,080 The above cost estimates include those related to the staff of my predecessor for the period 1 January 2008 — 6 May 2008. I would point out that the number of staff assigned to my Offices...

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

Micheál Martin: The Department Of Foreign Affairs employs the service of an off-site document storage centre in Dublin and Cork. The cost per 'banker box' in these locations is €5 and €4 respectively.

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the opportunity to present this Bill in the Seanad. I value the support of this House for the role played by the Government in international efforts to end the use of cluster munitions. The principal purpose of the Bill is to provide in domestic law for the obligations the State will assume under the Convention on Cluster Munitions. As the House will be aware, the convention was...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (27 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The person in question applied for a passport in 1995. The application was made in a surname adopted upon marriage and in accordance with normal procedure, the applicant's previous birth surname was also shown on the form. The applicant stated on the application form that she had not held a previous passport. In the course of checking the applicant's data against the passport office database,...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (2 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: This is an issue of great importance to me and to the host families and organisations who give so generously of their time to the children of Chernobyl. I am determined to bring it to a successful conclusion. Every effort is being made to ensure that the children can continue to visit Ireland for the purposes of rest and recuperation. I spoke on this matter during an Adjournment debate on...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: As my predecessor stated in the House on 6 February last, Ireland, together with its EU partners, continues to have concerns about human rights issues in Pakistan, including the situation of the Ahmedin. Promoting religious tolerance remains a key EU objective in Pakistan. We have urged the government there to make every effort to promote effectively the rights of minorities and to improve...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware, the third session of the Universal Periodic Review of UN Human Rights Council is being held from 1 to 15 December 2008. Colombia will be reviewed on 10 December. In the lead up to this review, a number of submissions have been received by the Department of Foreign Affairs, including the submission from ABColombia referred to by the Deputy. Ireland will participate...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I remain deeply concerned about 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 — State Visits: State Visits (2 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: While this is a completely hypothetical question, I emphasise, as I have done previously, that no protest was made to the Government of the Czech Republic relating to the programme of its President while in Ireland recently.

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (2 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Over the past decade, the number of Irish citizens travelling and living abroad has increased dramatically. Irish residents made almost 8 million visits overseas in 2007. As a result, requests to my Department for consular assistance and support have increased significantly. Every effort is made to assist families who experience difficulties. While the vast majority of visits abroad are...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government has consistently called for an end to the isolation of the people of Gaza, in particular through the reopening of crossing points for the movement of people and goods. Gaza has been isolated, in effect, since the Hamas takeover in June 2007, even during the ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas that was broadly respected from 19 June 2008 until 4 November 2008. Since June...

Written Answers — Irish Prisoners Abroad: Irish Prisoners Abroad (2 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Embassy in London has contacted the relevant prison in Britain (Foston Hall). The prison authorities were, however, reluctant to release any information on the person concerned as prisoners have the right not to have information about their personal circumstances used without their express permission. Personal information is, I should add, safeguarded under the British Data Protection...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (3 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department has committed funding of €600,000 over the next 3 years to assist the work of the Chernobyl Children's Project International in Belarus. The funding will be used for the building of 6 community based day care centres which will provide a range of facilities, including medical care. I believe this will make a valuable contribution to the care of children in Belarus. At the EU...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (4 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the United States Deputy Secretary of State, John Negroponte, and I signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a new Working Holiday Programme between our two countries in Washington on 24 September. Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, my Department, in consultation with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (4 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The circumstances regarding the application of the person in question were outlined in my reply to question number 122 on 27 November 2008. The Passport Office has again reviewed the applications of both persons involved and has confirmed that the applications were in order. On the basis of that investigation, I am satisfied that no fraud was involved in either case.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (4 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Irish Government is acutely aware of the plight of the Roma in Kosovo, particularly those who were displaced during the conflict, and has supported a broad range of projects targeted at helping this minority group. For the period 2005-2009, Irish Aid has allocated €850,000 towards development work with the Roma community in Kosovo, and a further €200,000 has been provided for the...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (4 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: On Thursday, 27 November, together with Chief Executive of the Football Association of Ireland, Mr. John Delaney, I announced the appointment of Terry Conroy as the new FAI welfare officer for Britain. This initiative is a direct response to concerns that the welfare needs of young Irish players who travel to Britain to take up positions at professional clubs be addressed. The vast majority...