Results 5,881-5,900 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: Throughout the recent crisis in Mumbai, our Embassy in New Delhi and our Honorary Consulate in Mumbai maintained close operational contact with the Indian authorities. On my instructions, a diplomatic officer from the Embassy travelled immediately to Mumbai to set up a crisis centre for Irish citizens at our Honorary Consulate there. Throughout the days of the crisis this diplomatic...

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: That is not true. It was always understood——

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Reference was made to "social" matters.

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The issues referred to by the Deputy are covered by the word "social".

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Can he go now?

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the report of the Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union. It is a very important debate at a critical moment of Ireland's engagement with the European Union. I am somewhat disappointed with some of the contributions so far. I was particularly facilitative in helping to establish the...

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: A plenary debate in the House was always to be part of the process and for one party to suggest it egged others into having it does a disservice to the issue. The issue is too big for that; we can all nitpick.

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: If the view is to try to chart a way forward for the European Union, we should work towards a unified approach instead of just turning up for debates and finding reasons for having a go at the Government or other parties. That is all I will say.

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I have been reasonable all along in trying to engage with other political parties. We have been criticised for not engaging. The whole purpose of the Oireachtas sub-committee was for the political parties in the House to engage. Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Labour Party, the Green Party, Sinn Féin and the Independents had representatives. I take it that they were not acting unilaterally...

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I do and will respond at that stage. The Government attaches great importance to this crucial report, the findings of which dovetail so well with our ongoing work at European level. I am thinking, in particular, of the issues it highlights as being of most concern to the people: taxation, socio-ethical issues, foreign and defence policy, and Ireland's influence in the European Union. It...

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy has the makings of a fine diplomat.

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: We do not need to wait.

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I thank all Deputies for their contributions. The Government has been working extremely hard since the decision was made on the Lisbon treaty. We commissioned quantitative and qualitative research. We facilitated and worked with other parties to establish the Oireachtas sub-committee. To suggest nothing was done, as Deputy Creighton has done, is wrong. The Fine Gael Party has an...

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Criticising the Government seems to be a greater priority rather than advancing the core issues about the European Union. Some of the criticisms are not well founded. We have worked hard. Deputies should not be dismissive of the "No" vote. People are saying the tax issue has been sorted, as has neutrality, but the bottom line is that we did not convince the people.

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Fine Gael did not do so; neither did the Government. There are still doubts. We are trying to reflect the will of the people. It is clear from the research that issues of neutrality and defence, with workers' rights, are high on people's list of priorities. We must listen to the people. We must create solutions with our European colleagues that reflect the will of the people, as...

Report of Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the EU: Statements (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I have made the comment that we are a member of the eurozone. I have also commented on the role of the ECB. We have made other points about the role of the European Union and Irish troops in Chad. We have been clearly pointing out the positives of our membership of the European Union and working in a constructive way, both internally and externally with our colleagues in the European...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (9 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 — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Institute for International and European Affairs (IIEA) is an independent policy research think-tank and forum. The Institute's mandate is to identity and evaluate the strategic policy options for Ireland arising from its membership of the European Union. The Department of Foreign Affairs pays an annual fee, currently set at €6,000, in respect of its corporate membership of the IIEA....

Written Answers — Departmental Travel: Departmental Travel (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department, and the bodies for which it is responsible, are fully compliant with the Department of Finance guidelines on foreign travel. The Department operates its own internal travel guidelines and practises, in compliance with those issued by the Department of Finance. These guidelines ensure transparent and cost effective travel practises, both in Headquarters and throughout our...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government remain seriously concerned about the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which has effectively been isolated since the Hamas takeover in June 2007, even during a ceasefire between Israeli forces and Hamas which was broadly respected from 19 June 2008 until 4 November 2008. The Government have consistently called for an end to the isolation of the people of Gaza, in particular...