Results 5,941-5,960 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: India remains in a state of heightened alert in the aftermath of the Mumbai attacks. There are concerns that there may be further terrorist incidents, particularly as the country prepares for national elections due before May 2009. Security remains tight throughout the country, particularly in major cities and at installations such as airports and Government buildings. My Department is...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 350 together. The third session of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism of the UN Human Rights Council took place in Geneva between 1 and 15 December 2008. The UPR is one of the major new aspects of the Council, which subjects each UN member State to a thorough review of its human rights performance every fourth year. The reviews are based...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government has been working to ensure that Irish pork products are available for sale again as soon as possible in Ireland's major markets, including in the European Union. My Department, through its network of Embassies, is working closely with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Bord Bia to keep the relevant authorities in our major markets fully informed of...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Within the period in question, the Department of Foreign Affairs has had two laptops stolen, one USB memory stick was lost and three mobile phones were lost or stolen. These devices did not contain any sensitive data and both laptops were encrypted. The Department encrypts all laptops before issue and also issues guidelines to all officers on the appropriate use of IT equipment,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 353 and 354 together. I have provided below in tabular form details of the hotel accommodation costs incurred under the headquarters budget of my Department for each year from 2004 to date, for officers travelling overseas and within Ireland in an official capacity. There are no State Agencies operating under the remit of my Department. Year 2004 2005...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department has 257 computer servers across offices in Ireland and its 75 Missions around the world. Each of these servers is owned by the Department. Server capacity falls into the following ranges: (a) Up to 100 gigabytes — 29 servers (b) Between 300 and 400 gigabytes — 226 servers (c) Above 400 gigabytes — 2 servers. There are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Increments are paid annually to staff in my Department who have not reached the maximum point on the appropriate salary scale for their grade provided that they meet required standards in relation to performance and attendance set down under the Civil Service Performance Management and Development System. In the time available, it has not been possible to provide the financial information...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's decentralisation programme announced in 2003, 125 posts attached to the Development Cooperation 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, the total number of posts attached to Irish Aid Headquarters...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The core staffing number approved by the Department of Finance for my Department is 1,576 (on a full-time equivalent basis). This figure includes approximately 300 locally recruited staff employed at missions abroad. The following table sets out the number of staff on the Department's payroll, excluding those who are locally recruited abroad, broken down by grade and the relevant salary...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The core staffing number approved by the Department of Finance for my Department is 1,576. This includes 320 permanent staff who are working in the Passports Offices in Ireland and approximately 300 local staff currently employed at missions abroad. The number of staff currently serving as of 1 December is 1,557. The shortfall of 19 is accounted for by vacancies for which replacements have...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The core staffing number approved by the Department of Finance for my Department is 1,576. The number of staff currently serving as of 1 December is 1,557. Of this total, 927 staff are based in six offices located in Ireland. The remaining 630 staff, of whom 300 are locally recruited, are based in Missions abroad. The following table provides a breakdown by grade of the staff serving in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are currently no State agencies or authorities operating under the responsibility of my Department. There are three Advisory Committees and one Educational Commission, which come under the aegis of the Department; these are the Development Education Advisory Committee; the Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee; the Advisory Board for Irish Aid; and the Fulbright Commission. No...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Institute for International and European Affairs (IIEA) is an independent policy research think-tank and forum. The Department of Foreign Affairs pays an annual fee, currently set at €6,000, in respect of its corporate membership of the IIEA. In the past, the Institute has also received funding from my Department under the Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI). The scheme provides...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 363 to 365, inclusive, together. The information on the hospitality hosted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Ministers of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs in the period June 2007 to date is detailed in the tables. The breakdown of events is as follows: lunches 68%, receptions (wine andcanapés) 25%, dinners 4.2%, receptions (wine only) 1.4%,...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will appreciate, in the time available, it has been difficult to research all aspects of funding received by my Department over such a long period. However, following a detailed examination of the Department's records, I understand that the only direct EU funding received by my Department was the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace I), which was...

Written Answers — Irish Unity: Irish Unity (18 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Programme for Government makes clear that, following on the significant political progress of recent years, the Government is committed to further steps towards peace and unity in our country. The Government's position in this regard is rooted in the Good Friday Agreement which recognises that it is for the people of the island of Ireland, by agreement, to determine their political...

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (18 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Applications for prisoner transfer under the European Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons or the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act, 1995, are a matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. My Department has responsibility for the provision of consular assistance to Irish citizens outside the State. In this regard, the Department maintains regular contact with the...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (18 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Ensuring protection for the rights of workers is a central concern of the Government. The development of European policy and practice, as reflected in EU law, has been hugely positive for Irish and European workers. Directives cover a range of issues and rights, including equal pay for men and women; parental leave; maternity leave; the organisation of working time; equal access to men and...

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

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's decentralisation programme announced in 2003 the Development Co-operation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs has decentralised to Limerick. The Division is the Headquarters of Irish Aid. 124 staff have moved into the new Headquarters building in Limerick. A breakdown of grades is provided in the table. Of those in Limerick, 78 were in Irish Aid in Dublin...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together. The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Receptions hosted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Ministers of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs, June 2007-Present Date Event Host Total Cost No. of Guests Cost per Person Caterer € € 26/09/2007 Unveiling of bust of Mr. Frank Aiken,...