Results 6,061-6,080 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (10 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government is strongly committed to trying to resolve the plight of the undocumented Irish in the United States. President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and other senior members of the new Administration have for some time been strong supporters of comprehensive immigration reform. Since the new year, there have also been helpful public indications that Senate Majority Leader, Senator...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I remain deeply concerned by the situation in Tibet. Reports in recent weeks suggest that the Chinese authorities have been engaged in a new security operation in the capital, Lhasa. Some reports indicate that checks on almost 6,000 people have taken place and that around 80 to date have been detained. At the same time, issues relating to the preservation of the religious and cultural...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The issue raised by the Deputy is of great importance to me personally and to the large number of host families and organisations who have organised annual visits to Ireland by children from Belarus for over 18 years. My Department became aware of possible restrictions on the children's travel in late August 2008. I met with Adi Roche of Chernobyl Children's Project International on 8...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (10 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The events of the past week, which saw the release of six hostages, including the last politicians to be held by the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), are very welcome. The Government of Colombia has repeatedly stated its commitment to bringing to an end to all terrorism in Colombia within the framework of the Justice and Peace Law. This Law, passed in 2005, provides an...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (10 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 375 and 385 together. I am deeply concerned by the escalation in fighting which has taken place in recent months in the northern part of Sri Lanka and by the terrible effects this is having on the local population, including thousands of internally displaced persons. I am particularly shocked by reports of the repeated shelling last week of the PTK hospital,...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (10 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: As noted in my response to the Deputy's previous question about a visa for this individual (PQ 1008/09) I am not in a position to support individual visa applications. It is the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform rather than my own Department which has primary responsibility for visa and immigration policy and, in particular, for making decisions on individual visa applications...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (10 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables for both Votes. I am very conscious of the need to achieve value for money on such expenditure. The Department commissions external advisory services only where specialised knowledge...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: During 2008, the Department of Foreign Affairs implemented the following schemes involving awards to staff: the Scheme of Performance Related Pay Awards and the Exceptional Performance Awards Scheme. Scheme of Performance Related Pay Awards The Scheme of Performance Related Pay Awards in the Civil Service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. It does not apply...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (10 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together. Section 10 of the Passports Act 2008 provides that a passport issued under the Act "shall be in the name of the applicant as it appears in his or her certificate of birth (whether in the English language or the Irish language) or, as may be appropriate, a certificate of naturalisation or other document produced by him or her to the...

Irish-US Relations. (11 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: We are keeping the country in suspense.

Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Timmins is swimming.

Order of Business (11 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Burton knows well he did not.

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (11 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government attaches the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. In the absence, to date, of comprehensive immigration reform in the US, we have actively pursued a bilateral approach in this area, aimed at reforming our overall immigration arrangements with the United States and facilitating greater legal migration between the two...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (11 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Embassy in Washington is comprised of the Ambassador and nine diplomatic staff who are dedicated to promoting and protecting Ireland's interests in the United States. Full attention is given to our economic interests and to the needs of Irish citizens, particularly those who are undocumented. Our Consulates General in New York, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco also engage actively on...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (11 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government attaches the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. In the absence, to date, of comprehensive immigration reform in the US, we have actively pursued a bilateral approach in this area, aimed at reforming our overall immigration arrangements with the United States and facilitating greater legal migration between the two...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (11 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and the United States enjoy close political, economic and cultural relations. 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. We enjoy in particular an excellent working relationship with the bi-partisan Friends of...

Bilateral Relations. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and the United States enjoy close political, economic and cultural relations.

Bilateral Relations. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: 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. The Government attaches the highest importance to strengthening the unique relationship between the two countries. I welcome the commitment of the Obama Administration to overcoming...

Bilateral Relations. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The question relates to the recovery and re-investment plan, which is fundamentally about the domestic US economy. Of course, if the American economy can effect a recovery, Ireland, as an open, exporting economy, stands to benefit. As I said in my reply, the US is extremely important to Ireland in terms of exports and investment from multinational companies. The broader issues raised by...

Bilateral Relations. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Our ambassador is lobbying in Washington and is in touch with his contacts on Capitol Hill. With the greatest of respect, it is not for us to tell President Obama and his Administration about the fine-tuning of their economic recovery plan, which is a matter for the domestic political agenda.