Results 6,101-6,120 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

EU-Israel Relations. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Yes. I am intrigued by Deputy Timmins's exhortations on me to impose discipline on Members of my parliamentary party. We are a broad church and a democratic party. Ireland is not like other countries which suppress the right of people to free speech. The fact that Members of my party are engaged in international issues of this type is positive. We may from time to time differ in emphasis...

EU-Israel Relations. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: On the other hand, I do not wish to encourage them too much.

Arms Trade. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I share fully the concerns of the Deputy about the impact of arms transfers on human rights in conflict areas. The programme for Government commits us to supporting a binding and comprehensive global treaty on the trade of arms covering all weapons and ammunition. At the United Nations, Ireland has been actively promoting the idea of an arms trade treaty to secure agreement on common...

Arms Trade. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The whole world is engaged in the armaments industry.

Arms Trade. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: That is only one side of the European Union and its role on the international stage. The European Union is the largest contributor to humanitarian assistance in the Middle East.

Arms Trade. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: That is never acknowledged. Generally speaking, in commentary on Europe, there is an over-tendency to portray Europe as a militaristic entity whereas it is possibly the best global entity around——

Arms Trade. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: ——in terms of conflict resolution and humanitarian aid and so on. I accept the premise behind the Deputy's question in terms of the treaty and so on. From our perspective, the European Union has been a major driver in getting the arms trade treaty to the point at which it is now. Only recently, the code of conduct of arms export was upgraded to the status of common position. This means...

Arms Trade. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: We are not taking a predetermined position. We will wait to see how the talks unfold and evolve.

Arms Trade. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Yes, I do. They are appalling weapons that visited huge injuries on the civilian population in Gaza. With regard to the Deputy's comment on the European Union, member states historically, long before the European Union, have been involved in the arms trade and industry. That is a fact we knew before we joined the European Union. The key issue in terms of our participation in the European...

UN Conventions. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The United Nations Convention against Corruption was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly at its 58th session in October 2003. Ireland was among the first states to sign the convention when it was opened for signature in December 2003. The convention entered into force two years later on 14 December 2005. Ireland of course intends to ratify this convention. It is a very broad and...

UN Conventions. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I have been assured by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and his Department that this is the case.

UN Conventions. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The latter point is a rather silly one to make. It is a matter for the Oireachtas. I take the Deputy's points——

UN Conventions. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Bill is on Committee Stage in the Oireachtas and is a matter for the Houses. If it is that urgent, the Deputy can also play a role.

UN Conventions. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Bill is on Committee Stage in the Oireachtas.

UN Conventions. (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I agree 100% with that point. The other point I would make is that when one is ratifying a convention, it should be done properly. Any country that is ratifying should make sure it is dotting its i's and crossing its t's, and that there is an exhaustive examination of what the convention entails and its application to various legislative requirements, to ensure one is actually ratifying it...

Written Answers — Bilateral Relations: Bilateral Relations (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to the answer I gave earlier in response to the Priority PQ on this subject, which is set out below. 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...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: After one of the longest-running civil wars in Africa drew to a close in 2002, Angola has begun a period of major transition — economically, politically and socially — fuelled by a boom in oil production and high oil prices. Hopes that the end of the civil war in 2002 would lead to more political openness have only partially been fulfilled. Angola's first parliamentary election since...

Written Answers — Ireland's Future in Europe: Ireland's Future in Europe (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: When the report of the Sub-Committee on Ireland's future in the European Union was published at the end of November, I acknowledged the excellent analysis contained in the report and saluted the Chairman and all the members for their hard work. The report represents a significant contribution by the Oireachtas to our national debate on EU issues at a challenging time for Ireland in the...

Written Answers — US Military Bases: US Military Bases (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: With the collapse of the Soviet Union the five ex-Soviet Central Asian Republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) had to adapt to a changed economic system and establish themselves as independent states. The Deputy will be aware that some countries of the region are rich in energy and mineral resources, but all face problems in the economic and social sphere....

Written Answers — EU Reform Treaty: EU Reform Treaty (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 73, 149 and 155 together. Ireland's position as a core member of the European Union and the Eurozone have been key elements in attracting foreign investment to Ireland and were therefore fundamental to the extraordinary period of economic growth which Ireland enjoyed up until last year. Today, they are critical to the maintenance of stability and liquidity...