Results 6,141-6,160 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: The Government's total opposition to the practice of extraordinary rendition has been made clear on many occasions, including to the new US Administration. On 22 January, President Obama signed three Executive Orders and one Presidential Memorandum in relation to the detention policy of the US and related matters, including the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention centre. The Executive...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The issue of proposed missile defence bases in Poland and the Czech Republic was not discussed at the recent General Affairs and External Relations Council. The Council, and the European Union itself, have no competence in this matter. From a national perspective, however, Ireland's position in relation to missile defence systems is clear. We believe that the development and deployment of...

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

Micheál Martin: President Obama's decision to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay within a year represents an important step towards upholding and promoting human rights and will be welcomed by all friends of the United States. The relevant Executive Order states that appropriate arrangements will need to be made to deal with the remaining detainees, either by prosecuting them, returning them to...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: As I have said previously, depending on developments in the Middle East Peace Process, the establishment of a permanent secretariat could be considered, in order to add focus to the work of the Quartet and the various international envoys active in the region. However, at present I am not aware of any specific proposals under consideration by the parties to the process. Separate from the...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Programme for Government commits us to support a binding and comprehensive global treaty on the arms trade, covering all weapons and ammunition and Ireland will be actively engaged in the negotiations to this end at the United Nations. The Government therefore strongly supports the process of developing strict controls on arms and works actively to promote the objective of strengthening...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: While the Taoiseach's programme has not yet been finalised, the Government welcomes the fact that President Obama has indicated that he will continue the tradition of receiving the Taoiseach on St. Patrick's Day. I know that the Taoiseach will take this unique opportunity to strengthen and underpin the close economic and political ties between our two countries. Over the St. Patrick's Day...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Throughout the US Presidential election campaign and into the new Administration and Congress, the Embassy in Washington, in close coordination with the IDA, has been monitoring all proposals for policy initiatives which could potentially impact on the Irish economy. This includes proposals in relation to taxation which could affect foreign direct investment in Ireland. Where an issue is...

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

Micheál Martin: I have set out the Government's approach to the general situation in Zimbabwe in my reply to questions 18 and 35. The continuing detention in Zimbabwe of human rights activists, including Ms. Jestina Mukoko and her colleagues, is extremely troubling. Ms. Mukoko and two colleagues were abducted from their homes by an unidentified group in early December. Zimbabwean authorities initially...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Somalia remains appalling, and the suffering of its people immense. Somalia has been without effective government for close to 20 years, and repeated efforts by the international community to restore peace, stability, and legitimate government have been unavailing. Violence in Somalia escalated during 2008, with regular clashes between Ethiopian and UN-backed Transitional...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Below in tabular format is a statistical breakdown of the Freedom of Information Requests processed by my Department in 2007 and 2008. It is the policy of my Department to make all requests and replies made under the Freedom of Information Act, which are not of a personal nature, publicly available. The Freedom of Information Requests Database is available on the website of my Department and...

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

Micheál Martin: The practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) regrettably occurs in many countries throughout the world. Irish Aid is a member of the Joint Consortium on Gender Based Violence, which aims to promote a more coherent and co-ordinated response to gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation, amongst its members, who include Irish human rights, humanitarian and development...

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

Micheál Martin: The crime of genocide, as defined in international law, involves the committing of acts with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such. These acts may include killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 156 and 157 together. The priority right now, for all sides, remains the consolidation of the existing fragile ceasefire arrangements in Gaza through the full implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1860. Only when peace and security are fully restored to Gaza and southern Israel will the parties be able to fully focus on reviving the peace process....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (17 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: There is no doubt that the conflict in Gaza was appalling, both for the people of the territory and for the wider peace process. The stark facts of the conflict make grim reading: 1300 people killed, nearly 6000 wounded, and thousands of buildings destroyed. Estimates indicate that the rebuilding process could cost $2 billion and take up to five years. From the start of the conflict in Gaza...

Written Answers — Smarter Travel Policy: Smarter Travel Policy (17 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: My Department has not, to date, adopted a specific workplace travel plan. However, it is supportive of the Government's Smarter Travel Policy, launched by the Minister for Transport on 5 February, which recognises the valuable role that workplace travel planning can play in making commuting travel patterns more sustainable. There are a number of initiatives being undertaken by my Department...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (17 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 314 together. The recent conflict in Gaza witnessed a number of appalling incidents and alleged violations of international humanitarian law by both parties. I have called on several occasions — including at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting in Brussels on 26 January — for these incidents to be fully investigated and, where...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (17 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Much careful consideration is given to determining the Ministerial programmes for St. Patrick's Day to ensure that Ireland's economic, trade, social and cultural interests are effectively represented and promoted. The cost of each of the individual Ministerial programmes is, however, a matter for individual Departments. I am not, therefore, in a position to provide the Deputy with costs for...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables: Table A: five highest-value contracts (current expenditure) awarded in 2008. Contract /Nature of Work Party awarded Contract Estimated value (full duration of contract) Technical support and maintenance of the Automated Passport System BearingPoint Ireland Limited €5.38 million (excluding VAT) over a maximum...

Written Answers — International Relations: International Relations (18 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government's opposition to extraordinary rendition and to the use of intensive interrogation techniques such as water-boarding, which are internationally considered to constitute torture, and its support for the early closure of the detention facility at Guantánamo Bay, have been made clear on many occasions. This position was communicated by our Embassy in Washington to the incoming US...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (18 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: There are no regulators under the control of my Department. Some of the services provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs have a regulatory element, such as the issuing of passports. However, this relates to a customer service being provided by the Department rather than the regulation of activities by external stakeholders.