Results 6,181-6,200 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Passport Information: Passport Information (5 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: The person in question has proposed the inclusion of details regarding illness on a passport. The current Automated Passport System (APS) does not cater for this and its inclusion would require a major redesign of the passport system and booklet. There would be a significant cost involved which would be difficult to justify against the backdrop of the current economic constraints. I will...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (5 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145 and 146 together. A passport application was received by the Passport Office in respect of the person in question on 25 November 2006. The applicant's mother stated that the applicant's father was born in Ireland and that the applicant was, therefore, an Irish citizen and thus entitled to an Irish passport. The person identified as the child's father died...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (5 Mar 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 United States, 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...

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

Micheál Martin: I share the widespread concerns about land ownership policies pursued by the Israeli authorities in occupied East Jerusalem and nearby areas of the West Bank, under which the issues of the eviction of Palestinians and the expansion of illegal Israeli settlements are intimately linked. Many Palestinians in East Jerusalem are unable to demonstrate legal title to their homes, because of the...

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

Micheál Martin: The Government attaches the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States and has actively engaged with senior US political figures on their behalf over recent years. As the Deputy will be aware, we have actively pursued a bilateral approach aimed at reforming our overall immigration arrangements with the United States and facilitating greater...

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

Micheál Martin: The Government attaches the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States and has actively engaged with senior US political figures on their behalf over recent years. As the Deputy will be aware, we have actively pursued a bilateral approach aimed at reforming our overall immigration arrangements with the United States and facilitating greater...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Process: Decentralisation Process (10 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is the Headquarters of Irish Aid, has decentralised to Limerick. As part of this decentralisation, a number of senior officers have been assigned to Limerick, including one officer at Assistant Secretary level and eleven officers at Principal Officer level or equivalent. The office of the Secretary General of...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (10 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 290 together. Details of the amounts deducted from the salaries of staff in my Department in respect of superannuation contributions are provided in the following tabular format. Year Amount deducted from staff salaries â'¬ 2007 1,707,550 2008 1,877,450 Some staff in my Department purchased notional service for superannuation purposes during...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (10 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: There are six qualified Professional Accountants employed at the Headquarters of my Department. Four of these accountants are assigned to the Finance Units which manage the budgetary allocations for Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (Irish Aid). The remaining two are assigned to the Department's Evaluation and Audit Unit.

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland, in common with all of our European Union (EU) partners, voted against a resolution on "Combating Defamation of Religion" which was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 18 December 2008 by a vote of 86 in favour, 53 against with 42 abstentions. The resolution was tabled by Egypt on behalf of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. The EU has repeatedly expressed its concerns...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (10 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: Advertising undertaken by my Department in Ireland typically includes advisory notices on public opening hours over holiday periods, changes in passport application procedures and fees, job vacancy advertisements, phone book information, and public information notices relating to Ireland's official aid programme. The total cost of advertising incurred in 2008 was €589,000. Of this overall...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (10 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am aware that Section 7 of the Finance (No. 2) Act 2008 provided for the introduction of an exemption from income tax in respect of a benefit-in-kind arising from a bicycle or associated safety equipment being provided to an employee by his or her employer for the purposes of commuting to work. My Department is at present studying the detailed arrangements that will be required to...

Northern Ireland: Motion (11 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: The unity of purpose evident in what all speakers have said in the House sends a clear signal to all that, in the words of the motion, "Dáil Eireann stands united together with the Irish and British Governments, the First and deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland, the members of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly, democratic representatives and all the people of this island, and...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (11 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: A passport application was received by the Passport Office in respect of the person in question on 25 November 2006. The applicant's mother stated that the applicant's father was born in Ireland and that the applicant was, therefore, an Irish citizen and thus entitled to an Irish passport. The person identified as the child's father died prior to the child's birth. Section 7 of the Passports...

Written Answers — Compulsory Retirement Age: Compulsory Retirement Age (11 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: There are 127 civil servants in my Department who commenced employment in the Civil Service after 1 April 2004 and are therefore not subject to compulsory retirement at age 65. Of these 127 staff, 52 are male and 75 are female.

Order of Business (12 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: It is out of order.

Written Answers — Departmental Licences: Departmental Licences (12 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: There are no licences or permits issued by my Department or by any bodies operating under its responsibility.

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (24 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's Embassies and Consulates overseas provide a range of services to Irish citizens, Irish businesses and the Government. There are currently no plans to cut back on the level of these services. The costs of running most of these overseas missions are met from the administrative budget of Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs). A 6% reduction in the Vote 28 administrative provision in Budget...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (24 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: The European Convention on Human Rights Act 2003 came into operation on 31 December 2003 on foot of a commencement order made by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Since the commencement of the 2003 Act 12 cases have been transmitted by the European Court of Human Rights to the Government for a response. The majority of the cases relate to events which occurred prior to the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (24 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 594 and 595 together. As a Government Minister I am allocated two Garda drivers who work on a week on — week off basis. Their salary is a charge on the Vote of An Garda Síochána. Each of the two Ministers of State in my Department has appointed two civilian drivers under terms and conditions set down by the Department of Finance. The current salary of...