Results 6,201-6,220 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland's Ambassadors are primarily drawn from the rank of Assistant Secretary and Counsellor/Principal Officer within the Department of Foreign Affairs. The authorised number of high level posts in the Department of Foreign Affairs comprises one Secretary General, four Second Secretaries, five Deputy Secretaries and 42 Assistant Secretaries. Of these 52 posts, 38 are assigned to...

Written Answers — Departmental Allowances: Departmental Allowances (24 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: There are no semi-state bodies operating under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (24 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have no role in the processing of European Arrest Warrants. Under the European Arrest Warrants Act 2003, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has been designated as the Central Authority for Ireland for matters connected with European Arrest Warrants. I also understand that the case in question is currently before the courts and therefore sub judice.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (24 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: I utterly deplore the horrific humanitarian situation which exists in parts of war-torn northern Sri Lanka. According to recent reports, more than 2,800 civilians may have been killed and 7,000 others wounded in fighting between the Government of Sri Lanka and the rebel LTTE over the last two months. Hundreds of children are believed to have died and more than a thousand have been injured....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: My Department does not operate a Voter Education Fund. In 2008 under the Communicating Europe Initiative a sum of €20,000 was allocated to an organisation entitled 'Voter Education Fund' in respect of the Rock the Vote project which was aimed at encouraging young people between the ages of 18 and 35 to vote in the Lisbon Treaty Referendum in 2008. The project comprised the development of a...

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

Micheál Martin: I am aware that, notwithstanding significant efforts by the relevant authorities, instances of sectarian behaviour have occurred at Scottish premier league games, and of the distress and offence that this can cause. I am fully supportive of the efforts of the Scottish Government, Police and Football Association to tackle sectarian behaviour, from whatever quarter. I am confident that the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (25 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: The International Criminal Court (ICC) announced on 4 March that it would issue a warrant for the arrest of the Sudanese President, Omar al-Bashir, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in connection with the Darfur conflict. Ireland and the EU have expressed our support for the work the ICC is doing. There has, however, been a strong political reaction in Sudan to the ICC...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (31 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Passports Act 2008 requires that before issuing a passport to a person, the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be satisfied that that person is an Irish citizen. Proofs of identity and entitlement to citizenship are required in respect of all passport applications. These requirements are outlined in the passport application form notes that accompany each application form. Details are also...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (31 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: I have made enquiries and been advised that there are no service agreements within my Department that come within the scope of the Deputy's question. There are no public bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (31 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 337, 338 and 341 together. The Government remains steadfast in its commitment to developing our bilateral migration arrangements with the United States, including finding a solution for our undocumented citizens. The Taoiseach and I emphasised the importance of this issue in our engagements with the US Administration and Congress during our visit to the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (31 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: The case to which the Deputy refers relates to five Cuban men, known as the Miami Five, who were convicted in the US in 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to first degree murder. As I have previously stated on a number of occasions to the Deputy, most recently on 25 February 2009, the Government has no standing in this matter, which is a bilateral consular question between the US and the...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (31 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government attaches the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States and their welfare, like the welfare of all Irish citizens abroad, is a key priority for my Department. In the course of my recent St. Patrick's Day visit to the US, I raised the plight of the undocumented Irish with Secretary of State Clinton and the Taoiseach discussed...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (31 Mar 2009)

Micheál Martin: The conflict in Gaza witnessed a number of appalling incidents and alleged violations of international humanitarian law by both Israel and Hamas. I have called on several occasions — including at a meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council — for these incidents to be fully investigated and, where evidence of violations of international humanitarian law is adduced, for...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Zimbabwe remains fragile following the formation of a power-sharing government involving Zanu-PF and the MDC in February. There have been some small signs of progress, and I hope that the new Government will be able to address the significant problems now facing Zimbabwe. The release of Roy Bennett, the designated MDC deputy agriculture minister, sent a positive signal,...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (2 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: 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 supplied by an employer to an employee for the purposes of commuting to work. The implementation of this scheme for the Civil Service is being dealt with by the Department of Finance. It is understood that...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (7 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: Relations between Ireland and Australia are excellent. Visits and contacts take place on a regular basis. The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Dermot Ahern T.D., acting on my behalf, met with Australian Foreign Minister, Stephen Smith M.P., on 3 December 2008, while both Ministers were in Oslo for the signing of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. A range of bilateral and...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (7 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I would like to take this opportunity to express again my deepest sympathy to the family of the person mentioned by the Deputy. I can assure the Deputy that our Embassy in Ankara and the Consular Division in Dublin provided extensive consular assistance to the family involved. Embassy staff were available at all times to support the family concerned from their arrival in Turkey. Embassy staff...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Scheme of Performance-Related Pay Awards in the Civil Service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. It does not apply to Secretaries General. The following table sets out the amounts paid for the years 2005 to 2007, inclusive. Year Total Amount Number of staff to whom awards were made 2005 €532,000 46 2006 €609,000 45 2007 €656,000 48 These payments...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (7 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: A number of programmes operating in my Department provide funding to community and voluntary sector organisations: the Reconciliation Fund for North-South and Anglo-Irish Co-operation; the Emigrant Support Programme; the Communicating Europe Initiative and the Irish Aid programme, Ireland's programme of official development assistance. Funding under these programmes is provided on an annual...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 to 220, inclusive, together. I have set out, in tabular form, figures for entertainment incurred by my Department in Ireland. As requested by the Deputy, the figures have been presented to reflect the period prior to, and since, the most recent Cabinet changes. In the time available, it has not been possible to provide a breakdown of the overall figures in...