Results 6,321-6,340 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my replies to Priority Question No. 5 and Question No. 42 today, in which I dealt with relations with the new Israeli Government and our expectations of it. I have no immediate plans for a meeting with Foreign Minister Lieberman, although the next meeting of the EU-Israel Association Council on 18 May might provide such an opportunity. However, I look forward to...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the relationship between the Russian Federation and Georgia was seriously affected by the conflict which broke out on 7-8 August 2008 in the Georgian separatist region of South Ossetia and by the decision by the Russian Federation to recognise the separatist regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. Direct contacts have been limited since that...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has long been notorious for gross human rights violations it has committed in its insurrection against the Government of Uganda over the last two decades, including murder, abduction, sexual enslavement, mutilation and kidnapping of young children to use as fighters. Several leading LRA figures, including its leader, Joseph Kony, have been indicted by the...

Written Answers — US Foreign Policy: US Foreign Policy (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government welcomes the strong indications from the Obama Administration of its intention to engage with the international community, and to work co-operatively to address a range of issues of concern to countries around the world. Both President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton have made clear their readiness to bring a fresh perspective to many of the issues on the international...

Written Answers — Indian Elections: Indian Elections (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: Elections are currently under way in India, the world's largest democracy. With 700 million Indians eligible to vote (including some 43 million who will be voting for the first time), this will be the largest electoral exercise ever undertaken in any country. Given the scale of India and the size of the electorate, the elections are taking place in five phases. The first of these took...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government strongly supports the process of developing strict controls on arms and works actively to promote the objective of strengthening arms controls globally, particularly to areas of concern such as the Middle East. The Programme for Government commits us to supporting a binding and comprehensive global treaty on the arms trade, covering all weapons and ammunition. To this end,...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The political situation in Zimbabwe remains fragile, despite the formation of a power-sharing government in February involving President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). This new Government faces enormous challenges in delivering real progress for the people of Zimbabwe, including securing political freedoms, a return to the rule of law and...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 50 and 52 together. As stated on many occasions in this House, most recently on 24 March and 22 April, I remain deeply concerned about the on-going conflict in Sri Lanka and in particular about the grave humanitarian situation there. Thanks to the efforts of the UN Secretary General and the Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs, the Government...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 58, 59, 148 and 149 together. In the wake of the conflict in Gaza and the ceasefires of 18 January, progress is urgently needed on a number of fronts both to relieve the effects of the conflict and to try and ensure it is not repeated. Firstly, it is frankly unacceptable that three months after the conflict we are still not seeing full and unimpeded access...

Written Answers — Treaty of Lisbon: Treaty of Lisbon (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: To date, twenty-three Member States have ratified the Treaty of Lisbon. Ireland is among the four Member States not to have done so. The others are Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. Of these, Germany and Poland have both completed their parliamentary procedures. Germany is awaiting the outcome of a legal challenge to the compatibility of the Treaty with its Constitution. The decision...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I remain deeply concerned by the situation in Tibet, the ongoing security operations there, the treatment of demonstrators arrested during protests in March 2008 and since, the wider human rights situation and issues relating to the preservation of the religious and cultural identity of Tibetans. This year marks the 60th anniversary of events leading to the departure of the Dalai Lama from...

Written Answers — EU Council Meetings: EU Council Meetings (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The most recent General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) took place in Brussels on 16 March 2009. The Council focussed on preparations for the Spring European Council. The agenda also featured the European Economic Recovery Plan (EERP), the Western Balkans, Belarus, Afghanistan, Sudan and EU-US relations. The Council examined proposals for spending €5 billion on energy...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland established diplomatic relations with Venezuela on 29 November 1980 and is accredited on a non-residential basis through our Ambassador to Mexico. Ambassador Dermot Brangan presented his credentials to the then Venezuelan Vice President, Mr Jose Vicente Rangel, in Caracas on 8 May 2006. On 13 January 2009, Dr. Samuel Moncada, Ambassador of Venezuela in London, who is also accredited...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I attach the highest importance to the work of Ireland's Embassies and Consulates in promoting Ireland as a trading partner and as a location for foreign investment. In the context of the current economic crisis, this work is more important than ever. In order to give greater support to Embassies and Consulates in the promotion of the Irish economy in January 2009 a special unit was...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Programme for Government includes a commitment to support "a binding and comprehensive global treaty on the trade of arms, covering all weapons and ammunition...". In line with this undertaking, I am working hard to bring this about. At the United Nations, Ireland has been actively promoting the proposal for an Arms Trade Treaty to secure agreement on common international standards for...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I visited New York and Washington over the period from 15 to 18 March. On St. Patrick's Day I accompanied the Taoiseach at his meeting with President Obama at the White House, and at other engagements. The meeting offered an invaluable opportunity for a broad exchange of views with the President and his team at the start of the new Administration. The discussions with President Obama...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: Croatia hopes to conclude its accession negotiations in 2009. The European Commission has produced a road map for their conclusion, but this depends on Croatia making the required progress on the outstanding issues. These include privatising shipyards; judicial reform; organised crime; minority rights; and cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY)....

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, on 22 January, President Obama issued an Executive Order announcing that the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay should close within one year, which I warmly welcomed at the time. The US has sought the support and assistance of EU partners in bringing about its closure. Work is proceeding at the EU level for a co-ordinated approach on the issue. The Presidency...

Written Answers — Foreign Policy: Foreign Policy (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The recent presidential and legislative elections in El Salvador were observed by a European Union Election Observation Mission, which included two Irish participants. The Observation Mission indicated that the 'electoral process was transparent and there were no relevant irregularities, enabling an outcome which reflects the will of the Salvadorian people'. I welcome the affirmation of the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The commitment to develop a joint parliamentary forum, which would bring together members from the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly, is contained in both the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements. In July 2007, at the first meeting of the North South Ministerial Council following restoration of the Institutions, the Council "recognised that any development of a joint parliamentary...