Results 6,361-6,380 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: There are four bodies operating under the responsibility of my Department: three Advisory Committees and one Educational Commission. The Development Education Advisory Committee was established in 2003 following the recommendations of the Ireland Aid Review Committee. Its purpose is to advise the Minister, Minister of State and Irish Aid on development education policy. The members serve in a...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes: Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Development). Details of reports commissioned by my Department in the past five years are set out as follows. It should be noted that in addition to the reports detailed as follows, my Department produces an Annual Report. It is no longer published in hard copy but, instead,...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (6 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 387 together. In common with most Member States of the UN, and all EU partners, Ireland adheres to a one-China policy, recognising the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China. We therefore do not support Taiwanese membership of organisations where statehood is a prerequisite for membership, and take the...

Written Answers — Departmental Committees: Departmental Committees (6 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: Among the Action Points included in the Government's Framework for Economic Renewal, launched by the Taoiseach in December, is the establishment of a consultative mechanism with public and private sector representatives to advise on issues related to the economic work of Embassies. The first consultative meeting, which I chaired, took place on Wednesday 29 April in Iveagh House. I intend to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The current authorised number of staff in the Department of Foreign Affairs is 1578. Irish Embassies, Consulates General, and Permanent Representations abroad are headed by members of staff of my Department. At present, there are 73 staff serving as Heads of Mission abroad. These staff are generally officers from the Deputy Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Counsellor and First Secretary...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, Government Departments do not pay for the legal services provided by the Office of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitor's Office or for advice from Counsel briefed by them. My Department has a Legal Division, staffed by qualified legal professionals who provide legal advice on a wide range of international legal issues. Having such 'in-house' legal...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to the provision of a quality customer service. All staff are made aware at induction and other training sessions of the need to maintain a high standard in dealing with customers, both at Headquarters and in our Embassies and Consulates abroad. From the general public's perspective, the most familiar aspect of the Department's work is...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (6 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The processing of applications for citizenship through Foreign Births Registration is an important function of Irish Missions abroad. The majority of applications tend to be lodged with Missions in countries which in the past received large numbers of Irish emigrants. While the vast bulk of applications are lodged in our Missions in the United States, Great Britain and Australia, our Embassy...

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

Micheál Martin: No civil servants were dismissed from my Department during the period in question. However, the Deputy may wish to note that, during this period, the Department initiated disciplinary proceedings in a very small number of cases where serious misconduct was alleged. In the cases concerned, the relevant officers resigned from the Civil Service before the disciplinary process was completed.

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Office has no record of an application from the person in question. He has since advised the Passport Office that he is not an Irish citizen and that he made an application for citizenship through naturalisation in August 2008. This is a matter therefore for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (12 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: My Department does not engage consultants to act as lobbyists on its behalf. However, on occasion, consultants engaged by my Department do engage in activity outside the State. For example, in 2007, KPMG were commissioned to undertake a Value for Money Review of the Irish Passport Service. In assessing efficiency and effectiveness, the review used the services operated in Denmark, the...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (12 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: Details of all Bills brought forward by my Department since 2004 and subsequently enacted, are listed in tabular form below, with an indication of whether they were drafted and passed to give effect to an EU Directive. It should be noted that in 2009 to date, no legislation has been brought forward by my Department. As the Deputy will be aware, more detailed information on all pieces of...

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

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be aware that the events which resulted in the tragic deaths of very large numbers of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire more than ninety years ago continue to affect relations between Turkey and Armenia, whose historical interpretations of these events diverge sharply. The Turkish Government has proposed the establishment of a joint commission, composed of eminent academics, to...

Order of Business (20 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: That is out of order.

Order of Business (20 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: It is out of order.

Order of Business (20 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: There is only one acute newspaper in Cork.

Order of Business (20 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: That is south Kerry flattery.

Order of Business (20 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: That is wrong. It meant a great deal to those people.

Order of Business (20 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should check his Government's record. His Government would not do it.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (21 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: As stated on many occasions in this House, most recently on 23 April, I remain deeply concerned about the situation in Sri Lanka and in particular about the grave humanitarian crisis that is taking place there. I fully endorse the conclusions of Monday's EU External Relations Council, which stated that "the EU … is appalled by the loss of innocent lives as a result of the conflict and by the...