Results 6,421-6,440 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Military Neutrality: Military Neutrality (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The arrangements in place regarding the use of Shannon by the US military are long-standing arrangements which have been in place for decades and are not specific to the current situation in relation to Iraq. The Deputy will be aware that a resolution to continue to make the Shannon facilities available was approved by the Dáil in March 2003. I would further point out that the present US...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: Jacob Zuma was elected President of South Africa by the country's parliament on 6 May, following a general election in which Mr. Zuma's African National Congress won more than 66% of the vote. Mr. Zuma becomes the fourth President of South Africa since the transition to democracy following the end of the apartheid regime. On behalf of the people of Ireland, President McAleese has written to...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (28 May 2009)

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

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware, the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is working to create the appropriate legislative, policy and administrative frameworks that will ensure a well regulated regime of adoption, the aim of which is to support and protect prospective parents and, more importantly, the children for whom adoption services are devised and provided. In addition, the...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 63 together. The military offensive against the Taliban, which re-opened in the Swat area of Pakistan at the start of May, is continuing. It follows the breakdown in a ceasefire agreement with local militants which had allowed for the introduction of sharia law in the Malakand district to which Swat belongs. Real concern had been expressed, both in...

Written Answers — Lisbon Treaty Referendum: Lisbon Treaty Referendum (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 72 together. The Government is working with the other Member States and the EU institutions to finalise the texts of the legal guarantees which the European Council agreed in December should be given to Ireland. Specifically, we are finalising texts in the areas of taxation, defence and the provisions of the Constitution on the right to life, education...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Jammu and Kashmir continues to be fragile, despite improvements following the State elections in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir in December 2008. I very much welcome the fact that these elections took place in a generally peaceful atmosphere. The elections resulted in the victory of the National Conference Party and the swearing-in of Omar Abdullah as Chief Minister...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: Together with its EU partners, Ireland attaches considerable importance to achieving stability in the countries of the Western Balkans, which the European Council, meeting in Thessaloniki in 2003, recognised as having a perspective towards EU membership. The European Union's Stabilisation and Association (SAA) process provides the framework for co-operation on economic, political and legal...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Nepal has deteriorated since I last replied to a Parliamentary Question on Nepal on 27 January. The situation has been especially tense since the decision by the former Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal (or " Prachanda"), to dismiss the Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Gen. Rookmangood Katawal, on 3 May over a disagreement regarding the integration of former Maoist...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 71 together. During the course of the military operations in Gaza in December and January, I strongly and consistently condemned the use of disproportionate military force in the heavily populated area of Gaza, which carried with it a very high risk, indeed almost a certainty, of high civilian casualties. This was tragically proven to be the case. I...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70, 146 and 147 together. Unfortunately, no part of the world is totally free from human rights abuses. As has been stated on previous occasions, in response to similar Questions, it is not the policy of the Government to draw up a 'league table' of countries deemed guilty of the most serious human rights abuses. Human rights concerns remain central to our...

Written Answers — Good Friday Agreement: Good Friday Agreement (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: Arising from the Good Friday Agreement of 1998, six North/South Implementation Bodies and Tourism Ireland were established. These Bodies play a significant role in taking forward North/South co-operation on the island. The North/South Bodies are jointly funded by the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. Funding from each jurisdiction is provided on an agreed proportionate basis...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is slowly recovering from the effects of the brutal civil war which lasted from 1996 to 2003. While much of the country now enjoys a degree of stability, I remain deeply concerned by the situation in the east of the country. Renewed heavy fighting broke out in North Kivu in August 2008 between the Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple (CNDP)...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The international community has demonstrated real commitment to combat HIV and AIDS and its consequences through a number of high profile agreements that include the Millennium Development Goals universally supported in 2000, the commitment signed by 189 UN Member States following the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV and AIDS in 2001, and the special commitment made in...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: Together with its EU partners, Ireland attaches considerable importance to achieving stability in the countries of the Western Balkans, which were recognised as having a perspective towards EU membership by the European Council at Thessaloniki in 2003. The efforts made by the countries of the region to meet the criteria for membership of the EU have varied. While the future prospect of EU...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has a network of 75 resident diplomatic and consular Missions abroad, as well as the British-Irish Inter-Governmental Secretariat in Belfast and the North-South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat in Armagh. While the opening of new Embassies abroad is considered by the Government on an ongoing basis, any expansion of our diplomatic network can, as I am sure the Deputy will...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together. The situation in Sudan continues to be a focus of considerable international concern with attention centring on the resolution of the ongoing conflict in Darfur, support for the Comprehensive Peace Agreement which ended the north-south civil war, and efforts to address the consequences of the Sudanese Government's decision in March to...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (28 May 2009)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Chad has long been characterised by north-south tensions, and since 2002 the stability of the country has been threatened by armed rebellion against the government of President Idriss Déby. While the government signed an accord with civilian opposition parties in 2007, providing for a degree of political reform, armed rebel groups have remained active and intent on...

Leaders' Questions (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Gilmore should check what happened in 1985.

Leaders' Questions (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Gilmore should check the Labour Party representation in 1985 on Dublin City Council.