Results 6,541-6,560 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (2 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government attaches the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. We have emphasised our strong support for the undocumented in all our engagements with the US Administration and Congress, including during meetings with President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton in Washington this March. Earlier this week, the Taoiseach and I...

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

Micheál Martin: The table sets out the costs relating to my official mobile telephony service since I was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in May 2008. Rental/ Subscription Calls Roaming Data Totals 2008 €239 €813 €140 €27 €1,219 2009 to Date €365 n/a n/a n/a €365 My Department avails of the Department of Finance Central Framework for the provision of mobile telephony services....

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

Micheál Martin: In the past five years my Department has taken one court case. This case was taken in 2005, in Stockholm, against a planning permission which had been granted to develop the attic space of a building, which contained an Embassy property owned by the State. The Department initiated an appeal against this planning permission to the Stockholm Rent Tribunal (part of the Swedish court system). The...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government attaches the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. We have emphasised our strong support for the undocumented in all our engagements with the US Administration and Congress, including during meetings with President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton in Washington this March. The Taoiseach and I held extensive...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The formation of a unity government in Zimbabwe in February was far from being a solution to Zimbabwe's problems, but was nonetheless a sign of some limited progress in the political process. Five months on, despite some improvements in the situation on the ground in Zimbabwe, notably in curbing hyperinflation and adopting the South African rand as the reference currency, the political...

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

Micheál Martin: In the past three years my Department has rented office space in one building in Dublin, the ground floor of Hospitality House, Cumberland Street, Dublin 2 at a cost of €144,900 per annum. All other rent commitments relating to properties in the State occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs are discharged by the Office of Public Works. The number of properties rented abroad for use...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: I was very concerned to learn of the Israeli naval seizure of the Gaza-bound Spirit of Humanity on 30 June and the arrest and detention of the two Irish citizens – Mairead Maguire and Derek Graham – on board the vessel. The priority for my Department has been to ensure the safety and well-being of Ms. Maguire and Mr. Graham and to secure their prompt release. To that end, we have been in...

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

Micheál Martin: Delegates' Allowance is only paid to officers who are serving as a member of a delegation representing Ireland at a meeting of the European Union or other International Organisation overseas. Chairperson's Allowance is a form of delegates allowance and is paid to officers who chair such international meetings. Delegate's Allowance can be paid for up to four nights away in any seven-day...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: From 2005 to date, my Department has used one non-Irish based printer for a significant contract which was procured on its behalf by the Government Supplies Agency (GSA). The details are as follows: Company Contract award date Quantity/Description Cost € Graficas Jomagar S.L. (Madrid, Spain) 28 November, 2006 1,750,000 copies of Mini White Paper on Irish Aid €114,546 The Department's...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Details of the numbers of passports reported in 2008 and for the first half of 2009 as lost or stolen are set out in the table. My Department does not retain statistics as to whether the loss or theft occurred in Ireland or overseas. Year Total passports issued Reported lost Reported stolen Total reported lost or stolen % of total issued 2008 577,000 31,262 5,002 36,264 6.3% 2009 to 30...

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Tairgim: "Go léifear an Bille an Dara hUair anois." I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." It is an honour for me to introduce this Bill. Its purpose is to provide for the holding of a referendum on 2 October 2009, which would allow the people to vote on the Lisbon treaty. The people voted last June not to ratify the Treaty of Lisbon, by 53.4% to 46.6%. The turn out was 53%....

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: That would be wise. I apologise.

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: We are not allowed BlackBerrys in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Perhaps I will remove the stapler as well. It has been causing me immense grief. The Heads of State and Government agreed that the legal guarantees will be set out in a protocol to the Treaty on European Union and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union at the time of the conclusion of the next accession treaty, which will probably be in 2010 or 2011. As a protocol, the legal...

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: I thank all Deputies for their contributions to today's debate. By and large it was constructive and I will endeavour to respond to a number of issues that Members raised. To cut to the chase, Deputy Ó Snodaigh raised a number of points that need to be dealt with quickly. He put forward the idea that we had negotiated a behind the scenes deal which would mean having a commissioner for...

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: If one votes "No" this time we will lose our commissioner. I will quote from the Council's conclusions which state: Having carefully noted the concerns of the Irish people as set out by the Taoiseach, the European Council, at its meeting of 11-12 December 2008, agreed that, provided the Treaty of Lisbon enters into force, a decision would be taken, in accordance with the necessary legal...

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: We have negotiated and now we can.

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: That is a product of the campaign and I acknowledge it.

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The bottom line is that it would be honest of Deputy Ó Snodaigh to acknowledge it.

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: A "Yes" vote will enable us and every other member state to retain a commissioner. The package we are putting forward will also include legally binding guarantees on ethical issues, taxation and our traditional policy of military neutrality. Those who were concerned about those issues last year can be completely reassured by the guarantees we have secured. The commitments and legal...