Results 6,561-6,580 of 50,136 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: It is important we engage with people who voted "No" the last time. It is important we acknowledge the points raised by those who voted "No". The guarantees we have secured do that in a comprehensive way. We must reach out to and engage with people to make progress on the big picture. The big picture is the economic situation. People may not realise it, but the Lisbon treaty is the...

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Tairgim leasú a a1: I leathanach 9, línte 10 agus 11, "ar acquis Schengen arna chomhtháthú isteach" a scriosadh agus "maidir le acquis Schengen arna lánpháirtiú" a chur isteach. I move amendment No. a1: In page 8, lines 10 and 11, to delete "ar acquis Schengen arna chomhtháthú isteach" and insert "maidir le acquis Schengen arna lánpháirtiú". I wish to make a general comment on the...

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Tairgim leasú a 1: I leathanach 11, líne 14, "by" a scriosadh. I move amendment No. 1: In page 10, line 14, to delete "by". Aontaíodh an leasú.

Twenty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Treaty of Lisbon) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Tairgim leasú a 2: I leathanach 11, líne 17, "by" a scriosadh. I move amendment No. 2: In page 10, line 17, to delete "by". Aontaíodh an leasú. Amendment agreed to Aontaíodh an Sceideal mar a leasaíodh.

Statement for Information of Voters: Motion (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Tairgim: "GO ndéanfar an ráiteas atá leagtha amach sa Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Rún seo a fhorordú mar fhaisnéis do vótálaithe de bhun alt 23 d'Acht an Reifrinn 1994 (Uimh.12 de 1994), i ndáil leis an togra chun Airteagal 29 den Bhunreacht a leasú, atá ar áireamh sa Bhille um an Ochtú Leasú is Fiche ar an mBunreacht (Conradh Liospóin) 2009, agus is ábhar do reifreann bunreachta.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: There are a number of proposals, in Congress, and from the Administration, for measures to address the use of tax havens by individuals or companies. Ireland is not considered a tax haven and proposals in this area should not be a threat to our interests. Nonetheless, the Embassy in Washington is closely following developments in this regard and promoting awareness among policy-makers that...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (8 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. During that visit we also had useful...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Advertising undertaken by my Department typically includes; advisory notices on public opening hours over holiday periods, changes in passport application procedures and fees, and public information notices relating to significant developments in the European Union or in regard to Ireland's Official Development Assistance programme, Irish Aid. While much of this material is now placed on the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 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 Solicitors 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 (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has offices in Dublin city centre, Balbriggan, Limerick and Cork. It also maintains a network of Missions abroad. My Department does not have any offices in County Louth, nor does it employ any staff at locations in that county.

Written Answers — Public Service Review: Public Service Review (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: My Department made a detailed submission to the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, chaired by Mr. Colm McCarthy, in February of this year, as requested by the Department of Finance. This submission covered my Department's two Votes: Foreign Affairs (Vote 28) and Irish Aid (Vote 29). The format of the submission was in line with a template provided by the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: While international attention on Iran in recent years has related primarily on the nuclear issue, the Government and the Oireachtas have also been anxious to retain a focus on the deteriorating position of human rights in that country. I have had numerous occasions to discuss these issues in the Oireachtas, in relation to such issues as the use of the death penalty, treatment of minor...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: To date, nine members of staff of my Department have submitted applications under the Incentivised Early Retirement Scheme. Of these applications, seven have been approved and decisions are pending on the remaining two. 25 staff have applied to participate in the Special Career Break Incentive Scheme. Twelve of those applications have been approved and thirteen are currently being...

Written Answers — Bilateral Agreements: Bilateral Agreements (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 577 and 578 together. The Comprehensive Study on the All-Island Economy, launched by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in October 2006, provided a comprehensive analysis of the opportunities and challenges in strengthening North/South economic cooperation. Designed to provide momentum for a new phase of...

Written Answers — Good Friday Agreement: Good Friday Agreement (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The North South Ministerial Council has been particularly active in the period since my appointment as Minster for Foreign Affairs in May 2008. There have been two successful Plenary meetings of the Council already this year: in January in Derry and most recently at Farmleigh on 6 July. The meeting in Farmleigh was our fourth NSMC Plenary meeting since restoration of the Northern Ireland...

Written Answers — Sudanese Abductions: Sudanese Abductions (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 580 and 590 together. My Department became aware late on Friday night (3 July) of the abduction of the person mentioned by the Deputy, an Irish aid worker with Goal in Sudan. She and her Ugandan colleague, along with their Sudanese security guards, were kidnapped by armed men from a compound in Kutum, which is 120km from the state capital. My Department was in...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Minister of State at my Department with responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D., met the Foreign Minister of Iceland, Mr. Ossur Skarphédinsson, on 18 May, to discuss the issue of Iceland's prospective application for EU membership. The Icelandic Ambassador accredited to Ireland has briefed officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs on the matter and the issue has...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform has primary responsibility for visa and immigration issues. There is a dedicated visa office in New Delhi staffed by experienced officials from the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform who have full decision making powers for all visa types including visa appeals. I am not aware of any difficulties that Indian citizens have in...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's Ambassador to Uzbekistan is based in Moscow and our bilateral relations are limited in scope. The issue of the treatment of Christians in Uzbekistan has not been one that has arisen between the two countries, although Ireland has been one of a number of countries in the EU to express serious concerns about the general human rights situation in Uzbekistan, in particular following the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the work of the Church in Chains organisation and of their quarterly and other publications on the situation of persecuted Christians around the world. Arising from correspondence I had with the National Co-ordinator of the organisation earlier in the year, I arranged for officials from the Department's Human Rights Unit to meet with representatives of Church in Chains. This...