Results 6,881-6,900 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: On 29 November, Presidential elections took place in Honduras. The centre-right National Party candidate, Porfirio Lobo, was declared the winner with approximately 55% of the vote and will take office on 17 January. These elections took place against the backdrop of the ongoing military coup, which saw President Manuel Zelaya forcibly transported to Costa Rica on 28 June and Roberto...

Written Answers — Global Irish Economic Forum: Global Irish Economic Forum (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: One of the main objectives of the Global Irish Economic Forum was to examine ways in which Ireland and its global community could develop a more strategic relationship with each other, particularly in the economic sector. A key recommendation of the subsequent Report of the Forum, published by the Government on 13 October, was the establishment of a new Global Irish Network. This initiative...

Written Answers — Nuclear Proliferation: Nuclear Proliferation (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 52 and 269 together. I am deeply concerned by the Iranian Government's announcement on 29 November that it intends to build ten new uranium enrichment plants, in a major extension of Iran's nuclear programme. This is especially disappointing given the high level of engagement on the part of the E3+3, the EU generally and the International Atomic Energy...

Written Answers — International Relations: International Relations (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: The establishment of the Irish American Leadership Council is one of the central recommendations of the Ireland-U.S. Strategic Review, which was launched by the Taoiseach in March. The Irish-U.S. relationship is of enormous importance and benefit to both countries. The Taoiseach believed that we needed to take a fresh look at how we are managing our relationship with the US and our community...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 61, 69, 70, 257 and 272 together. In relation to my intended visit to Gaza, I refer Deputies to my reply to Priority Question 31 earlier today. The reasons why this visit could not go ahead is that I was refused access to Gaza, a key component of the visit. I fully intend to renew in due course my request to visit Gaza. The effect of the Israeli...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 77 and 273 together. The situation in Afghanistan remains difficult and fragile. The security situation has deteriorated further this year, with more casualties among the international forces there since the intervention began in 2001. The Taliban have retaken some areas from which they had previously been driven out. Narcotics production and trafficking...

Written Answers — International Relations: International Relations (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I have engaged with the Obama Administration over the last eleven months across a range of foreign policy issues. The Administration has taken courageous initiatives with a view to facilitating progress on key global challenges such as disarmament, non-proliferation and climate change and towards the resolution of some of the world's most intractable conflicts, such as the Middle East peace...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 63 together. As indicated in my response to Question No. 101 of 18 November, the Government continues to liaise closely with British Government counterparts to encourage the parties in Northern Ireland to complete the transfer of policing and justice powers as soon as possible. In this connection, my own contacts with Secretary of State Woodward, those...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I would propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 245 together. The position of Dean of the diplomatic corps is a ceremonial one. The Dean leads and represents the diplomatic corps on certain State occasions. The longstanding practice whereby the Papal Nuncio assumes the position of Dean of the diplomatic corps is in full accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: The formal framework for discussion of North/South issues with the Northern Ireland Executive is the North South Ministerial Council, established under Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement. Together with the Taoiseach and a number of Cabinet colleagues, I most recently attended a plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Limavady on 14 December 2009. The Northern...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: In a referendum held on 29 November the Swiss people voted in favour of a proposal to ban the further construction of minarets. The Swiss Government and a majority of the Swiss Parliament had opposed the ban, which does not affect the four existing minarets in Switzerland. Nor does it represent a ban on the further construction of mosques, of which there are currently some 150 in the country....

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 65 together. I am aware of the case of Ms. Arminatou Haidar, a human rights activist from Western Sahara who has been on hunger strike at Lanzarote Airport in the Canary Islands since mid-November. I understand that Ms. Haidar was returned against her will to Spain after she landed at Laayoune Airport on 14 November and was denied access to Morocco,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 271 together. The persistence of the conflict in Darfur, albeit at a lower level than the intense violence of 2003-2004, and the ongoing suffering of the people in the region is matter of grave concern. In March of this year, we became seriously concerned for the humanitarian situation after the Sudanese Government expelled thirteen international aid...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58, 62 and 75 together. I strongly condemn the bombings and violence in Baghdad last week which resulted in an estimated 127 people being killed and some 450 injured. This violence represents a clear attempt to create further instability and undo the slow, if discernible, progress towards establishing improved security and strengthening the democratic system...

Written Answers — European Policy: European Policy (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: The European Union is a project whose historic scale and importance allows us to look towards developments in the decades to come with a confidence based on its achievements over the past half-century in building peace and prosperity in Europe. On 9 May next year we will mark the sixtieth anniversary of the Schumann Declaration which has been called Europe's birth certificate. In the depths...

Written Answers — Climate Change Conference: Climate Change Conference (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: Preparation for the ongoing United Nations Climate Change Conference Summit has required sustained input and coordination involving a number of Government Ministers and Departments. Climate change involves global challenges that can only be met through non-traditional diplomacy. Scientific, political, development, energy and other responses have to be combined in a coherent way. I and my...

Written Answers — Climate Change Conference: Climate Change Conference (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the negotiations in Copenhagen are ongoing. For the first week and the beginning of this week, negotiations have been conducted very much at a technical level, and the situation remains very fluid. It is anticipated that the Taoiseach will join over 100 other Heads of State and Government at the High Level Segment of the conference in the next few days. The EU...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government is greatly concerned by recent events in the Republic of Guinea, notably the violent crackdown by security forces on political demonstrations in Conakry on 28 September 2009. There, the armed forces opened fire on a crowd of unarmed protestors, killing 150 and injuring over a thousand. In the days following, there were reports of widespread rape and looting by soldiers. The...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 258 together. Finding a solution for our undocumented citizens in the US continues to be a high priority of this Government. We are also committed to developing our bilateral migration arrangements with the United States, through the establishment of a reciprocal two year renewable visa scheme known as the E3 visa. In discussions with US Secretary of...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 270 together. The situation in Somalia is of extreme concern, as the country has been without an effective government since 1991. Since it was established in 2004, the UN-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) has made little headway in establishing effective control over the country's territory and restoring peace and stability. Continuous...