Results 6,961-6,980 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

European Council Meeting: Statements (20 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: The fiscal stimulus and banking supports are two different pillars.

European Council Meeting: Statements (20 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: That is useful. I thank Members for their wide-ranging contributions. In terms of the comments made by Deputy Timmins on Haiti and by other the colleagues in the House, we will discuss this situation in greater detail tomorrow. However, I take this opportunity to express our deepest sympathies and extend our heartfelt condolences to the people of Haiti and to all those affected by the...

European Council Meeting: Statements (20 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: That is a very important point.

European Council Meeting: Statements (20 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am sorry.

European Council Meeting: Statements (20 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: I agree with Deputy Timmins. In fact, I have already suggested such a system to Irish Aid. It is difficult because it is a free world and any agency can say it wants to provide assistance. However, in a major catastrophe such as this there should be one fund - in this case, one Haiti trust fund - to which people can contribute, perhaps with Irish Aid deciding how the money is deployed by...

European Council Meeting: Statements (20 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: To be fair to them, some of our key NGOs combine a thematic approach with certain geographical strengths.

European Council Meeting: Statements (20 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: Yes. I take the Deputy's point. There is one airport in Haiti which, as we know, is severely limited in use. There is a genuine effort all around and everyone, including President Obama, the US Secretary of State, Mrs. Clinton, and the European Union, has come together to deal with the disaster as quickly and effectively as possible. What is important is to deal with the immediate...

European Council Meeting: Statements (20 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: I will mention some items not covered by the Taoiseach in his opening speech, namely the conclusions on Iran and Afghanistan, which I will share with Members. Following prior agreement at the Foreign Affairs Council on 8 December, the European Council approved a declaration on Iran which called for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear question, set out the European Union's grave...

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (20 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department currently provides six websites, including a number of sites newly established in 2009 for which the total set up costs have been included. Website Annual Cost of Maintaining Site No of Unique Visits for 2009 Department of Foreign Affairs family of website including 68 Embassy websites and the passport application tracking site €72,120 2,114,675 Irish Aid family of...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (20 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Office informs me that to date no application has been received in respect of the passport holder, whose current passport has expired. The applicant should make immediate contact with the Consulate General of Ireland, New York at + 1 212 319 2555 who have been made aware of the matter.

Written Answers — Lost Property: Lost Property (20 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am informed that the wallet of the person mentioned was lost in France June in 2009. The wallet was subsequently handed in to the French police and forwarded to the Embassy in Paris so that it could be returned to the owner. The Embassy forwarded the wallet to the Department of Foreign Affairs HQ in Dublin but, most regrettably, it would appear that it was mislaid sometime after receipt...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (20 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: I share the Deputy's concern at the sequence of events which led to members of the Garda Síochána recovering a quantity of explosive material which had inadvertently been brought into Ireland in the luggage of a passenger who had flown into Dublin from the Slovak Republic on 2 January. My colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, has asked the Garda Commissioner for a...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (21 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). The following tables set out, for both Votes, the details of reports commissioned by the Department in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and the costs in each case. There were 4 reports on the EU which I requested the department to undertake prior to and post the Lisbon...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (21 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Passports Act 2008 requires that before issuing a passport to a person, the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be satisfied that that person is an Irish citizen. Proofs of identity and entitlement to citizenship are required in respect of all passport applications. These requirements are outlined in the passport application form notes that accompany each application form. Details are...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (21 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are no such inquiries under way. The only such inquiry for which my Department had responsibility during the last ten years was the investigation by Mr. Justice Peter Cory, a retired judge of the Canadian Supreme Court, of allegations of collusion in the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan, Patrick Finucane, Lord Justice and Lady Gibson, Robert...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (21 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are no state agencies operating under the responsibility of my Department. There are currently three bodies, which operate under the aegis of my Department: the Development Education Advisory Committee; the Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as Díon); and the Fulbright Commission (The Board of the Ireland – United States Commission for Educational...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are no state agencies operating under the responsibility of my Department. There are two Advisory Committees and one Educational Commission, which operate under the aegis of my Department. 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...

Written Answers — International Money Laundering: International Money Laundering (26 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the reports to which the Deputy refers. There are widespread allegations relating to North Korea's financial arrangements abroad and to possible money-laundering activities. The allegations made in these reports are even more regrettable in the context of the plight of ordinary people in North Korea. While the North Korean regime continues to invest precious resources in its...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (26 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: As I stated previously in my reply of 19 January, I am aware of the case of Dr. Sadok Shourou, who was re-arrested on 3 December 2008, shortly after serving nearly 18 years of a 30 year sentence for his leadership of an Islamist group allegedly attempting to overthrow the Tunisian government. I understand that Dr. Shourou was arrested for the second time on foot of comments he had made...

Written Answers — Capital Projects: Capital Projects (26 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will appreciate, my Department does not engage in significant capital expenditure in the State. Most of the relatively small amount of capital expenditure undertaken by my Department is on the renovation or purchase of properties, both in Ireland and abroad. In Ireland in 2010, there is one renovation project being undertaken where an additional floor of the Passport office...