Results 6,981-7,000 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Foreign Property: Foreign Property (26 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: I refer to my response to PQ no 1221/10 on the issue of Irish investors who are experiencing difficulties with their investments in Turkish property. I am aware of a number of similar cases to the one outlined and in this regard I recently wrote to my counterpart, the Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs, to raise my concerns regarding the problems experienced by Irish citizens with their...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (26 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Administrative Budget available to my Department in 2010 is some €10million less than in 2009. Some of the necessary savings will fall on headquarters activities but savings and efficiencies in running our embassies and consular offices will also be implemented in 2010. The details of the reductions are currently being worked through but there will be reductions in all areas of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are a number of different schemes operating in my department which administer grant funding: the Reconciliation Fund for North-South and Anglo-Irish Co-operation; the Anti-Sectarianism Fund; the Emigrant Support Programme; the Communicating Europe Initiative; and the Irish Aid programme, Ireland's programme of official development assistance. In addition to this there are a number of...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (26 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: As indicated in my reply to your question number 94019, on Thursday 17th December, 2009, the person in question submitted his application for a passport having lost his first Irish passport and the vital documents which provide evidence of his citizenship. Section 7 of the Passports Act 2008 requires that before issuing a passport to a person, the Minister shall be satisfied that the person...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (26 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: At the outset, I wish to advise the Deputy that I am informed that Consular assistance was not sought from my Department, either through the Consular Assistance Section in Dublin or our Consulate in Boston by the person, or his family, mentioned by the Deputy. Our Missions overseas provide a wide range of practical assistance where Irish citizens experience serious illness or are...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: The following table gives details of the number of staff in my Department in each of the grades concerned on 1 December 2002, 1 January 2007 and 1 January 2010. We have also included a number of Departmental and specialist grades. The figures include officers from other Government Departments serving in our missions abroad, most notably, Ireland's Permanent Representation to the EU in...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (27 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Government has built strong links with China, and last year celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations. China is a priority country under the Government's Asia Strategy, which was established in 1999 to develop closer economic and political relations with certain countries in the Asian region. Since the Asia Strategy was launched, there has been a significant increase in...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: The following table gives the number of days leave granted to civil servants in my Department in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in respect of trade union business, in line with established practice. Year Number of days 2007 22.5 2008 17.5 2009 14

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: The following are the details requested by the Deputy in respect of 2009: Union Amount of subscriptions collected in 2009 Association of Assistant Secretaries and Higher Grades (A.A.S.H.G.) â'¬7,802.88 Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (AHCPS) â'¬110,348.84 Civil and Public Services Union (CPSU) â'¬147,588.76 IMPACT inc. Federated Government Employees (FGE)...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (2 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Global Irish Economic Forum was convened by the Government with two broad objectives: to explore how the Irish at home and abroad, and those with a strong interest in Ireland, could work together and contribute to our overall efforts at economic recovery; and to examine ways in which Ireland and its global community could develop a more strategic relationship with each other, particularly...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (2 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I met with the Papal Nuncio, H.E. Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, on Tuesday 8 December to discuss the report of the Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation and the issue of the cooperation received by the Commission from the Holy See and successive Papal Nuncios as it carried out its investigations. At this meeting, I emphasised to Archbishop Leanza the importance of the Vatican providing...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (2 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) is intended, when it comes into force, to set up a mechanism that will make it possible for individuals or groups of individuals to submit a complaint to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in regard to alleged violations of their economic, social and cultural rights by...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (2 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has no EU Directives awaiting transposition. While my Department has an overall coordinating role in EU matters, responsibility for transposing EU measures into Irish law rests with those Departments with responsibility for the policy areas covered by individual EU measures. My colleague, Mr. Dick Roche T.D., Minister of State for European Affairs, chairs an...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Government takes a close interest in the situation of Roma families in Kosovo and, in particular, residents of the camps around Mitrovica which are exposed to high levels of lead contamination. The Taoiseach raised the living conditions of the Roma when he met with President Sejdiu and Prime Minister Thaci during his visit to Kosovo on 22 December 2008. The Deputy will also be aware that...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (3 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my answer yesterday to PQ 5297. "The Government takes a close interest in the situation of Roma families in Kosovo and, in particular, residents of the camps around Mitrovica which are exposed to high levels of lead contamination. The Taoiseach raised the living conditions of the Roma when he met with President Sejdiu and Prime Minister Thaci during his visit to Kosovo...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (3 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has a coordinating role within Government in relation to North/South cooperation, in particular in support of the work of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC). In the period since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly in May 2007, there have been five meetings of the NSMC in Plenary format, four meetings of the NSMC in...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements, the Government is committed to the full and effective implementation of all aspects of these Agreements, which provide the basis for sustainable peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. Since the autumn, and throughout January, I have been involved in intensive efforts with my British counterpart, Shaun Woodward, to assist...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's decentralisation programme announced in 2003, the headquarters of Irish Aid, the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs, has decentralised to Limerick. Information in relation to staff numbers and office accommodation, leased by the Office of Public Works, is set out below in tabular form as requested by the Deputy. Property Date of...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are currently four bodies, which operate under the aegis of my Department: the Development Education Advisory Committee; the Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as Díon); the Fulbright Commission (The Board of the Ireland — United States Commission for Educational Exchange); and the Audit Committee of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Seven other...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (4 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to Question No. 397, reference No. 4697/10, answered on Tuesday 2 February.