Results 7,001-7,020 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Northern Ireland: Statements (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputies for their contributions this afternoon and welcome the expressions of support and goodwill across the Chamber for this agreement. Such unity of purpose in this House has been a great strength of the peace process and will remain important as we encourage the parties in Northern Ireland to build on the progress reached at Hillsborough. The spirit of partnership which has...

Northern Ireland: Statements (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I assure Deputy Flanagan that the Garda and the PSNI are working very effectively together to deal with the threat posed by the so-called dissidents and criminal elements that are out to undermine the progress that has been made in Northern Ireland in recent years. The Hillsborough agreement is the best answer to those few people who remain determined to undermine the situation and are very...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Office provides a comprehensive range of options for citizens to apply for passports. In addition to the public counter service in Dublin and Cork applications may be made by express post through some 1,000 post offices across the country, including 67 in the Deputy's county of Donegal, and some 70 post offices in Northern Ireland. A guaranteed 10 working day service is available...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has signed Double Taxation Agreements with 56 countries, of which 48 are in effect. These Agreements cover direct taxes, which in the case of Ireland are income tax, corporation tax and capital gains tax. The purpose of these Agreements is essentially to eliminate double taxation and to promote trade and investment. Double Taxation Agreements are currently in effect with: Australia;...

Written Answers — Departmental Procurement: Departmental Procurement (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368 and 370 together. The following table sets out the information requested by the Deputy for the period in question: Contracts over €10 million Contracts over €15 million DLRS Limited (Formerly De La Rue Smurfit Limited) Bearingpoint Ireland Limited Sagem Identification BV (Formerly SDU Identification BV) The contract with DLRS is for the provision...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs), and Vote 29 (International Cooperation) under which most of Ireland's expenditure on Official Development Assistance (ODA) is provided, and which is administered by Irish Aid, the Development Co-operation Division of my Department. In the case of Vote 28, there are currently three (3) external...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I regret that it is not possible to provide the information requested by the Deputy at this time. I will be happy to provide a reply with the information when it is possible to do so.

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Irish World Heritage Centre in Manchester is operated by the Irish Diaspora Foundation Ltd. (IDF). The organisation is in the process of developing a new facility intended to replace the existing Irish Centre in the Cheetham Hill area of Manchester. The Government has provided extensive capital funding totalling €2.01million to the organisation for this project over recent years. This...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned about the disappearance of Mr Gao Zhisheng, a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer. As has been reported in this House on many previous occasions, human rights issues in China, including individual cases, are regularly discussed on a bilateral basis with the Chinese Government, both in Beijing and in Dublin. The Government continues to stress at such meetings the...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: NGOs operating in the Occupied Palestinian Territories perform a vital role in trying to mitigate and ease the burden of the occupation on the Palestinian people, provide for their physical well-being in circumstances where economic life and opportunities are severely constrained, and attempt to redress some of the injustices of occupation policies. Without their work the likelihood of the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The consolidation of peace in Northern Ireland and the promotion of partnership and co-operation between both traditions on the island of Ireland is a key policy priority for the Irish Government. In this regard, mutual understanding of the history and culture of the two main traditions is an important building block in fostering reconciliation on the island. This rich historical and...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Finance (No. 2) Act 2008 provided for the introduction of an exemption from income tax in respect of a benefit-in-kind arising from a bicycle or associated safety equipment being supplied by an employer to an employee for the purposes of commuting to work. Since the introduction of the Cycle to Work Scheme, 23 officers in my Department have applied to avail of this tax exemption. In each...

Written Answers — International Protocols: International Protocols (11 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to written PQ 6003/10 , answered on Thursday 4 February. "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...

Diplomatic Representation. (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are currently 56 resident bilateral diplomatic missions in Ireland. In addition, the Government last year approved the establishment of an embassy in Dublin by the United Arab Emirates and the first resident ambassador is expected to present credentials to President McAleese this week. A full list of resident bilateral diplomatic missions will be placed on the record of the House.

Diplomatic Representation. (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: On the matter of the Swedish embassy, I had contact with the Swedish Foreign Minister, Carl Bildt, who made contact with me in advance of the decision, albeit only 24 hours in advance of the publication of the decision. I expressed my regret at the decision. I conveyed the view we had taken in Ireland that as members of the European Union and as a manifestation of solidarity between member...

Diplomatic Representation. (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: He is on his way.

Diplomatic Representation. (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: He is expected to present credentials to President McAleese this week. I was in Dubai last year with the President, and we indicated that we were opening an embassy in the UAE. The government in that country independently indicated its own decision to-----

Diplomatic Representation. (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I can relate some information on that to the Deputy. We have already had contact with officials in the UAE, and our ambassador, Mr. Ciarán Madden, has sought clarification on the media reports of the issue. We have not been able to verify any of these reports yet.

Diplomatic Representation. (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should have no doubt that we will pursue these issues.

Overseas Development Aid. (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: On foot of a request by the Haitian authorities, the Swiss Federal Office of Justice decided in February 2009 that funds linked to the former president of Haiti, Jean Claude Duvalier, should be returned to the people of Haiti. The Swiss Federal Criminal Court upheld this decision in August, confirming that the funds in question were of criminal origin. Following a further appeal, the...