Results 7,101-7,120 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I have been very concerned by the most recent violence in and around Jos in Plateau State, Nigeria, which saw hundreds killed and thousands displaced from 17-21 January. It follows on from violence in November 2008 and earlier, and is a result of ongoing tensions, which the government has been attempting to settle. Since the violence in 2008 inter-religious dialogue has been pursued and an...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 151 together. As I have reported to the House on previous occasions, I consider the Goldstone Report to be a serious and important contribution to efforts to determine the truth of allegations about events in Gaza a year ago, to establish accountability for them, and to seek to prevent a recurrence of such alleged infringements of international law. I...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: Through the overseas aid programme the Government provides assistance to over ninety countries worldwide. Nine have been designated as Programme Countries for Irish Aid, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance. These are Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia. In 2009, direct programme funding of €198 million was...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The hostilities on the Korean Peninsula on 27 January to which the Deputy refers have involved exchanges of artillery fire between the North and the South along the disputed western sea border between the two countries, the so-called Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea. It is both regrettable and counter-productive for the North Korean side to have initiated this exchange and to have...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I have been pleased to be able to report to this House on a number of occasions on the substantial improvement in security in Iraq which has taken place over the last three years. While incidents of violence are still an all too frequent occurrence, they have been reduced significantly and preparations for Iraq's national elections in March are underway. The continuing violent attacks in...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The provision of debt relief and aid for trade are both important elements in the fight against global poverty. All of Ireland's assistance to developing countries is in the form of grants rather than loans. Ireland has played a significant role in multilateral initiatives to relieve the burden of debt on developing countries, and through the aid programme, the Government also provides...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Government remains in close and regular contact with the British Government about the range of issues which are the legacy of the Troubles, including follow-up to the report of the Eames Bradley Consultative Group on the Past. One of the key recommendations contained in that report was the establishment of a Legacy Commission which, amongst other things, would be charged with examining...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am committed to undertaking a number of foreign trips in 2010. Earlier this month I visited London, and had the opportunity to meet with the British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband and with the Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague. We had substantive discussions on a wide range of foreign policy matters of mutual interest including Afghanistan, Iran, the Middle East Peace...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 353, 356 and 357 together. In March 2009, the Taoiseach in Washington offered to assist the United States in implementing their commitment to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. In this context, two former detainees have been received for resettlement in Ireland. They arrived in Ireland in late September 2009. On the two occasions that I met with...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet Committee on Aspects of International Human Rights was established in 2008, and meetings took place on 20 October 2008 and 28 October 2009. The issues under its remit are considered on an on-going basis. The Committee membership includes the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Transport, the Department of Justice, Equality and Law...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) is the UN body responsible for the granting of consultative status to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which meet certain criteria, including that the NGOs' aims and purposes are in conformity with the "spirit, purposes and principles" of the UN Charter. This and other criteria for eligibility are set out in ECOSOC resolution 1996/31....

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: Only Irish citizens may be issued with Irish passports. A person who was born abroad, one of whose parents was born in Ireland, is automatically an Irish citizen from birth. However, first–time passport applicants who were born abroad to a parent who, although not born in Ireland, was an Irish citizen at the time of the person's birth, must first apply to the nearest Irish Embassy for Irish...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The issue of enlargement was discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at the December 2009 General Affairs Council. The Council's conclusions, subsequently endorsed by the European Council, underlined that enlargement is based on consolidating commitments, fair and rigorous conditionality and the EU's capacity to integrate new members, and that each country is assessed on its own merits. The General...

Written Answers — International Election Observers: International Election Observers (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The first round of Ukraine's presidential election took place on 17 January 2010. As no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, the two leading candidates in the first round, Viktor Yanukovych and Yulia Tymoshenko, proceeded to a second round. This round was held on 7 February. Turnout for the second round has been estimated at just over 69% and the Central Election Commission has...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Assistance: Humanitarian Assistance (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 361 and 362 together. The tragic consequences of the earthquake in Haiti on 12 January have underlined the importance of early and sustained coordinated action in the response of the international community to humanitarian emergencies. It is agreed internationally that the United Nations has the lead role in coordinating this international response. There will...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The area of deprivation of liberty and treatment in detention is a key element in the protection of human rights and the rule of law and good governance in any state. This includes right to trial, due process, equitable treatment, conditions of detention, and the effect of any emergency measures. All of these issues therefore can form part of the dialogue on political and human rights issues...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: Unfortunately, no part of the world is totally free from human rights abuses, and some countries in Africa also experience war and/or starvation. As I have stated on previous occasions it is not the policy of the Government to draw up a list of countries most seriously affected by such issues, and I shall therefore not focus on individual countries. Human rights concerns remain central to our...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware from my previous replies to him, most recently on 15 December, we have been following this case closely through our Embassy in Tehran. Following his arrest at his home on 9 July and his subsequent appearance at one of the televised show trials, Dr Kian Tajbakhsh was sentenced on 20 October, reportedly on allegations of espionage and playing a role in the public...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: Unfortunately, no part of the world is totally free from human rights abuses. Ireland, both bilaterally and in association with EU and other like-minded partners, makes frequent and numerous interventions regarding human rights concerns in the countries which have the most serious human rights abuses. Human rights concerns remain central to our foreign policy. Together with our EU partners,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: Irish Missions abroad and official residences of Heads of Mission serve as platforms for raising Ireland's international profile, providing services to the public, promoting Irish economic interests and representing the State in international organisations. Construction and refurbishment of properties used for these purposes is carried out as necessary to ensure that Irish Missions have the...