Results 7,181-7,200 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: Negotiations on an Association Agreement with Syria began in May 1998 on the basis of a mandate agreed by the Council of Ministers. The text of a draft Agreement was initialled by the Commission and Syria in 2004 and submitted for approval to the Council. The Council did not approve signature of the Agreement at the time because of concerns regarding Syria's policies towards Lebanon. In the...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (2 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together. I can categorically state that I have not, at any time, authorised the use of Irish passports by persons who are not Irish citizens. I have also never received any request from another Government or any foreign intelligence agency seeking the use of Irish passports by non-nationals. The 2008 Passports Act provides strict guidelines on the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department's expenditure on car park spaces in the State amounted to €14,375.00 in 2009.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (2 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Scheme of Performance Related Pay Awards in the Civil Service applied to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. It did not apply to Secretaries General. In 2008, a total of €656,000 was paid to officers in my Department under this Scheme. The payments made related to the performance of 48 officers during the preceding calendar year. These payments were subject to tax...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (3 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The issue to which the Deputy refers concerns a long-term dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom regarding the question of sovereignty over the territories of the Falkland (Malvinas), South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, to which both countries lay claim. Since 1965, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted ten Resolutions on the question of the Falkland Islands...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (3 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Ambassador's Residence in Ottawa was acquired by the State in 1960. Only modest investments were made in its upkeep over the years and it had long been in need of substantial refurbishment. In 2006, my Department was advised that total renovation was required to address a wide range of serious structural and maintenance issues. Some of these problems were aggravated by the long term...

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

Micheál Martin: The situation in Zimbabwe continues to be of great concern to the Government and to the European Union as a whole. While we have seen some improvements in the economic sphere since the formation of the unity government, this has not been matched in other crucial areas, including respect for human rights, the rule of law and security sector reform. In particular, the continued intimidation,...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (9 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation), which is administered by the Department's Development Cooperation Division (Irish Aid) which decentralised to Limerick in 2008. The total expenditure by my Department for the purposes referred to by the Deputy is set out in the following table: Year Mileage...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Atlantic Corridor was founded in 1999 to facilitate, through its network of transatlantic and cross border activities and international linkages, the development of projects that will assist in supporting sustainable economic development and enhanced educational attainment. Atlantic Corridor has successfully built and maintained relationships with key partners in the US, Canada and Northern...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The particular difficulties faced by Kurdish people in Syria, and throughout the region, is an issue of continuing concern to Ireland and its EU partners. This is one of a number of instances where minority populations are not being afforded the full rights and protections which should be due to all citizens. We continue to avail, both bilaterally and at EU level, of all appropriate...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The situation of the Coptic community in Egypt is closely monitored by my Department, as is generally the case in respect of religious minorities in the Middle East. The Government condemns acts of discrimination or persecution against persons on grounds of their religious beliefs. There have been various instances and reports of apparently sectarian violence directed against members of the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: As stated in the House on 9 February last, in reply to a Parliamentary Question relating to the same case, I am deeply concerned about the disappearance of Mr. Gao Zhisheng, a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer. I note with deep concern that Mr. Gao Zhisheng has now been missing for over a year from his home in Shaanxi province and that on the two occasions on which he has been sighted...

Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Tá an Teachta é féin cosúil leis an t-oileánach.

Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ba mhaith liom comhghairdeas a dhéanamh leis an Aire, an Teachta Ó Cuív, as ucht an post nua atá faighte aige. Tá mé cinnte n-éireoidh an t-ádh leis agus go ndéanfaidh sé jab den chéad scoth ina Roinn nua. Táim cinnte go n-éireoidh an t-ádh leis agus go ndéanfaidh sé jab den chéad scoth ann. First, I strongly support the changes being made today, particularly the realignment...

Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: They do not reflect the deserved plaudits-----

Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: -----that should go with the significant policy reorientation entailed by the Taoiseach's decisions.

Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: First, while Fianna Fáil-led Governments have been accused of a lot by the Opposition, it must be acknowledged that over the past decade, they have transformed the research landscape in Ireland significantly. This has had an impact on the type of inward investment that is coming in at present-----

Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: -----and on the type of new companies that are being formed via Enterprise Ireland.

Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: For example, if one compares the activities of multinational companies today with those of five years ago-----

Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Please. I did not interrupt Deputy Burton.