Results 7,221-7,240 of 50,151 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department's financial management, including payment functions are outsourced to the Financial Shared Services Division of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department does not engage in means assessment. The number of staff in the Department (including the National Archives of Ireland) primarily employed in financial management, human resource management,...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, and part funded from the proceeds of the National Lottery, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. While no decision has been made on the timing of the next round of the Programme, €48 million has been provided in my Department's Vote...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The legislation that is required to give affect to the decision to merge the Irish Manuscripts Commission and the National Archives into the National Library of Ireland is being prepared. As stated in my recent responses to similar questions, Heads of a Bill have been drafted and transmitted to the Directors of the National Archives and of the National Library of Ireland and to the Chairman...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The estimated cost of travel associated with St Patrick's Day for my Department is €1,230 which relates to flights and expenses for three nights for the CEO of Culture Ireland who travelled to Washington to engage in the promotion of Irish Arts and Culture, on which there is a special focus this year.

Written Answers — Historical Records: Historical Records (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Minister has no statutory function in relation to the records of private voluntary bodies. However, the Deputy might contact the Athletics Association of Ireland which is the governing body for athletics formed following the dissolution of the NACA and Bord Luthchleas na h-Éireann and which would be in a position to advise in relation to the issues raised. The Association can be...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 520 and 521 together. Under section 8 of the National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003 it is a function of Fáilte Ireland to support the development of tourism enterprises in the State. I have no statutory function in relation to the administration of supports or the award of grants or assistance to tourism enterprises. Details of the grants and...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (24 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware the Passport Service is currently experiencing disruption to services caused by ongoing industrial action throughout the public service. This industrial action has curtailed the flexibility previously available in delivering passport services. On 4 March the Department of Foreign Affairs advised passport customers through the press and on the Passport Service website...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (24 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: US military actions in Afghanistan were not discussed during the meetings which the Taoiseach and I had with President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton in Washington last week. Discussion of Afghanistan focussed on food security and police training, where Ireland is prepared to make a direct contribution. In addition, both the President and the Secretary of State thanked Ireland for the...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (24 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that arrangements were made for the father of the children concerned to collect the passports at the Molesworth Street office on 23 March.

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (25 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The examination of this issue is at a very early stage and we are working in consultation with other Government Departments. It should be noted that in the UK case, consideration of the issues and consultation of interested parties took two years.

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (25 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The passport for the person in question will be ready for collection at the Molesworth Street Office on Friday March 26.

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (25 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department has no such properties.

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (25 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware customers have been experiencing disruption to passport services as a result of ongoing industrial action in the public service. Unfortunately, this has lead to a significant backlog of passport applications leading to significant delays in processing passport applications in the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Department has been advising the pubic of the extent...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (25 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department pays the rent on office space in two buildings in Dublin: Ground floor of Hospitality House, Cumberland Street, Dublin 2. This property is leased directly by my Department. The 20 year lease contains a provision for upward only rent reviews at 5 year intervals. The annual rental cost is currently €144,900. However, the lease on these premises is being terminated this year....

Passport Security. (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The first indication we received of the use of false Irish passports in connection with the killing of Mr. Mahmoud al Mabhouh was on 4 February, when local press reports in Dubai stated that several suspects were believed to have entered Dubai on Irish passports. The ambassador of Ireland to the United Arab Emirates, Mr. Ciarán Madden, immediately contacted the United Arab Emirates Ministry...

Passport Security. (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: I agree with the Deputy that it is outrageous that fake Irish passports were used in this murder. In six of the eight cases, they used real passport numbers that corresponded with the numbers on passports in Ireland and, therefore, the security of the citizens concerned was at risk. When I met Foreign Minister Mr. Lieberman, we made it clear how seriously we took the issue and how...

Passport Security. (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: I do not have an exact timeframe for the conclusion of the investigation. It will be complete in a reasonably short time from now but that is a matter for the investigating authority. With regard to the line of investigation, the question posed by the Deputy is obvious and work has been done in endeavouring to establish whether there was a link between the six citizens involved. There does...

Passport Security. (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: No.

Middle East Peace Process. (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 72 together. My discussions in Washington with the Secretary of State Mrs. Clinton provided a welcome and timely opportunity to discuss with her the issues of the Middle East, which are high priorities for the EU and the US, both individually and as members of the international Quartet. I briefed Mrs. Clinton on my recent visit to Gaza. She updated me...

Middle East Peace Process. (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: I agree with much of what Deputy Higgins has outlined. The size of the population of children in Gaza is striking. The sight of children everywhere is one of the most immediately visible scenes there. What is more alarming is the number of malnourished children. In spite of the outstanding work by UNRWA the basic food supplies it makes available are not sufficient to deal with the issue....