Results 7,481-7,500 of 50,213 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Investigation of Death: Investigation of Death (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Since the House was last briefed on this case, during an Adjournment Debate on 11 November, there have been a number of developments in the case of Michael Dwyer, an Irish citizen who was killed by the Bolivian state security forces in Santa Cruz on 16 April 2009. Ambassador Philomena Murnaghan, the Ambassador of Ireland to Argentina, who is accredited also to Bolivia, travelled to La Paz on...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs, either through the Consular Assistance Section or our Missions overseas, receive a number of inquires each year in relation to Irish citizens that cannot be contacted by families or friends. It is important to recall that people go missing for a variety of reasons, including, in some cases, as a result of a deliberate decision to cease contact with family or...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I should state at the outset that this matter is one where the Oireachtas has primacy. The commitment to develop a joint parliamentary forum, which would bring together members from the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly, is contained in both the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements. The Government is committed to the full and effective implementation of these agreements; an aim...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 156 together. I am very much aware of the difficulties confronting undocumented Irish citizens in the United States and the distress which both they and their families in the US and Ireland experience arising from their situation. I recognise that the overwhelming majority of the undocumented travelled to the US in search of work in a period of...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: As I have stated previously in the House, the case of the seven Baha'i community leaders continues to be of grave concern. I have personally raised this case, and matters relating to human rights and religious freedom generally, directly with the Iranian authorities at the highest levels, including in person and by letter with Foreign Minister Mottaki. In addition, my Department frequently...

Written Answers — Military Neutrality: Military Neutrality (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality is not affected by our participation in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. Ireland's approach to international security is characterised, inter alia, by our willingness to participate in peace operations throughout the world and a commitment to collective security through the United Nations, in particular....

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 64 and 157 together. Following long efforts by Senator Mitchell and the US Administration to bring the parties together, and an abortive launch in April, the long-awaited proximity talks between the Israelis and Palestinians have commenced. The US team will liaise between the parties. Senator Mitchell will be present in person regularly and frequently, and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Zimbabwe continues to be of great concern to the Government and to the European Union as a whole. I am particularly concerned by reports of continuing human rights violations, arbitrary arrests, torture of prisoners and abuse of the rule of law. Our Embassy to Zimbabwe, which is based in Pretoria, regularly raises our concerns over violations of human rights and the rule of...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The pattern of visits here by Foreign Ministers is determined by various factors including developments in bilateral relations, current international issues and of course availability and diary commitments on both sides. It will be appreciated that in many cases visits require to be planned and arranged at relatively short notice and in that regard, to the extent possible, we remain flexible...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: As has been reported in this House on many previous occasions, and most recently on 5 May, human rights issues in China, including issues relating to Falun Gong, 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 great importance attached by Ireland to human rights, fundamental...

Written Answers — Democratic Stability: Democratic Stability (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Angola's first parliamentary election since 1992 took place in September 2008. The ruling MPLA (Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) party won a landslide majority, with 82% of votes and a total of 191 seats out of 220. The main opposition party UNITA (the National Union for the Independence of Angola) had held 70 seats but retained only 16. An EU election observation mission said...

Written Answers — Global Irish Economic Forum: Global Irish Economic Forum (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The success of the Global Irish Economic Forum held in September 2009 has had a transformative impact on Ireland's relationship with leading members of the Irish Diaspora. Extensive efforts have been taken by my Department, other Departments, the State Agencies and the private sector to advance the various initiatives that emerged from its deliberations and to further enhance the practical...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: As a direct result of ongoing industrial action by the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU), significant arrears of passport applications have arisen within the Passport Service. There are currently approximately 66,000 passport applications waiting to be processed within the system and it is presently taking up to twenty-two working days to process individual applications. Applications,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 50 together. The situation in Somalia is of extreme concern, as the country has been without an effective government since 1991. The UN-backed Transitional Federal Government (TFG) faces enormous challenges, not least the fact that it controls little of the country's territory and that significant armed groups remained opposed to the President. In the...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland established diplomatic relations with Venezuela on 29 November 1980 and is accredited on a non-residential basis through our Ambassador to Mexico. Ambassador Eamon Hickey is awaiting the offer of a date from the Venezuelan side to present his credentials in Caracas. On 13 January 2009, Dr. Samuel Moncada, Ambassador of Venezuela in London, who is also accredited to Ireland, presented...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The European Union has a long and close relationship with Turkey. Accession negotiations were opened in 2005 and Ireland makes a constructive input to those negotiations. As a beneficiary of a past enlargement, and on the experience of more recent accessions, Ireland is generally supportive of enlargement. Enlargement bolsters economic and political reform processes and helps to promote...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Rockall is a small uninhabitable rock, 25 x 30 metres wide, located approximately 160 nautical miles west of the Scottish islands of St. Kilda and 230 nautical miles to the north west of Donegal. It marks a point at which the Rockall Bank, part of the very large Hatton-Rockall area of continental shelf extending under the north-east Atlantic Ocean, protrudes 21 metres above sea level. During...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 49 together. EU relations with Colombia are conducted in the framework of regional relations between the EU and the Andean Community, comprising Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. In 2007, negotiations aimed at concluding a comprehensive Association Agreement between the EU and the Andean Community were formally launched. Such Agreements cover all...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 165 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs provides travel advice to Irish citizens wishing to visit Thailand thought its website. The current advice can be found at www.dfa.ie. There are two Irish Honorary Consulates in Thailand, one in Bangkok and the other in Phuket which provide consular assistance to Irish citizens in that country. The...

Written Answers — EU Relations: EU Relations (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 58 together. Following the recent British elections and the agreement between the Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrat Party on the formation of a Coalition Government, Conservative leader David Cameron was appointed Prime Minister on Tuesday 11 May and the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister on Wednesday 12...