Results 7,501-7,520 of 50,213 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland and its EU partners oppose the death penalty in all circumstances, and make this position clear to all relevant authorities, including the Palestinian Authority. Palestinian law still provides for the death penalty in certain circumstances, but no execution may be carried out without the agreement of the President. The withholding by President Abbas of his agreement to carry out...

Written Answers — False Passports: False Passports (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of only one major incident which may have involved the unauthorised use of Irish passports by bodies, groups or agencies over the past five years. I have outlined the circumstances of this case in my reply today to Priority Question 65.

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

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will recall that I visited Cuba in February 2009. Yesterday, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Cuba, Mr Bruno Rodriguez Parilla, reciprocated with a visit to Dublin. We discussed a range of bilateral and multilateral issues, including recent economic developments in both countries. We looked at the progress made in developing a structured framework for our future bilateral...

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

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware there is no legal requirement for Irish citizens to have a passport for travel from Ireland to Britain. The Common Travel Area is a passport-free zone between the two islands. The area's internal borders are subject to minimal or non-existent border controls and can normally be crossed by Irish and British citizens with only minimal identity documents. The maintenance...

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

Micheál Martin: Since 2002, the political situation in Chad has been dominated by threats of armed rebellion against the government of President Idriss Déby. While the government signed an accord with civilian opposition parties in 2007, providing for a degree of political reform, armed rebel groups had remained active and intent on overthrowing the government by force. In the past year, however, the...

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

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, there are a large number of international agreements within the UN framework, covering a very wide range of subjects and falling within the functional responsibility of a number of Departments. The following is the present position insofar as it relates to Treaties on which my Department has lead responsibility. Two international agreements within the UN framework...

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

Micheál Martin: The European Union's relationship with Cuba takes place within the framework of the EU Common Position on Cuba agreed in 1996. In 2004, a Political Dialogue was established which covers a broad range of issues including human rights. Each year, the Foreign Affairs Council considers the EU's relations with Cuba and agrees Conclusions on the implementation of the Common Position. Discussions...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The issue of ensuring equality for women is a challenge facing every country in the world to a greater or lesser extent. While the situation in Zambia is of serious concern, I am confident that it is moving in the right direction, albeit slowly. Ireland is active in the drive towards greater equality in Zambia though the work of Irish Aid there. Zambia is one of Irish Aid's programme...

Written Answers — European External Action Service: European External Action Service (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Considerable progress has been made towards establishing the European External Action Service (EEAS) which is an important innovation under the Lisbon Treaty to support the work of the new High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton. Ministers reached a broad political understanding at the 26 April General Affairs Council on the essential elements of a...

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

Micheál Martin: The matter to which the Deputy refers is not a proposal of the Israeli Government. The Bill in question has been sponsored by a group of some twenty members of the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. The Israeli Government declined to take this up as a Government Bill. It is understood that this Bill has not had a first reading in the Knesset. Ireland's Embassy in Tel Aviv together with EU...

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

Micheál Martin: I am happy to inform the Deputy that Passports were issued by the Passport Office in Balbriggan to both the named persons on Friday 14 May, 2010. An Post have confirmed the delivery of these to the persons in question on the following Monday, 17 May, 2010.

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

Micheál Martin: I am informed that no visa application has been received in respect of the person named by the Deputy. If an application and supporting documentation is received it will be processed in the normal way.

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

Micheál Martin: The Government is extremely concerned about the recent surge in violence in Thailand, including the army assault on the protesters' encampment in central Bangkok early on the morning of 19 May. This has resulted in five deaths and dozens of injuries, in addition to the thirty-six deaths which have already occurred since 13 May. The protests have been led by the United Front of Democracy...

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

Micheál Martin: An Irish passport is valid for travel up until the date of expiry. In general, a passport should not expire during the proposed term of any visit. However, some countries require a minimum validity on passports to enter their jurisdictions. The Spanish Embassy in Dublin have confirmed that an Irish passport is valid for travel to Spain and the Canary Islands until the date of expiry in the...

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland and its E.U. partners continue to monitor closely the situation in Iran, including the prosecution of academics, students and others who protested peacefully following the 2009 Presidential election. I am gravely concerned about the detentions of these protestors, the denial of education to students found to be involved in the protests, and the mass trials and summary executions which...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158 and 161 together. As I have stated on several previous occasions in answer to very similar questions, it is not the policy of the Government to list countries most seriously affected by such issues as famine, war, genocide or human rights abuses, which are issues that affect many countries in Africa and elsewhere, and I shall therefore not focus on...

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

Micheál Martin: As Deputies will be aware from previous statements in this House, the Government has long been deeply concerned about the situation in Burma. We are very actively engaged at EU and international level in monitoring the situation in that country and in efforts to support the Burmese people in their struggle for justice, democracy and development. The situation at present is particularly...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Together with its EU partners, Ireland attaches considerable importance to achieving stability in the Western Balkans. A significant factor in building stability is the EU perspective for the countries of the region. The June 2003 European Council in Thessaloniki agreed that the future of the countries of the Western Balkans was in the EU. The European Union's Stabilisation and Association...

Written Answers — False Passports: False Passports (20 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Records of the number of Irish passports identified as having been used fraudulently are only available from 2008. These figures are: 2008 59 2009 25 2010 to date 10 The Passport Service takes the issue of passport fraud very seriously. Dedicated teams, in each of the Passport Offices, work to identify potential fraud at the time of application. These teams work closely with each other,...

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

Micheál Martin: The Passport Service is facilitating the prioritisation of applications on the basis of demonstrable urgent humanitarian need. The Passport Service has been in contact with the person concerned and the mater is in hand. Further information has been sought from the applicant and I understand this will be forthcoming shortly.