Results 7,521-7,540 of 50,213 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: While my Department is not aware of this particular case, a number of other cases which have occurred in the context of the French leaseback system have been brought to the attention of the Embassy in Paris. The Deputy will be aware that the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs concerning private property transactions by Irish nationals abroad is limited, and that redress in such cases...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: As stated in the House in reply to a Parliamentary Question on 20 May, 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 and the violence which has occurred both in Bangkok and in the provinces following the military intervention. I am deeply...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I understand that there are no peace talks underway between the Government and the FARC and the ELN in Colombia. It is the stated position of the Colombian Government that it will not negotiate with the FARC or the ELN until they lay down arms, inter alia, in accordance with the Justice and Peace Law, 2005, of which the AUC and a number of individual FARC and ELN members have availed....

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

Micheál Martin: The person in question lodged his application at the counter in the Molesworth Street Office on 10 May, 2010. As a direct result of the ongoing industrial action by the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU) it is presently taking up to twenty five working days to process individual applications submitted through the Passport Express Service, the Northern Ireland Passport Express Service and...

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

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Questions Nos. 1 and 2 on 20 May 2010. Over the past three months there has been frequent contact between Irish officials and the UAE authorities, representatives from other countries whose passports were also used in this incident and representatives of the Israeli Government. On 22 February, I met with Israeli Foreign Minister, Avigdor Lieberman,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are no state agencies operating under the remit of my Department. There are currently three bodies, which operate under the aegis of my Department: the Development Education Advisory Committee (DEAC); the Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as Díon); and the Fulbright Commission (The Board of the Ireland – United States Commission for Educational...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). The following table sets out the Department's net budgetary allocations and surrendered surpluses for the years 2007 to 2009 for Vote 28 and Vote 29: Vote 28 - Dept of Foreign Affairs 2007 2008 2009 €000 €000 €000 Net Budgetary Allocation 214,945...

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

Micheál Martin: At 21 May, 2010 there were 62,944 applications in the system. My Department has obtained the necessary sanction to recruit 50 temporary staff and arrangements have been made for staff to commence work at short notice. If necessary, we are prepared to recruit additional staff. These arrears are a direct result of the ongoing industrial action by the Civil Public and Services Union (CPSU). ...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The difficult situation of the undocumented Irish in the US and the impact on their families in America and Ireland is a matter of deep concern to the Government. I would urge anybody who might be tempted in the current economic climate to follow in the footsteps of the undocumented to take account of the plight in which they now find themselves. Finding a solution for our undocumented...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (25 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and its EU partners have repeatedly expressed their concerns about democratic freedoms and human rights in Iran, and look forward to the day when these are fully established and protected. While the general principles set out in the document provided are entirely laudable, the National Council of Resistance of Iran is generally regarded as the political wing of the People's...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: In the past 12 months 233 officers of the Department have received coaching in a foreign language. Total expenditure on language training for officers of the Department in 2009 and to-date in 2010 was €272,111. Language training was provided in the following languages: Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech, Danish, Dutch, Farsi, French, German, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department arranges training for staff who are involved in providing consular support and assistance to Irish citizens abroad and their families in Ireland. Consular staff at HQ are provided with detailed instructions on how to deal with the range of consular cases that arise. As the Deputy will be aware, when a crisis occurs involving a substantial number of Irish citizens abroad, we...

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (27 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department currently operates six websites for which costs are set out below. The costs include support & maintenance, hosting and domain registration services. Website Cost of Maintaining Sites for 2010(inc VAT) Department of Foreign Affairs family of websites including 68 Embassy websites â'¬59,075 Irish Aid family of websites â'¬32,435 Dublin Cluster Munitions Conference...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (27 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: As I indicated on 20 May last I have identified the necessity to examine further contingency arrangements for passport production. This could include the provision of passport production equipment in the North West and the South of the country. I have asked my officials to examine the feasibility of providing this service. However, as the examination is at a very early stage it is premature...

Written Answers — North-South Consultative Forum: North-South Consultative Forum (27 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The establishment of the North/South Consultative Forum, provided for in both the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrews Agreement, has been discussed with the Northern Ireland Executive at all the plenary meetings of the North/South Ministerial Council since the re-establishment of the Executive in May 2007. At those meetings, the Government delegation is led by the Taoiseach, while the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (27 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: The situation to which the Deputy refers concerns the attack on a humanitarian convoy in San Juan Copola, Oaxaca, on 27 April, in which a Mexican human rights defender, Ms Beatriz Carino and a Finnish observer, Mr Tyri Antero Jaakkola were killed by paramilitaries. Several other Human Rights Defenders and journalists suffered injuries. Ms Carino was a speaker at the Frontline 5th Dublin...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (27 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am happy to inform the Deputy that both passports were collected from the Passport Office in Molesworth Street on 25 May.

Written Answers — Child Abductions: Child Abductions (27 May 2010)

Micheál Martin: I have been following developments closely in this case since the Irish citizen was abducted from France to Hungary in contravention of a custody order of a French Court. My officials, both in Dublin and in the Embassy in Budapest have been in regular contact with the father of the Irish citizen concerning this case. Diplomatic staff in our Embassy in Budapest, have met with the relevant...

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: What the Wall Street Journal said was interesting.

Order of Business. (1 Jun 2010)

Micheál Martin: I have read it.