Results 7,701-7,720 of 50,213 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Guantanamo Detainees: Guantanamo Detainees (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: At an early stage, a number of EU Member States, including Ireland, agreed to accept former Guantanamo detainees cleared for release. To date, twenty-four former detainees have been received by EU Member States. I understand that in the case of certain Member States, the consideration of whether or not to accept detainees is ongoing. Two former detainees have been received for resettlement...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I visited Uganda from 27-30 June. The key objectives of my trip were to visit Irish Aid funded development projects and programmes, and to strengthen Irish-Ugandan bilateral and trade relations. Uganda is one of nine priority countries for the Government's aid programme. It is one of the poorest countries in the world, ranking 157 out of 182 countries on the UN's Human Development Index....

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 65, 81 and 83 together. Ireland continues to support the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, as well as the continuing engagement of the United Nations in the search for a political solution in the territory based on the principle of self-determination. UN Secretary General Ban's Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Christopher...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The practice of female genital mutilation is a clear violation of the human rights of women and girls. It has serious social, health and psychological consequences, and it infringes on children's rights to special protection. The World Health Organisation estimates that between 100 million and 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of female genital...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 70 and 74 together. The outbreak of ethnic violence in southern Kyrgyzstan earlier this month left hundreds dead and thousands injured. I join with those who have condemned this violence. I also offer my condolences to the families of those killed and my sympathy to those who were injured or displaced. The violence in Kyrgyzstan resulted in a serious...

Written Answers — Gas Prices: Gas Prices (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 58 together. The recent gas dispute between Belarus and Russia appears to be moving towards a resolution and I understand that supplies into Belarus have resumed. Although the dispute did not have any impact on Ireland, we kept the situation under close review through our participation in the EU's Gas Coordination Group. This expert group, which...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Government's 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid included a commitment to the establishment of an Inter-Departmental Committee on Development, to be chaired at Ministerial level. The Committee, which is currently chaired by Minister of State Power, was launched in April 2007 with the objective of strengthening coherence in the Government's approach to development and making best use of the...

Written Answers — European External Action Service: European External Action Service (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The European External Action Service (EEAS) 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. The functions of the EEAS will focus on the High Representative's mandate to conduct the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and to ensure the consistency of the EU's external action....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: In response to the Moroccan occupation of the former Spanish colony of Western Sahara in 1975 and the ensuing conflict, much of the indigenous population of the region fled into Algeria. This resulted in the creation of the Saharawi refugee camp in the Tindouf region of south-western Algeria, which now represents one of the world's most protracted refugee situations. There is no formal...

Written Answers — Niger Food Crisis: Niger Food Crisis (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Government is deeply concerned at the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Niger. The country is in the middle of a severe nutrition and food crisis following insufficient and irregular rains in 2009 that caused poor food harvests and water shortages. In Niger, as many as 7.1 million people, representing 48 per cent of the country's population, do not have access to sufficient food....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The security situation in the Darfur region of Sudan, where the UN estimates that seven years of conflict have resulted in the deaths of over 300,000 and the displacement of nearly three million, is of grave concern. The persistence of sporadic violence in the region is not only affecting the population but is also directly targeting the humanitarian community. The United Nations African...

Written Answers — Extractive Industries: Extractive Industries (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: A recent report by Concord, the European umbrella organisation for development Non-Governmental Organisations, focuses on the use of tax planning and trade pricing mechanisms by multinational mining corporations to avoid tax payments in African countries. It calls for the implementation of a series of measures to counteract such practices, including "country by country" reporting in European...

Written Answers — Dublin-Monaghan Bombings: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the all-party motion was forwarded by this House to Parliament in Westminster. In the context of the clear view taken by this House on these matters, it would be for this House to decide what further steps, if any, it may wish to take in pursuance of the motion.

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 399 together. The issue of enlargement features regularly on the agenda of the General Affairs Council which I attend and in my bilateral discussions with EU Ministerial colleagues. The December 2009 Council adopted detailed conclusions, subsequently endorsed by the European Council, regarding enlargement generally and in relation to the position of...

Written Answers — Nuclear Disarmament Initiative: Nuclear Disarmament Initiative (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 71, 391 and 392 together. The issue of Iran and the major international concerns regarding its nuclear programme was discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 14 June, which I attended. Discussion focussed on appropriate follow-up by the EU to the new UN Security Council Resolution 1929 which had been adopted on 9 June and which imposes...

Written Answers — Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill: Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I have not had any contact with or communication from the Mexican Government on this matter.

Written Answers — Rapid Response Corps: Rapid Response Corps (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Government's Rapid Response Corps is a roster of skilled and experienced volunteers who make themselves available to deploy at short notice to work in humanitarian emergency situations. The Corps comprises 155 individuals with specialised skills in logistics, engineering, public health, humanitarian coordination and protection. Most will have worked extensively overseas in humanitarian...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: 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 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...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: Details of the numbers of passports reported as lost or stolen since 2009 are set out in the table below. Year Passports issued Lost or mislaid Stolen Total % of total issued 2009 579,508 29,801 4,821 34,622 5.97% 2010 to date 325,998 13,328 2,188 15,516 4.76% The percentages of Irish passports which are lost and stolen is in line with other countries, including the United Kingdom....

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 403 and 404 together. For 2010, the Government has provided an overall allocation for Official Development Assistance (ODA) of €671 million. Based on current projections Ireland's expected expenditure on ODA in 2010 will amount to approximately 0.52% of GNP, and confirms that Ireland will remain one of the most generous donors internationally on a per...