Results 7,801-7,820 of 50,213 for speaker:Micheál Martin
- Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with Serbia was signed in April 2008. However, it was decided to defer ratification of the agreement until the Council was satisfied with Serbia's co-operation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Following a positive assessment by Chief Prosecutor Brammertz regarding Serbia's...
- Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: I am willing to discuss this issue in detail with Deputy Barrett at any time.
- Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: I will attend the committee at any time. I did not interrupt the Deputy.
- Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: We need to take a considered approach and, apart altogether from Mr. Brammertz's assessment, the European process for the western Balkans is the most effective way to embed democracy and the standards to which we aspire. The current Government of Serbia is progressive and pro-European Union. If we set the clock back any further, we would put all that at risk for other countries in the...
- Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: I make that general political point in the context of my assessment of the importance of moving ahead with the stabilisation and association agreement, which has experienced several setbacks since it was first negotiated in 2005. I have attended European Council meetings at which Mr. Brammertz made presentations. The last of these was in June, when he made a positive assessment of Serbia's...
- Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: I am speaking about the Council. The chief prosecutor is, of course, anxious to maintain pressure but equally he has stated that he presents the matter as he sees it and it is for us as Ministers and Governments to make our decisions. When I met the Serbian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. JeremÃc, in New York he pointed out that his Government has already done the heavy lifting in regard...
- Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: I do not want to see the forces described by Deputy Barrett, which of course exist in Serbia, rising to the ascendancy. That was the political point I referred to earlier. I have clearly formed a view of the matter and I am entitled to put it on the record, just as the Deputy is entitled to set out his own views. I stated from the outset that I have no difficulty with an extended...
- International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: The Lisbon treaty has provided new structures for external representation of the EU, including the appointment of the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Baroness Catherine Ashton. The High Representative now carries out the foreign policy representation functions previously carried out by the rotating EU Presidency. The purpose of these changes is to allow the European Union to play...
- International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: The Deputy asked two separate sets of questions. The original question referred to the UN's refusal to allow the European Union the right to speak at a meeting of the General Assembly under new arrangements. On the wider issue of UN reform, Ireland has already taken a lead. My predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Dermot Ahern, was nominated by the Secretary General of the UN to lead reform by...
- International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: I hope the Deputies are not blaming Ireland for that. We believe in broadening representation on the Security Council.
- International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: In regard to current reforms to peacekeeping and peace building, our permanent representative to the UN, Anne Anderson, has been asked by the Secretary General to lead work in these areas. This reflects the high respect in which we are held by the United Nations. We take leadership positions on a number of issues, the most recent of which was our significant diplomatic achievement on the...
- International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: The Deputy should probably do a bit of homework and acquaint himself with what has happened in the intervening in period and with the progress that has been made.
- International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: I mean that sincerely. Much work has been undertaken. We will continue with the leadership role we have adopted in regard to many of the aspects of the work of the United Nations. We will continue to push for reform where it is needed within the United Nations, as we do in respect of all the bilateral meetings we have held.
- Middle East Peace Process (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: The direct talks which began in Washington on 2 September continued in two further sessions, in Egypt and Jerusalem, on 14 September and 15 September. The talks involved Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas, with very restricted teams on both sides. The United States, usually through Senator Mitchell personally, is present at all sessions as a broker, but not a direct participant....
- Middle East Peace Process (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: The fundamental lesson to be drawn from the Northern Ireland peace process is that hurdles were jumped where there was a will on all sides to reach agreement. As I stated in my earlier reply, there is still a significant lack of trust in terms of one side trusting that the other will go the full road towards a solution.
- Middle East Peace Process (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: There was a far greater degree of trust in the Northern Ireland peace process than might have been known about at the time, certainly behind the scenes. Achieving an agreement is very difficult and there are many challenges and hurdles. That said, the feedback we are receiving suggests both leaders are putting on the table their genuine personal desire to see an outcome. President Abbas has...
- Middle East Peace Process (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: I made a point on the Arab league in the context of supporting President Abbas, not on the wider issues. The Deputy is making the point that the settlements on the ground keep creating new facts on the ground that undermine the principle of having two states. That is the problem and where the issue becomes very difficult. On the Palestinian side, people are saying that, in spite of all the...
- Middle East Peace Process (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: As I stated, I regard the oath of loyalty required of Arabs living in Israel, including Jerusalem, as counter-productive and wrong. It is not helpful in any shape or form.
- Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: The question of whether and how military assets and capabilities can best be used in responding to humanitarian emergencies was discussed at the Foreign Affairs Council in June in the context of the Union's response to the Haiti earthquake. EU action in response to humanitarian crises is framed in the context of an overall international approach that brings together the United Nations, the...
- Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)
Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be aware that I quoted the Brigadier General's comments at the last meeting of the Joint Committee of European Affairs. I agree with Deputy Barrett. I also agreed with a number of members at the European Foreign Affairs Council that the battle group should be utilised to assist in disasters such as occurred in Haiti. This would be a good demonstration of the importance and...