Results 7,861-7,880 of 50,213 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The events to which the Deputy refers occurred on Thursday 30 September in Quito, when President Correa was assaulted by police officers demonstrating against a proposed law relating to their benefits and salaries. The President was subsequently confined by a group of police demonstrators in a Quito hospital until released through the intervention of the Armed Forces. Five persons were...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is a very important part of the institutional architecture of the Good Friday Agreement. It sends a clear message to all communities in Northern Ireland that their fundamental rights will be protected. I met most recently with Professor Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, in Dublin on 9 September....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I have on many previous occasions expressed concern at the lack of results of the dialogue between the Dalai Lama and the Government of China. It is deeply regrettable that reports following the ninth round of dialogue, held in January 2010, indicate that very little progress has been made in achieving a resolution to the situation in Tibet. As stated on many previous occasions in this...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Article 29.5 of the Constitution requires that international agreements to which the State becomes a party, with the exception of agreements of a "technical and administrative character", be laid before Dáil Éireann. The policy of my Department is that all agreements, including those of a technical or administrative character, should be laid before Dáil Éireann as a matter of best...

Written Answers — Oireachtas Committee Reports: Oireachtas Committee Reports (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Lisbon Treaty provided for the strengthening of the role of national parliaments, as set out in Article 12 of the Treaty on European Union and in Protocols No 1 and 2 appended to the Treaty. This was part of the significant measures contained in the Treaty to enhance the democratic legitimacy of the Union. Last year I introduced to this House legislation which gave effect to a number of...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Transnistria is an area of the Republic of Moldova between the Dniester/Nistru River and the Ukrainian border inhabited mainly by Russian and Ukrainian speakers. In the course of the break-up of the Soviet Union, it unilaterally declared independence from the Republic of Moldova, due mainly to fears over a possible reunification of Moldova with Romania. Transnistria's independence has not...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is completely opposed to the use of stoning, a practice which has no place in the twenty-first century. Stoning is a particularly cruel method of execution which amounts to torture. I have made clear Ireland's concerns about human rights in Iran and our abhorrence of the practice of stoning in contacts with members of the Iranian Government, most recently at a meeting which I had...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are several countries in Africa which are suffering from conflict or food shortages. I do not propose to go into details on each of them individually. The international community continues to intervene to address these issues on the African continent, whether on a bilateral or multilateral basis. With regard to the issue of hunger and famine, it is estimated that more than a billion...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland, together with our EU partners, is committed to enhancing stability in the Western Balkans region. The EU perspective for the countries in the region, agreed at the June 2003 Thessaloniki European Council, is essential in helping to build and maintain this stability. The EU's Stabilisation and Association process provides the framework for cooperation on economic, political and...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Along with my EU colleagues, I continue to give a very high priority to supporting efforts to reach a comprehensive peace agreement in the Middle East. The issue is discussed very frequently at the Foreign Affairs Council, and I have made a number of visits to the region myself, to meet with the leaders, learn about the issues, and encourage their efforts. I have reported in more detail...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to the answers I gave on 27 April and 6 July to his questions on the matter. Dr Kian Tajbakhsh is a dual US-Iranian national, arrested in July 2009. Dr. Tajbakhsh's case was heard by an appeals court on 10 February and his sentence was set at five years for a variety of charges linked to the post-election disturbances in Iran. These charges have been strenuously denied by...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Assistance: Humanitarian Assistance (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The north-south peace process in Sudan is at a critical juncture as the country prepares for a referendum on self-determination for the South and a separate referendum on the status of the district of Abyei in January 2011. The referenda are envisaged by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Mozambique is an important partner for both Ireland and the European Union in Africa, and a priority country within Ireland's official development cooperation programme. Notwithstanding considerable economic and social progress since the conclusion of its civil war in 1992, Mozambique remains one of the poorest countries in the world, dependent on external resources. Ireland, together with...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: 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 various aspirant member states. It underlined that...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (13 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my oral answer to Parliamentary Questions Numbers 107 and 110 yesterday. Ireland, along with other European Union member states, shared the objective of reaching a consensus on this issue on the basis of the work of the Independent Expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation, Ms Catarina de Albuquerque, and...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: A total of 151 officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs are currently availing of the civil service work-sharing scheme, of whom 8 are male and 143 are female officers. My Department makes every effort to accommodate applications for work-sharing and other work/life balance schemes, including the shorter working year and the flexible working hours schemes. On occasion, however, notably...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes (The McCarthy Report) made a number of recommendations to Government in respect of my Department. These were considered in the context of this year's budget and public service estimates and it was decided to implement a number of them in full or in part. Recommendation in the report of the Special Group Comment...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department has direct telecommunications contracts with eight providers namely AST Connections Ltd, BT Ireland, Colt, Datasat Communications Ltd, Eircom, Hibernia Atlantic, T Systems and Telstra International. These contracts are generally for a three year period. In addition, the Department draws down the services of O2 and Vodafone operating under the terms of the relevant Department...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department has the following contracts in place with energy providers in the State: electricity supply agreements with the Electricity Supply Board for eight office premises located in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Balbriggan. They are standard business user agreements and costs are charged according to electricity used. agreements for the supply of gas with Bord Gáis to seven office...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together. Since 2007, no new agencies, offices or state-owned companies have been established under the aegis of my Department.