Results 7,901-7,920 of 50,213 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (28 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Passports Act, 2008 requires that before issuing a passport to a person, the Minister for Foreign Affairs shall be satisfied that that person is an Irish citizen and that in the case of children full parental or guardian consent is provided. Documentary proof in respect of identity and entitlement to citizenship are required for all passport applications. These requirements are outlined...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (28 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's strategic foreign policy objectives include the development of close bilateral relations with Singapore, China and India and other high growth and emerging economies in Asia, across a wide spectrum of political, business, educational, media, cultural, social and other ties. The Asia Strategy, launched in 1999, created a cohesive framework for the development of these relationships...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 73 together. Where a child is abducted in a foreign country our overriding concern would be for the welfare of the child. Custody issues would be a matter for a court to decide and my Department has no role as to how a court in a foreign jurisdiction might decide on such issues. If a child is abducted within a foreign country, such as in the case...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (28 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: As a beneficiary of a past enlargement, and on the experience of more recent accessions, Ireland is broadly supportive of enlargement. The prospect of enlargement bolsters economic and political reform processes and helps to promote stability, security and prosperity in Europe. The process includes rigorous conditionality and must take into account the capacity of the EU to integrate new...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: The report of the Task Force on economic governance chaired by President Herman van Rompuy covers issues of increased fiscal discipline and of a permanent crisis mechanism. These matters were also the subject of a statement on 18 October made by President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel when they met in Deauville. The European Council meeting of 28-29 October considered these matters in...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Nov 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 on 9 January 2011. The referenda are envisaged by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) which brought an end to the north-south conflict in Sudan. Ireland and the EU believe that...

Written Answers — Overseas Elections: Overseas Elections (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: Angola's first parliamentary election since 1992, and only the second since 1975, took place in September 2008. The ruling MPLA party won a landslide majority in the 2008 general election, with 82% of votes and a total of 191 seats out of 220. This gave it a two-thirds majority in Parliament. An EU election observation mission at the time said that they represented a 'positive step towards...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are a number of different schemes operating in my Department which administer grant funding: the Irish Aid programme, Ireland's programme of official development assistance; the Emigrant Support Programme; the Reconciliation Fund for North-South and Anglo-Irish Co-operation; the Anti-Sectarianism Fund; the Communicating Europe Initiative; the Cultural Programme; and the Asia Strategy....

Written Answers — Overseas Trade: Overseas Trade (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: The emergence of China and India as global economic powers in recent years makes Asia a key regional partner for the EU. Relations between the EU and Asia are organised on different levels. There are the region to region arrangements; there are relations between the EU and individual Asian countries; and there are the bilateral relations of EU Member States with individual countries....

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be aware, from my PQ reply to him of 21 October, that having been advised of the difficulties being experienced by Killester United Football Club members at immigration at Sao Paolo airport our Embassy immediately contacted the immigration authorities to ascertain why the group had been refused entry. Our Embassy was informed by the Brazilian authorities that the decision to...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: Negotiations on an EU-Serbia Stabilisation and Association Agreement (SAA) began in 2005. However, the negotiation and signing process for the Agreement was delayed on a number of occasions until the EU was satisfied with Belgrade's level of cooperation with the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). Cooperation with the ICTY is a precondition for those wishing to...

Written Answers — China-Africa Relations: China-Africa Relations (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the contrast often made between what has been perceived as the commercial focus of China's policy in Africa and the primary focus of Ireland and the EU on issues such as poverty reduction, human rights and good governance. However, I believe that this contrast can be overstated. At the EU-China Summit held in Nanjing last November, both sides welcomed trilateral dialogue...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: In recent years China has become a major economic global player and has focused very significant trade, economic investment and development aid on African countries. I am aware of the contrast often made between what has been perceived as the commercial focus of China's policy in Africa and the primary focus of Ireland and the EU on issues such as poverty reduction, human rights and good...

Written Answers — Lisbon Strategy: Lisbon Strategy (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Lisbon Strategy, launched by the European Council in March 2000, was an ambitious, multifaceted strategy which set the goal of Europe becoming "the most dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010 capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion and respect for the environment". In an evaluation carried out earlier this...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: As a beneficiary of past enlargement, and on the experience of more recent accessions, Ireland is broadly supportive of enlargement. The prospect of enlargement bolsters economic and political reform processes and helps to promote stability, security and prosperity in Europe. Ireland takes an active role in discussions on the issue, both at Council meetings and in bilateral discussions with...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 350 together. My Department pays the rent on office space in one building in the State - Ground Floor, Findlater House, 27 -31 Upper O'Connell Street, Dublin 1. The premises is used by the Irish Aid Volunteering and Information Centre and is fully occupied. Costs in relation to maintenance and security on unoccupied premises and sites are not therefore...

Written Answers — Millennium Development Goals: Millennium Development Goals (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: As I have stated previously, Ireland is committed to the full realisation of all human rights, and to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, including the seventh Millennium Development Goal of reducing by half, by 2015, the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation. Last year, through the Government's development programme, Ireland...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs has no plans at present to raise the proposals of the International Drug Policy Consortium in regard to transnational Impact Assessments of drug policy regimes at any international forum. It is envisaged that there will be routine monitoring at national level of the impact of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department procures ICT equipment and supplies from the market via the e-tenders website and through Framework Agreements established by the Department of Finance. The Department selects solutions based on the most economically advantageous proposals. All software and consumables recently purchased have been branded.

Written Answers — Departmental Procurement: Departmental Procurement (2 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: No significant printing contracts have been awarded by my Department to operators from outside the State in the past three years. My Department's missions abroad have occasional small print requirements and it is more economically advantageous to source such requirements by getting competitive quotes from local providers. In the case of smaller print jobs at Headquarters my Department has...