Results 7,961-7,980 of 50,294 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: And Saudi Arabia and others. It is extremely frustrating that this has not happened because it undermines confidence among Palestinians and, in particular, among moderate Palestinian and Arab opinion that people are serious about a resolution. That is a significant by-product of all of this, apart altogether from the imperative of the humanitarian situation and the need to get...

Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: The EU is a very significant donor to the Middle East.

Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: At the conference at Sharm el-Sheikh almost two years ago huge volumes of aid were promised for Gaza which have not materialised because of the obstacles put in the way of the aid. To be fair, the United States has been a significant donor to the Palestinian Authority and to the establishment of the authority's mechanisms and systems of government. The Deputy is correct in the sense that...

Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: So does the EU. We are working together in the context of the Quartet along with Russia and others to try to effect a multilateral solution.

Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: I accept that there has been a clear lack of continuity in the various talks which have taken place throughout the years. We have had this discussion before. The situation of such a secretariat or where it would be located would require the agreement of both parties but it would represent an important value-added contribution to the process. Previously, it has been explained to me that the...

Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: Yes.

Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 18, 21, 25, 29, 40, 117 and 124 together. I welcome the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from her arbitrary house arrest. Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained, in one form or another, by the Burmese authorities since leading her political party, the National League for Democracy, to victory in the 1990 elections. During that time, she has come to symbolise...

Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has been particularly strong in supporting Burma at home and internationally, and I commend those who have been supportive of the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi in particular, including Mr. Kilgallen and others who have been effective in keeping the issue alive in Irish public opinion. We have raised the issue of Burma and acted bilaterally with its neighbours, and we believe they can play...

Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: -----and farcical. It remains to be seen what happens in the aftermath of the release of Aung San Suu Kyi. I have covered that in my reply.

Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: Absolutely. We have taken a leading role in keeping the issue of Burma alive in international forums as well as domestically. We were clear in our opposition to the elections and also to the constitutional provisions that were designed by the military regime to maintain its stranglehold on Burmese political life. The military were allocated 25% of the seats in Parliament, and it was...

Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: Human rights-related concerns are the subject of a dedicated regular bilateral dialogue with the Colombian Government, which was launched in April 2008. The third session of this dialogue took place in Bogotá in May 2010 and the next round of discussions is expected to take place in the first half of 2011. Following the inauguration of Juan Manuel Santos as President of Colombia in August,...

Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: This matter was raised during the discussion of Priority Question No. 1. Front Line and the International Office for Human Rights Action in Colombia informed us late yesterday of the arrest of Mrs. Carolina Rubio Esguerra by the Colombian criminal investigation unit on her return to Colombia following here visit to Brussels, which is of concern. During her visit to Brussels she had attended...

Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate that. It is important that multinationals and particularly European multinationals would conform to the ILO provisions. We will certainly continue to raise that issue with the European Union in the context of the agreement, which still needs to go through a ratification process through the European Parliament and so forth. As I said in an earlier reply, the European Union...

Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: We are in agreement that it is all about delivery. From a European perspective it is about vigilant monitoring of the situation there. There is always a need for balance and this is the challenge. One could do nothing and things would not progress at all, but on the other hand the conclusion of a trade agreement can provide leverage and a catalyst to ensure continued progress. It is...

Written Answers — UN Conventions: UN Conventions (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: Responsibility for ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities rests with the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. As regards the Irish United Nations Association (IUNA), following a review of Departmental expenditure in 2009, and taking into account also the recommendations of the McCarthy Report that in the current very difficult...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 23 and 26 together. The political and human rights situation in Sri Lanka remains a serious cause of concern. The response of the Sri Lankan Government falls short of addressing the outstanding issues or the legitimate calls from the international community and respected human rights organisations for action. The Sri Lankan Government needs to initiate a...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: There has been no recent discussion of the Basque situation at EU level. As I indicated in my reply to a question of 12 October, I have regular contact with the Spanish Foreign Minister, including at Foreign Affairs Council meetings in Brussels. Our bilateral discussions cover the range of issues relevant to our valued bilateral and historic relationship with Spain, including in the EU...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: Shawan Jabarin is the Director of Al-Haq, an important and respected Palestinian human rights organisation which is supported by Irish Aid. Through our Mission in Ramallah my Department has regular contacts with Al Haq and with Mr. Jabarin personally. He has been consistently refused permission to leave Palestine since June 2006, when he returned from a fellowship at the Irish Centre for...

Written Answers — Iraqi Tribunal Death Sentences: Iraqi Tribunal Death Sentences (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: On 26 October, the Iraqi High Tribunal sentenced to death five representatives of the former regime, of which Iraq's former deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz is perhaps the best known. I have consistently and clearly set out the Government's firm opposition to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances. Ireland was supportive of a prompt expression by the EU of its opposition to these...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Aid Convoys: Humanitarian Aid Convoys (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: As the incident to which the Deputy refers is now the subject of legal proceedings in another jurisdiction, I will not comment on any elements which are sub judice, but will limit my reply to the response of my Department in providing consular assistance to the Irish citizens concerned. My Department has been in contact with the London-based organisers of the Road to Hope convoy since early...