Results 8,061-8,080 of 50,294 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Territorial Claims: Territorial Claims (14 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea each State Party to the Convention is entitled to continental shelf for 200 nautical lines from its coast. States with an extended continental shelf that stretches beyond 200 nautical miles are obliged to lodge a claim with the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf within 10 years of becoming party to the Convention....

Written Answers — Foreign Investigations: Foreign Investigations (14 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Question Nos. 198 and 199 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 73 of last Thursday, 9 December, in connection with this case mentioned by him. As he will be aware from that reply, the Department of Foreign Affairs is still awaiting a formal response from the Office of the President of Botswana with the findings of their review of this case and until this...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (14 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am aware that a number of blogs on the Internet have alleged recently that the US Department of Defence forced detainees at the Guantánamo Bay detention facility to take a high dosage of the anti-malarial drug, mefloquine, whether they presented with malarial symptoms or not. These remain unsubstantiated allegations and have not been raised with the US authorities. Together with our EU...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Communications: Diplomatic Communications (14 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: The exchange of information between governments, reporting by diplomatic missions and the assessment of diplomatic personnel are an important aspect of the formulation of foreign policy and the conduct of international relations. For a variety of reasons, including political and commercial, it is important that such exchanges take place in confidence. This is not inconsistent with a...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (15 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: The charge that will apply in future to passport applicants over sixty five will be that of a standard adult passport. The cost of such a passport at present is 80 euro.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (15 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: A total of seventy-five civil servants are assigned from Ireland to the Permanent Representation in Brussels, of which 39 are officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs and 36 are from other Government Departments and Offices. A full breakdown by grade is contained in the table below. Officers assigned to the Permanent Representation do not receive extra remuneration in connection with...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (16 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: For 2011, the Government has provided an overall allocation for Official Development Assistance (ODA) of €669 million.Of this total, €534 million will be administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and a further estimated €135 million will come from other Government Departments, including Ireland's share of the EU Development Cooperation budget. The 2011 allocation ensures our ODA...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware from my previous replies on this matter, I am very conscious of the discriminatory treatment of the Baha'i community in Iran and of the particular case of the seven former Baha'i community leaders (known collectively as the Yaran), who have been in detention since 2008 and were sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment in August 2010, with this sentence subsequently...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: The original Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) for the civil service was introduced in May 2000 following central discussions between Civil Service Management and Unions. Following its evaluation by external consultants in June 2004 it was agreed to expand the system in June 2005 by integrating it with other aspects of human resource management including in relation to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (16 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of my Department is set out in the table below. Information regarding the previous public service employment of the staff in question, if any, is not readily available. Post Numbers employed in 2009 Salary Scales Number employed in 2010 Salary Scales Temporary Clerical Officers 53 Clerical Officer Standard Scale€23,175- €37,584 per...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: Working Holiday agreements are concluded between Ireland and other Governments on a reciprocal basis. For Irish citizens the application is administered directly with the Embassy concerned or through a sponsoring organisation. While precise numbers are not available in relation to the number of visa applications by Irish citizens approved in all the countries listed, the table beneath sets...

Written Answers — Personal Debt: Personal Debt (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the issue to which the Deputy refers. The Irish citizens concerned have been in contact with our Embassy in Sofia. The Embassy advised that they should seek independent legal advice and provided a list of English-speaking lawyers. The Deputy will appreciate that it is not possible for me or our Embassies to become involved in individual private transactions. A number of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: ICT equipment in my offices is in line with that provided to all staff in the Department. Details of the costs involved are set out in the table below. Year Computer Hardware Software 2007 Nil Nil 2008 â'¬25,000 â'¬12,536 2009 Nil â'¬1,331 2010 Nil â'¬2,787

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). Over the five years 2006 to 2010, no payments were made from either Vote to the consultants referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: My Department currently operates six websites for which costs are set out below. The costs include support & maintenance, hosting and domain registration services. Website Cost for Maintaining Sites for 2010 Average Number of Unique Visitors per month Department of Foreign Affairs family of websites including 68 Mission websites â'¬59,075 The Department website receives 2,880 visits...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware from my previous replies on this matter, I am very conscious of the discriminatory treatment of the Baha'i community in Iran and of the particular case of the seven former Baha'i community leaders (known collectively as the Yaran), who have been in detention since 2008 and were sentenced to 20 years' imprisonment in August 2010, with this sentence subsequently...

Written Answers — Product Labelling: Product Labelling (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: The regulation of produce labelling is not the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs, but is overseen by a number of domestic Departments. In my reply to Question number 299 on 9 November 2010, I reported to the House on the results of my Department's discussion of this issue with those Departments. Taking the matter further forward within the regulatory framework would be a...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: The achievement of a Palestinian State on the current Occupied Territories has been an important objective of successive Irish Governments. This state must be based on the 1967 borders, and no alteration to those borders will be recognised unless it is the subject of mutual agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. This is also the policy of the EU. The Government works in a number of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: In 2008, my Department placed a number of questions in Lansdowne Market Research's regular omnibus survey of 1,000 adults throughout the country. The surveys took place from 21 February 2008 to 6 March 2008 and from 2 December 2008 to 24 December 2008. The questions explored the public's attitude to a number of development issues. The amount spent was €14,000. This was part of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: There are four bodies operating under the aegis of my Department - the Development Education Advisory Committee (DEAC); the Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee; the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group; and The Board of the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission). The three advisory committees, the administration of which are serviced...