Results 42,841-42,860 of 50,916 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: The United Nations Convention on Jurisdictional Immunities of States and their Property was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on 2 December 2004. The Convention sets out rules on the immunities of states, and the property of states, from the civil jurisdiction of the courts of other states. It does not address the jurisdiction of courts in criminal proceedings. The Convention...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) is intended, when it comes into force, to set up a mechanism that will make it possible for individuals or groups of individuals to submit a complaint to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in regard to alleged violations of their economic, social and cultural rights by...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: Rockall is a small uninhabitable rock, 25 x 30 metres wide, located approximately 160 nautical miles west of the Scottish islands of St. Kilda and 230 nautical miles to the north-west of Donegal. It marks a point at which the Rockall Bank, part of the very large Hatton-Rockall area of continental shelf extending under the north-east Atlantic Ocean, protrudes 21 metres above sea level....

Written Answers — Legal Services: Legal Services (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: My Department has a Legal Division, staffed by qualified legal professionals who provide legal advice on a wide range of international legal issues. Having such 'in-house' legal experts reduces the costs which would be incurred if the Department was to engage externally for similar services. The majority of other instances where legal advice and services have been required by my Department...

Written Answers — Legal Proceedings: Legal Proceedings (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: According to my Department's Litigation Database no court cases were initiated during the period in question in which either myself or my predecessor were named as a defendant in the District Court, Circuit Court or High Court.

Written Answers — Legal Services: Legal Services (12 Jan 2011)

Micheál Martin: My Department has not engaged in tendering for legal services or engaged legal advice for the preparation of tenders for such services during the period in question. There are no State Agencies for which my Department is responsible. There are four bodies which operate under the aegis of my Department - the Development Education Advisory Committee (DEAC); the Government Emigrant Services...

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 — 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 — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: Light refreshments, such as tea and coffee, are provided at certain meetings and functions held in Iveagh House, and come from the stocks centrally purchased by my Department's Protocol Division. Details of expenditure by Protocol Division on tea, coffee and bottled water, including the relevant service provider, are included in the table below. It has not been possible in the time available...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (14 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I make appointments to four bodies - the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission), the Development Education Advisory Committee and the Irish Aid Expert Advisory Group. I re-appointed Ms. Una Halligan to the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational...

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 — Foreign Investigations: Foreign Investigations (9 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will recall from our recent correspondence, our Embassy in Maputo and our Honorary Consul in Botswana have been closely following the case mentioned by him. Our Honorary Consul was informed last August by the Director of the Department of Justice, Defence and Security that a thorough review of the case had begun. The Deputy will also recall that the Director indicated that...

Written Answers — Departmental Functions: Departmental Functions (9 Dec 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Consular Section of my Department can authenticate or apostille documents executed in Ireland that are to be used in other countries. Authenticating or apostilling a document simply means confirming that a signature, seal or stamp appearing on the document is genuine. Authenticating or apostilling does not mean that the content of a document is accurate or that the Department of...