Results 42,961-42,980 of 50,916 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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...

Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of and share the deep concern that has been expressed at the manner in which human rights defenders, including trade union activists have been treated in Colombia. Every death is a tragedy. Despite the Colombian Government's efforts and some progress achieved, the Colombian state institutions have not yet been able to fully address the issue of violence against human rights...

Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the visit by Deputies Higgins, Kitt, Breen and Senator Daly to Colombia. I applaud Deputy Higgins on that initiative. It is important that Oireachtas representatives visit such locations to see and hear at first hand from a variety of different perspectives. This adds value to our consideration of the situation. I agree with the basic points made by Deputy Higgins in regard to...

Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: I do not accept that human rights are residual. The Deputy's point is well made. I, too, have made the point that the agreement represents an opportunity to up-front the human rights dimension and to get greater delivery. The agreement includes a number of binding commitments to implement core labour environmental conventions. It also foresees a mechanism for the monitoring of the...

Foreign Conflicts (18 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...

Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: There has been significant international engagement with this issue for some time, particularly at the UN, which is leading the efforts to co-ordinate works on the ground. The US has been very involved as well through President Obama's special envoy whom we met some time back. He gave us a good appraisal of the situation, albeit that was more than 12 months ago. The EU is concerned about...

Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: At the UN General Assembly.

Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: Certainly. It was on the agenda of the last Council meeting and we will continue to raise it. I will take on board what the Deputy said.

EU Membership (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: On 22 July the International Court of Justice, ICJ, delivered its advisory opinion on the unilateral declaration of independence in respect of Kosovo. The court's advisory ruling held, by a majority of ten to four, that the declaration of independence did not violate international law, Security Council Resolution 1244 or the Constitutional Framework for Provisional Self Government of Kosovo....

EU Membership (18 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: We are clearly at an early stage in the process and, therefore, a specific timeframe has not been set. The very fact that both parties have indicated a willingness to engage represents significant progress, which is positive. We must not lose sight of the fact that there is still tension, particularly in the predominantly Serb areas of northern Kosovo. Dialogue is extremely important to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: Until the enactment of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010, there was no basis in Irish law or no arrangements in place for formally recognising unmarried partners of diplomatic staff serving abroad. The question of the effect of this new legislation, when commenced, on future arrangements for unmarried partners of diplomatic staff serving abroad,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (16 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: As I have stated in reply to previous questions on this matter, Cement Roadstone Holdings owns a minority shareholding of approximately 25% in Mashav Initiating and Development Limited, which is the holding company for the main Israeli cement producer, Nesher. This 25% stake does not give CRH any control over Nesher's operational matters. The Israeli company supplies cement to all of the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my previous written answers to him on this case on 20 and 28 October 2010. I would like to confirm that there have been no new developments in this case since that time. Our Honorary Consul in Phuket has been in e-mail contact with the father offering to meet with him to discuss the case but, to date, she has received no response.

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (11 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Report of the Panel on United Nations Peace Operations, also known as the "Brahimi Report", which was published in 2000, charted a renewed vision for UN peacekeeping that helped make peacekeeping stronger, more effective and comparatively cost-efficient. It addressed many challenges and set down principles which remain central to modern peacekeeping today. In the intervening years,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: In accordance with Public Financial Procedures, it is the Department's policy to pay matured liabilities as and when they arise, subject to presentation of valid invoices and, where appropriate, confirmation that the payee holds a Tax Clearance Certificate from the Irish Revenue Commissioners. The Department is subject to the Prompt Payment of Accounts legislation (which provides that...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). The attached tables set out, for both Votes, the details of reports commissioned by the Department in 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010 and the costs in each case. The table includes 4 reports on the EU which I requested the Department to commission prior to...