Results 43,081-43,100 of 50,916 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — EU Meetings: EU Meetings (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, Cathy Ashton was appointed as High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy in December last year. Since that time, I have met the High Representative regularly, including at meetings of the monthly Foreign Affairs Council and at informal 'Gymnich' meetings of EU Foreign Ministers. I have also spoken with HR Ashton directly by telephone on a number...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The events to which the Deputy refers occurred on Thursday 30 September in Quito, when President Correa was assaulted by police officers demonstrating against a proposed law relating to their benefits and salaries. The President was subsequently confined by a group of police demonstrators in a Quito hospital until released through the intervention of the Armed Forces. Five persons were...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is a very important part of the institutional architecture of the Good Friday Agreement. It sends a clear message to all communities in Northern Ireland that their fundamental rights will be protected. I met most recently with Professor Monica McWilliams, Chief Commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, in Dublin on 9 September....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I have on many previous occasions expressed concern at the lack of results of the dialogue between the Dalai Lama and the Government of China. It is deeply regrettable that reports following the ninth round of dialogue, held in January 2010, indicate that very little progress has been made in achieving a resolution to the situation in Tibet. As stated on many previous occasions in this...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Article 29.5 of the Constitution requires that international agreements to which the State becomes a party, with the exception of agreements of a "technical and administrative character", be laid before Dáil Éireann. The policy of my Department is that all agreements, including those of a technical or administrative character, should be laid before Dáil Éireann as a matter of best...

Written Answers — Oireachtas Committee Reports: Oireachtas Committee Reports (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Lisbon Treaty provided for the strengthening of the role of national parliaments, as set out in Article 12 of the Treaty on European Union and in Protocols No 1 and 2 appended to the Treaty. This was part of the significant measures contained in the Treaty to enhance the democratic legitimacy of the Union. Last year I introduced to this House legislation which gave effect to a number of...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Transnistria is an area of the Republic of Moldova between the Dniester/Nistru River and the Ukrainian border inhabited mainly by Russian and Ukrainian speakers. In the course of the break-up of the Soviet Union, it unilaterally declared independence from the Republic of Moldova, due mainly to fears over a possible reunification of Moldova with Romania. Transnistria's independence has not...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland is completely opposed to the use of stoning, a practice which has no place in the twenty-first century. Stoning is a particularly cruel method of execution which amounts to torture. I have made clear Ireland's concerns about human rights in Iran and our abhorrence of the practice of stoning in contacts with members of the Iranian Government, most recently at a meeting which I had...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are several countries in Africa which are suffering from conflict or food shortages. I do not propose to go into details on each of them individually. The international community continues to intervene to address these issues on the African continent, whether on a bilateral or multilateral basis. With regard to the issue of hunger and famine, it is estimated that more than a billion...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland, together with our EU partners, is committed to enhancing stability in the Western Balkans region. The EU perspective for the countries in the region, agreed at the June 2003 Thessaloniki European Council, is essential in helping to build and maintain this stability. The EU's Stabilisation and Association process provides the framework for cooperation on economic, political and...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Along with my EU colleagues, I continue to give a very high priority to supporting efforts to reach a comprehensive peace agreement in the Middle East. The issue is discussed very frequently at the Foreign Affairs Council, and I have made a number of visits to the region myself, to meet with the leaders, learn about the issues, and encourage their efforts. I have reported in more detail...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to the answers I gave on 27 April and 6 July to his questions on the matter. Dr Kian Tajbakhsh is a dual US-Iranian national, arrested in July 2009. Dr. Tajbakhsh's case was heard by an appeals court on 10 February and his sentence was set at five years for a variety of charges linked to the post-election disturbances in Iran. These charges have been strenuously denied by...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Assistance: Humanitarian Assistance (12 Oct 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 in January 2011. The referenda are envisaged by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: Mozambique is an important partner for both Ireland and the European Union in Africa, and a priority country within Ireland's official development cooperation programme. Notwithstanding considerable economic and social progress since the conclusion of its civil war in 1992, Mozambique remains one of the poorest countries in the world, dependent on external resources. Ireland, together with...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The issue of enlargement features regularly on the agenda of the General Affairs Council which I attend and in my bilateral discussions with EU Ministerial colleagues. The December 2009 Council adopted detailed conclusions, subsequently endorsed by the European Council, regarding enlargement generally and in relation to the position of various aspirant member states. It underlined that...

International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: In regard to current reforms to peacekeeping and peace building, our permanent representative to the UN, Anne Anderson, has been asked by the Secretary General to lead work in these areas. This reflects the high respect in which we are held by the United Nations. We take leadership positions on a number of issues, the most recent of which was our significant diplomatic achievement on the...

International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should probably do a bit of homework and acquaint himself with what has happened in the intervening in period and with the progress that has been made.

International Agreements (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: I mean that sincerely. Much work has been undertaken. We will continue with the leadership role we have adopted in regard to many of the aspects of the work of the United Nations. We will continue to push for reform where it is needed within the United Nations, as we do in respect of all the bilateral meetings we have held.

Middle East Peace Process (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The direct talks which began in Washington on 2 September continued in two further sessions, in Egypt and Jerusalem, on 14 September and 15 September. The talks involved Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Abbas, with very restricted teams on both sides. The United States, usually through Senator Mitchell personally, is present at all sessions as a broker, but not a direct participant....

Middle East Peace Process (12 Oct 2010)

Micheál Martin: The fundamental lesson to be drawn from the Northern Ireland peace process is that hurdles were jumped where there was a will on all sides to reach agreement. As I stated in my earlier reply, there is still a significant lack of trust in terms of one side trusting that the other will go the full road towards a solution.