Results 43,241-43,260 of 50,916 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: Well done.

Passport Security (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 30 together. The current Irish passport system is one of the most secure in the world. The taxpayer has made a significant investment in enhancing the security of passports. The passport has been designed to ensure that the technologies used are those strictly controlled and mandated by the relevant international body, ICAO, International Civil...

Passport Security (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The investigation is at a very early stage and it is important that we get the full facts thereon as early as possible. I am loth to comment specifically on the details on the assertion that has been made. The Deputy asked whether the current passport technology is safe. It is top class and to a very high specification. The Deputy is correct about the Dubai incident in that the passports...

Passport Security (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: Is the Deputy referring to the Dubai report?

Passport Security (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: We said we would provide a redacted version for the Deputies concerned. Members opposite, with the exception of Deputy Michael D. Higgins, were preoccupied over the past fortnight. I will revert to Deputy Pat Breen. We must be careful about our remarks because no issue arises in respect of millions of Irish passports. There are approximately 2 million valid passports of the pre-2005 type...

Passport Security (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: It is an ongoing review. I hope it will be ready in a matter of months.

Irish United Nations Association (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Irish United Nations Association, IUNA, is a non-governmental organisation based in Dublin whose objectives are to promote the aims and activities of the United Nations and its specialised agencies in Ireland. IUNA received funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs to achieve these objectives from 1972 onwards, with €60,000 allocated for this purpose in 2009. In addition to...

Irish United Nations Association (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The feedback I received about outputs, activity levels and so on was not good. Sometimes, I make my views known about some of the recommendations in the McCarthy report, but we cannot blame it for everything, particularly in this context. The bottom line is that we cannot-----

Irish United Nations Association (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The feedback I received about outputs and activity levels was not positive.

Irish United Nations Association (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: Sometimes, we need to make calls on these issues. Subheads and budget allocations cannot be continued forever on the basis that everyone is nice.

Irish United Nations Association (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: I have given the outline and the reasons for taking this decision. In terms of the objectives that the association set for itself, we cannot keep slotting money into various subheads year on year.

Irish United Nations Association (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: It is the underlying rationale. However, we encourage support for UN objectives, particularly in terms of increasing awareness in Ireland of the UN's work. I am available to receive any proposal that comes my way and I will discuss the Deputy's points with my people.

Passport Applications (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: On 2 July, 59,452 applications were in the system, representing a reduction of more than 8,500 applications in the backlog since the middle of June. I am conscious that the level of passport applications in the system remains excessively high. However, one contributory factor is the exceptional demand for passports this year. To date, passport demand is running at 13.8% higher than this...

Passport Applications (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: It is down to DNA.

Passport Applications (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: Many of the Deputy's questions were answered by my original reply. We have recruited the additional 50 staff. The passport service receives approximately 2,900 applications per day. However, I stated that passport demand is running at 13.8% higher than it was at this time in 2009. The main reason for this is the publicity around the delay owing to industrial action. Many people decided...

Passport Applications (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: In view of the back-logs being dealt with, I expect things to return to more normal patterns in due course. The advent of overtime and the recruitment of additional temporary staff has had a positive impact because the number of passports being issued per day now is in the region of 3,200, which is considerable. The Deputy made reference to people queuing up and so on. We are saying,...

Passport Applications (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the extension of the service this is subject to capital funding, and funding generally but I indicated on the last occasion that priority would be given to the north west because of the Northern Ireland demand and so on. I do not envisage anything beyond that in the medium term. Prior to the difficulties we have had, the passport service was working very well, the turnaround...

Passport Applications (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: Questions Nos. 27 and 30 were taken together.

Passport Applications (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Garda and the passport service are investigating the allegations that were raised in a US court. What we have is an allegation and we have to establish the veracity of that assertion. We are not at that stage yet. We have not had access to much of the material because obviously it may be used in the court case. This will involve liaising with the US authorities, and following up with...

Passport Applications (6 Jul 2010)

Micheál Martin: In terms of the flow of information, in the Dubai case when our ambassador went to the Dubai authorities, significant details were provided in terms of numbers and so on. Before one sees anybody one needs to establish the veracity of the assertion being made. We must also be mindful that in the US jurisdiction, as we speak, a court case is ongoing, and we have to be very careful.