Results 43,741-43,760 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am not aware of any representations made to my Department in respect of matters referred to in the Deputy's question.

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Irish Diplomatic Network is made up of 75 overseas missions, in addition to offices in Armagh and Belfast. The network consists of 58 Embassies, 7 multilateral missions and 10 Consulates General and other offices overseas. In addition to their country of primary accreditation, many Ambassadors are also accredited to additional countries on a non-resident basis. The Irish diplomatic...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The European Union has a long and close relationship with Turkey. Accession negotiations were opened in 2005, and are continuing. Ireland makes a constructive input to those negotiations. As a beneficiary of a past enlargement, and on the experience of more recent accessions, Ireland is generally supportive of enlargement. Enlargement bolsters economic and political reform processes and...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 123 together. I accompanied the Taoiseach on his St Patrick's Day visit to Washington D.C. from 15-18 March 2010 and to his meetings with President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senators Pat Leahy and Chris Dodd, Congressman Ritchie Neal and other members of the Congressional Friends of Ireland Group. I also had a very useful...

Written Answers — Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Government welcomes Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's recent initiative to ask the InterAcademy Council to conduct an independent review of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) processes and procedures. It is important that the occurrence of a small number of inaccuracies be reviewed and placed in context, and not allowed to obscure the wider picture of the contribution of...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: As stated in the House on 9 February and on 11 March last, in reply to Parliamentary Questions relating to the same case, I have been deeply concerned about the disappearance of Mr. Gao Zhisheng, a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer. I am therefore heartened by press reports yesterday which suggest that Mr. Gao Zhisheng appears to be alive and that he has been in contact with associates....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The EU continues to play a key role in seeking a resolution to the conflict between Georgia and Russia following the war in August 2008. As the Deputy is aware, the then French EU Presidency negotiated a cease-fire between Russia and Georgia on 12 August 2008. A peace plan was subsequently agreed on 8 September 2008. The EU has consistently called on all sides to implement the terms of the...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Details of the numbers of passports reported as lost or stolen since 2005 are set out in the table below. Year Total Passports issued Lost or mislaid Stolen Total lost, mislaid or stolen % of total issued 2005 630,000 31,500 5,900 37,400 5.90% 2006 630,000 32, 820 5,910 38,730 6.15% 2007 601,000 31,500 4,959 36,459 6.07% 2008 576,617 31,262 5,002 36,264 6.29% 2009 579,508...

Written Answers — Europe 2020 Strategy: Europe 2020 Strategy (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Government has consistently held the view that any new European Strategy for Jobs and Growth (also known as "Europe 2020") must be effective in steering a comprehensive exit from the financial and economic crisis in the short term, while also equipping the EU towards a higher sustainable growth potential, accompanied by job creation, in the medium to long term. We hold that the primary...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: As I informed the Dáil on 16th February, I made clear the Irish Government's deep regret at this decision to my Swedish counterpart, Mr. Carl Bildt, when he telephoned me to communicate the decision on the evening before the official announcement was made. I reiterated this regret and disappointment in a subsequent letter I wrote to Minister Bildt. The Government recognises that each...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of and concerned by the recent arrest of opposition supporters, including one of their leaders Halifa Sallah, as well as that of the former Minister of Fisheries, Antouman Saho. The broader context to these incidents is a series of dismissals in the past two months of senior officials in the police and defence forces and members of the Cabinet. This was accompanied by a wave of...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: As a country in transition, Cuba is faced with far reaching choices regarding its future. The EU's position is that it is the right of Cuban citizens to decide independently about their future. The EU's longstanding Common Position on Cuba is reviewed on an annual basis at the June Foreign Affairs Council. In the most recent Council conclusions on Cuba in June 2009, the Council reaffirmed...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The persistence of the conflict in Darfur, albeit at a lower level than the intense violence of 2003-2004, and the ongoing suffering of the people in the region are of grave concern. The UN estimates that the past seven years of conflict there have resulted in the deaths of over 300,000 people and the displacement of nearly three million. The Doha peace process is the focal point for...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are no state agencies operating under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The number of Irish Passports issued over the last five years are as follows: Year Total Passports issued 2005 630,000 2006 630,000 2007 601,000 2008 576,617 2009 579,508

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: A passport application for the named person was registered with the Passport Office in Balbriggan on 8 March, 2010. It was received through the Passport Express service which is a ten day guarantee service that is provided by the Passport Office in partnership with An Post. However, due to industrial action the Passport Express guarantee was suspended on 4 March. As a result it is presently...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 286, 292 and 298 together. Together with its EU partners, Ireland attaches considerable importance to achieving stability in the countries of the Western Balkans which were recognised as having the perspective of EU membership at the 2003 European Council in Thessaloniki. The European Union's Stabilisation and Association process provides the framework for...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are two main international military missions in the Western Balkans, both of which are under a UN mandate: the EU mission EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR). Both missions are currently undergoing transformation. EUFOR Althea, a more than 1,900-strong mission, continues to provide a military presence that contributes to the calm and stable...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The issue of enlargement was discussed by EU Foreign Ministers at the December 2009 General Affairs Council. The Council's conclusions, subsequently endorsed by the European Council, underlined that enlargement is based on consolidating commitments, fair and rigorous conditionality and the EU's capacity to integrate new members, and that each country is assessed on its own merits. The General...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (30 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: No part of the world is totally free from human rights abuses, and some countries in Africa also experience war and hunger. As I have stated on previous occasions in answer to very similar questions, it is not the policy of the Government to list countries most seriously affected by such issues, and I shall therefore not focus on individual countries. Human rights concerns remain central to...