Results 43,821-43,840 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland does not have a resident embassy in Cote d'Ivoire, but is accredited to Cote d'Ivoire through our Permanent Mission to the UN in New York. The Ambassador of Cote d'Ivoire in London is also accredited to Ireland on a non-resident basis. The most recent visit to Ireland at Ministerial level was 22 February 2007, when Côte d'Ivoire's Minister for Economy and Finance and Minister for...

Written Answers — Haiti Earthquake: Haiti Earthquake (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Government shares the concern of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs that the tragic earthquake of 12 January should not lead to further indebtedness for Haiti, and that vital resources should not be diverted from the response to the disaster. More broadly, the Government remains strongly committed to international efforts to cancel or ease the debt burden on developing...

Written Answers — Rapid Response Corps: Rapid Response Corps (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 142 and 148 together. The Government established a Rapid Response Initiative following the 2004 Tsunami in order to build Ireland's capacity to respond quickly to humanitarian crises and to provide a mechanism for the seconding of skilled volunteers to humanitarian organisations in emergency situations. The Initiative involves the establishment of a Rapid...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: As stated on many previous occasions in this House, I am firmly of the view that dialogue between the Chinese government and the Dalai Lama is the best way to address differences and tensions in Tibet over issues of culture, language, religion and identity. While our Government firmly adheres to the 'One China' policy, I believe that dialogue on Tibet is as much in the interests of China, its...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: For 2010, the Government has provided an overall allocation for Official Development Assistance (ODA) of €671 million. Of this total, €536 million will be administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and a further estimated €135 million will come from other Government Departments, together with Ireland's share of the EU Development Cooperation budget. The allocation involves a...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I appreciate the concerns of the Deputy, but I want to assure him that in my discussions on all aspects of development with my EU colleagues, there has been no drift towards the militarisation of aid. The European Union, through the Member States and the European Commission, is the largest provider of development aid internationally, providing over half of all Official Development Assistance...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that the already difficult circumstances faced by the world's poorest people are being exacerbated by global challenges, including economic recession, climate change, and serious fluctuations in food and energy prices. The poorest populations are inevitably the least well equipped to cope with these multiple development challenges, as a direct...

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

Micheál Martin: The north-south peace process in Sudan is at a critical juncture as the country prepares for national, parliamentary and presidential elections in April. The elections are envisaged by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the National Congress Party (NCP) and the Sudanese People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), which brought an end to the north-south conflict in Sudan. The CPA...

Written Answers — Climate Change Conference: Climate Change Conference (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland had hoped that the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen would result in a comprehensive legally binding agreement to succeed the Kyoto Protocol. This did not happen, but we remain committed to achieving a binding climate change agreement within the UN framework as soon as possible. Ireland will continue to work within the EU, and in our bilateral contacts, to advance the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions 124 and 141 together. Over a period of several months, I have been involved in intensive efforts with my British counterpart, Shaun Woodward, to assist and encourage the Northern Ireland parties to complete the devolution of policing and justice and to address other outstanding aspects of the St. Andrews Agreement that still require implementation. Towards the end...

Written Answers — OECD Enhanced Engagement: OECD Enhanced Engagement (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The OECD agreed in 2007 to launch programmes of 'Enhanced Engagement', with a view to possible membership, with Brazil, China, India, Indonesia and South Africa (EE5), and to expand the OECD's relations with regions of strategic interest, starting with Southeast Asia. Enhanced Engagement was a unilateral initiative by the OECD with no pre-determined path. The starting position was that...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The practice of female genital mutilation is a clear violation of the human rights of women and girls. It has serious social, health and psychological consequences, and it infringes on children's rights to special protection. The World Health Organisation estimates that between 100 million and 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of female genital...

Written Answers — US Tax Policy: US Tax Policy (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: President Obama gave a wide ranging State of the Union Address with a core focus on restoring the US economy. The address covered issues such as the need for innovation, the stabilisation of the financial system, tackling unemployment and addressing the Government deficit. In his State of the Union Address, President Obama reiterated his commitment to end "tax breaks for companies that ship...

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

Micheál Martin: The prospects for sustainable development Afghanistan are directly linked to the establishment of peace and security in Afghanistan and the surrounding region. Decades of conflict, combined with frequent natural disasters, have left much of the Afghan population in a very vulnerable position. It is estimated that 42% of the population lives on less than US$1 per day. Clearly, Afghanistan will...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: In the 2010 Estimates for Public Services and Summary Public Capital Programme, published on 9 December 2009, total savings of over €10m were announced for the Administrative Budget of my Department. A further €6.2.m in savings will accrue as a result of the reductions in public service pay announced on the same day. Taken together the reduction of €16.2m represents an 8% cut in the...

Written Answers — Development Assistance Committee: Development Assistance Committee (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The establishment of the China-Development Assistance Committee Study Group in 2009 was a joint initiative by the Development Assistance Committee of the OECD and the International Poverty Reduction Centre in China, which itself is a joint initiative of the Chinese Government and the UN Development Programme. The OECD Development Assistance Committee is the key international development forum...

Written Answers — Combatting Piracy: Combatting Piracy (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: EU NAVFOR Atalanta is the EU's naval mission acting in support of a series of UN Security Council Resolutions calling for international community action to combat piracy off the coast of Somalia. Under its mandate, Operation Atalanta contributes to the protection of vessels of the World Food Programme delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia; to the protection of vulnerable vessels...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I have been very concerned by the most recent violence in and around Jos in Plateau State, Nigeria, which saw hundreds killed and thousands displaced from 17-21 January. It follows on from violence in November 2008 and earlier, and is a result of ongoing tensions, which the government has been attempting to settle. Since the violence in 2008 inter-religious dialogue has been pursued and an...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 151 together. As I have reported to the House on previous occasions, I consider the Goldstone Report to be a serious and important contribution to efforts to determine the truth of allegations about events in Gaza a year ago, to establish accountability for them, and to seek to prevent a recurrence of such alleged infringements of international law. I...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (16 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: Through the overseas aid programme the Government provides assistance to over ninety countries worldwide. Nine have been designated as Programme Countries for Irish Aid, where we have a commitment to long term strategic assistance. These are Ethiopia, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia. In 2009, direct programme funding of €198 million was...