Results 43,821-43,840 of 51,015 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Please. I did not interrupt Deputy Burton.

Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Multinational companies today have a far greater research content than was the case five years ago. The reforms announced by the Taoiseach today will streamline in particular the fourth level research arm of the State. It will be brought under the aegis of a single Department to be called the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Innovation to ensure a strong synergy between this research...

Nomination of Members of the Government: Motion (Resumed) (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy may be surprised.

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

Micheál Martin: As stated in the House on 9 February last, in reply to a Parliamentary Question relating to the same case, I am deeply concerned about the disappearance of Mr. Gao Zhisheng, a prominent Chinese human rights lawyer. I note with deep concern that Mr. Gao Zhisheng has now been missing for over a year from his home in Shaanxi province and that on the two occasions on which he has been sighted...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Atlantic Corridor was founded in 1999 to facilitate, through its network of transatlantic and cross border activities and international linkages, the development of projects that will assist in supporting sustainable economic development and enhanced educational attainment. Atlantic Corridor has successfully built and maintained relationships with key partners in the US, Canada and Northern...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The particular difficulties faced by Kurdish people in Syria, and throughout the region, is an issue of continuing concern to Ireland and its EU partners. This is one of a number of instances where minority populations are not being afforded the full rights and protections which should be due to all citizens. We continue to avail, both bilaterally and at EU level, of all appropriate...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The situation of the Coptic community in Egypt is closely monitored by my Department, as is generally the case in respect of religious minorities in the Middle East. The Government condemns acts of discrimination or persecution against persons on grounds of their religious beliefs. There have been various instances and reports of apparently sectarian violence directed against members of the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Zimbabwe continues to be of great concern to the Government and to the European Union as a whole. While we have seen some improvements in the economic sphere since the formation of the unity government, this has not been matched in other crucial areas, including respect for human rights, the rule of law and security sector reform. In particular, the continued intimidation,...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (9 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation), which is administered by the Department's Development Cooperation Division (Irish Aid) which decentralised to Limerick in 2008. The total expenditure by my Department for the purposes referred to by the Deputy is set out in the following table: Year Mileage...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (3 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The issue to which the Deputy refers concerns a long-term dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom regarding the question of sovereignty over the territories of the Falkland (Malvinas), South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, to which both countries lay claim. Since 1965, the United Nations General Assembly has adopted ten Resolutions on the question of the Falkland Islands...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (3 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Ambassador's Residence in Ottawa was acquired by the State in 1960. Only modest investments were made in its upkeep over the years and it had long been in need of substantial refurbishment. In 2006, my Department was advised that total renovation was required to address a wide range of serious structural and maintenance issues. Some of these problems were aggravated by the long term...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (2 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland claims continental shelf extending beyond the standard 200 nautical mile entitlement both to the west and to the south of the country. Under international law these claims must be examined by the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. For the purposes of our claims we have divided the extended shelf into three sectors. The first sector is to the south-west of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (2 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Irish Embassies and Missions abroad are staffed by members of the diplomatic service and the wider civil service. A number of non-diplomatic clerical, administrative and support staff may also be recruited locally by Missions. The selection and recruitment of locally-engaged staff is handled directly by the Missions themselves. Recruitment into civil service grades, including for posts at...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (2 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The review of application procedures for Australian visas, including the appointment of approved medical examiners to assist with these procedures, is a matter for the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Australian visa applications from Ireland are handled by the Australian Immigration Office in London. I have asked my officials to liaise with the Australian Embassy here...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (2 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: EU relations with Colombia are conducted in the framework of regional relations between the EU and the Andean Community, comprising Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. In 2007, negotiations aimed at concluding a comprehensive Association Agreement between the EU and the Andean Community were formally launched. Such Agreements cover all facets of relations between the EU and these countries,...

Written Answers — International Relations: International Relations (2 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland conducts bilateral relations with Kenya through our Ambassador, based in Dar-es-Salaam and the Kenyan Ambassador in Dublin, as well as through multilateral channels. On a bilateral level Ireland established diplomatic relations with Kenya in 1979 with the opening of an Embassy in Nairobi. That mission was closed for financial reasons in 1988 and we are currently represented on a...

Written Answers — International Relations: International Relations (2 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Ireland and Uganda established diplomatic relations in 1995. Ireland is represented in Kampala by Ambassador Kevin Kelly. The Ugandan Ambassador in London, H.E. Mrs. Joan Rwabyomere, is accredited to Ireland. On the multilateral level, Ireland conducts relations with Uganda through our respective Permanent Missions to the United Nations and also through the EU with the Ugandan in Brussels and...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (2 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: It is not possible to speculate on the number of jobs that might be created in my Department if the moratorium on recruitment were to be lifted. However, I can advise the Deputy that, since January 2009, there has been a net reduction of 54 in staffing levels in my Department.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: On 24 February, the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, delivered a statement in the House of Commons in which he apologised for the support given by successive British Governments for child migration schemes under which children aged between three and fourteen were sent to Australia, Canada, South Africa and New Zealand. The schemes ceased operating in the 1960s. Prime Minister Brown...

Written Answers — Passport Security: Passport Security (2 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department takes very seriously the possible misuse of lost or stolen Irish passports and urges passport holders to keep their passport in a secure place and exercise care and vigilance over its use. Since 1 October, 2009 the Department increased the frequency of its reporting of the serial numbers of all lost/mislaid or stolen passports to Interpol through An Garda Síochána, to daily...