Results 43,841-43,860 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department pays the rent on office space in two buildings in the State: · Ground floor of Hospitality House, Cumberland Street, Dublin 2. The rental cost in 2009 was €144,900 and the length of the lease is 20 years. However, the lease on these premises is being terminated this year. · Ground floor of Findlater House, 27 -31 Upper O'Connell Street, Dublin 1. The rental cost in 2009...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The current number of full-time equivalent staff in my Department is 1218. This does not include approximately 300 locally-engaged staff serving in Missions abroad. The table below sets out details of the number of full-time equivalent staff working in the areas mentioned by the Deputy. Area of work Number of staff Payroll 4.5 Financial Management 41.9 Human Resources 21.6 Means...

Written Answers — North-South Bodies: North-South Bodies (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are seven North/ Bodies in operation - Waterways Ireland, InterTradeIreland, the Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (Loughs Agency), the Special EU Programmes Body, the North/South Language Body (which comprises Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster Scots Agency), the Food Safety Promotion Board and Tourism Ireland Ltd. The North/South Bodies are a significant part of the...

Written Answers — Anti-Irish Racism: Anti-Irish Racism (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: As I have stated previously, since its opening in 1998, the Consulate General of Ireland in Edinburgh has maintained a wide-ranging dialogue with the Scottish Government on issues. The Consul General remains in close contact with senior officials in the Scottish Government in relation to incidents of sectarianism of the kind referred to in the question. I understand that the Scottish...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 502 together. Accreditation of Irish Diplomatic Missions is decided on a number of criteria which include, inter alia, the provision of consular services. The Department regularly reviews its Diplomatic network of Embassies and Consulates abroad in this context. In addition, the Embassy of Ireland, Sofia, does not routinely deal with visa applications...

Written Answers — Travel Advice: Travel Advice (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: My Department's travel advice is regularly updated and is designed to help Irish citizens make informed decisions before travelling overseas. It reflects a considered assessment of the risks involved and is based on the best information available to the Department. It draws on reports from Irish Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad and advice issued by other countries including Member...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: As I have reported to the House on previous occasions, most recently on 11 February, 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 have commended Judge...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The EU-Israel Association Agreement forms the legal basis for relations between the EU and Israel. As the Deputy has indicated, Article 2 of this Agreement states that relations between the parties, as well as all the provisions of the Agreement itself, will be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which guides their internal and international policy and constitutes an...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that the passport for the applicant issued on 18 March 2010. This application was received by the Passport Service on 23 February 2010 through the regular post channel at the Passport Office in London. The Passport Office in London does not provide a service level guarantee in respect of applications received. However, in normal circumstances...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will appreciate that, as travel has just taken place, details on foreign travel, accommodation and related Ministerial and official costs have not yet been consolidated. I will be happy to write to the Deputy providing the requested details at the earliest opportunity.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The United Nations mandate for the presence of troops with the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan has been renewed on an annual basis since December 2001. The current mandate was extended until 12 October 2010 by Resolution 1890 (2009) adopted by the Security Council on 8 October 2009. This Resolution not only authorised the Member States participating in ISAF to...

Written Answers — Pre-clearance Facilities: Pre-clearance Facilities (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: On 16 March, I had a very useful meeting with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington. We discussed a broad range of foreign policy issues, including the Middle East, Afghanistan, Iran and Haiti. Secretary Clinton was particularly interested in the situation in Northern Ireland in the wake of the historic agreement at Hillsborough last month. I thanked the Secretary for her own...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: I have recently been made aware of the case raised by the Deputy through our Embassy in Riyadh. It appears that the young woman involved has dual Indian-Canadian citizenship. She travelled to Saudi Arabia two years ago with a temporary holiday visa, sponsored by her father who is an Indian citizen resident in Saudi Arabia. Under Saudi law, the sponsor's permission is required for any...

Written Answers — Swimming Pool Projects: Swimming Pool Projects (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Under the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme there are four principal stages in a swimming pool project following the submission of a feasibility study. These, in order of progress, are: Preliminary Report; Contract Documents; Tender and Construction. Two proposals were submitted to my Department by Cork County Council on behalf of Dunmanway. One of the proposals was for a...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department does not lease any buildings within the State.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department's financial management, including payment functions are outsourced to the Financial Shared Services Division of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Department does not engage in means assessment. The number of staff in the Department (including the National Archives of Ireland) primarily employed in financial management, human resource management,...

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: Under the Sports Capital Programme, which is administered by my Department, and part funded from the proceeds of the National Lottery, funding is allocated to sporting and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. While no decision has been made on the timing of the next round of the Programme, €48 million has been provided in my Department's Vote...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The legislation that is required to give affect to the decision to merge the Irish Manuscripts Commission and the National Archives into the National Library of Ireland is being prepared. As stated in my recent responses to similar questions, Heads of a Bill have been drafted and transmitted to the Directors of the National Archives and of the National Library of Ireland and to the Chairman...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The estimated cost of travel associated with St Patrick's Day for my Department is €1,230 which relates to flights and expenses for three nights for the CEO of Culture Ireland who travelled to Washington to engage in the promotion of Irish Arts and Culture, on which there is a special focus this year.

Written Answers — Historical Records: Historical Records (23 Mar 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Minister has no statutory function in relation to the records of private voluntary bodies. However, the Deputy might contact the Athletics Association of Ireland which is the governing body for athletics formed following the dissolution of the NACA and Bord Luthchleas na h-Éireann and which would be in a position to advise in relation to the issues raised. The Association can be...