Results 43,881-43,900 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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...

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

Micheál Martin: Negotiations on an Association Agreement with Syria began in May 1998 on the basis of a mandate agreed by the Council of Ministers. The text of a draft Agreement was initialled by the Commission and Syria in 2004 and submitted for approval to the Council. The Council did not approve signature of the Agreement at the time because of concerns regarding Syria's policies towards Lebanon. In the...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together. I can categorically state that I have not, at any time, authorised the use of Irish passports by persons who are not Irish citizens. I have also never received any request from another Government or any foreign intelligence agency seeking the use of Irish passports by non-nationals. The 2008 Passports Act provides strict guidelines on the...

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

Micheál Martin: My Department's expenditure on car park spaces in the State amounted to €14,375.00 in 2009.

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

Micheál Martin: The Scheme of Performance Related Pay Awards in the Civil Service applied to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. It did not apply to Secretaries General. In 2008, a total of €656,000 was paid to officers in my Department under this Scheme. The payments made related to the performance of 48 officers during the preceding calendar year. These payments were subject to tax...

Written Answers — Counterfeit Passport: Counterfeit Passport (25 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 to 124, inclusive, together. The matter raised by the Deputy is extremely serious. The Government takes grave exception to the forgery and misuse of Irish passports. We are deeply concerned that the security of our citizens could have been placed in jeopardy by the misuse of Irish passports and that the excellent reputation which the Irish passport...

Written Answers — Letters of Freedom: Letters of Freedom (25 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: Many States require non-nationals, before they can get married in their jurisdiction, to produce a certificate from their country of origin that they are free to marry. These are usually known as Certificat de Coutume, or in the case of marriages in Italy Nulla Ostas and, in effect, certify to the civil authorities of another State that a named Irish citizen is, in terms of Irish law, free to...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (24 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: Supporting Irish communities abroad is a priority for this Government. Since 2004 my Department has allocated almost €70 million to Irish community organisations throughout the world through the Emigrant Support Programme. A significant portion of this funding, including some €5 million in 2009, was used to support our emigrant community in the United States. Funding is prioritised to...

Written Answers — Counterfeit Passports: Counterfeit Passports (24 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 318 on 23 February in relation to this issue, which was as follows: "Police investigations into the assassination in Dubai of Mr. Mahmoud al-Mabhouh on 20 January are continuing. The identities of those involved in the assassination, and the organization or group responsible, remain to be established. I met with the Israeli Foreign...

Written Answers — Nuclear Disarmament Initiative: Nuclear Disarmament Initiative (24 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No 315 from him on 23 February in relation to the background to this issue. Further to that reply, I would add the following: Existing sanctions on Iran are based on UN Security Council Resolutions 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007) and 1803 (2008), which have been translated into EU measures under various Council Regulations and Common Positions. In...

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (24 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The US embargo on Cuba was imposed in 1962. Last year, President Obama initiated a review of policy towards Cuba. This review led to the reversal of certain sanctions including the lifting of restrictions on remittances and family travel to Cuba; the resumption of direct postal service between the two countries and the revival of biannual discussions on migration. Indeed, on 12 February...

Written Answers — International Trade: International Trade (24 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my reply to PQ 314 of yesterday, 23 February, copied below. "There has been a United States embargo on Cuba since 1962. Among the measures applied on foot of this embargo is a ban on the transfer of funds to Cuba involving United States financial institutions. The EU has a long-standing position on the US embargo, most recently expressed in the EU Presidency statement...

Written Answers — Departmental Functions: Departmental Functions (24 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: Management structures, governance and decision making frameworks in my Department are subject to constant review in the light of the regularly changing and evolving responsibilities and priorities. In September 2009 a special Unit with responsibility for Strategy and Performance issues was established under the direction of an Assistant Secretary. Among the tasks assigned to this Unit is a...