Results 44,061-44,080 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Finance (No. 2) Act 2008 provided for the introduction of an exemption from income tax in respect of a benefit-in-kind arising from a bicycle or associated safety equipment being supplied by an employer to an employee for the purposes of commuting to work. Since the introduction of the Cycle to Work Scheme, 23 officers in my Department have applied to avail of this tax exemption. In each...

Northern Ireland: Statements (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I thank Deputies for their contributions this afternoon and welcome the expressions of support and goodwill across the Chamber for this agreement. Such unity of purpose in this House has been a great strength of the peace process and will remain important as we encourage the parties in Northern Ireland to build on the progress reached at Hillsborough. The spirit of partnership which has...

Northern Ireland: Statements (9 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I assure Deputy Flanagan that the Garda and the PSNI are working very effectively together to deal with the threat posed by the so-called dissidents and criminal elements that are out to undermine the progress that has been made in Northern Ireland in recent years. The Hillsborough agreement is the best answer to those few people who remain determined to undermine the situation and are very...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (4 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to Question No. 397, reference No. 4697/10, answered on Tuesday 2 February.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (3 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my answer yesterday to PQ 5297. "The Government takes a close interest in the situation of Roma families in Kosovo and, in particular, residents of the camps around Mitrovica which are exposed to high levels of lead contamination. The Taoiseach raised the living conditions of the Roma when he met with President Sejdiu and Prime Minister Thaci during his visit to Kosovo...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (3 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has a coordinating role within Government in relation to North/South cooperation, in particular in support of the work of the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC). In the period since the restoration of the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly in May 2007, there have been five meetings of the NSMC in Plenary format, four meetings of the NSMC in...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday and St Andrews Agreements, the Government is committed to the full and effective implementation of all aspects of these Agreements, which provide the basis for sustainable peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. Since the autumn, and throughout January, I have been involved in intensive efforts with my British counterpart, Shaun Woodward, to assist...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's decentralisation programme announced in 2003, the headquarters of Irish Aid, the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs, has decentralised to Limerick. Information in relation to staff numbers and office accommodation, leased by the Office of Public Works, is set out below in tabular form as requested by the Deputy. Property Date of...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: There are currently four bodies, which operate under the aegis of my Department: the Development Education Advisory Committee; the Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee (previously known as Díon); the Fulbright Commission (The Board of the Ireland — United States Commission for Educational Exchange); and the Audit Committee of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Seven other...

Written Answers — Industrial Development: Industrial Development (2 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Global Irish Economic Forum was convened by the Government with two broad objectives: to explore how the Irish at home and abroad, and those with a strong interest in Ireland, could work together and contribute to our overall efforts at economic recovery; and to examine ways in which Ireland and its global community could develop a more strategic relationship with each other, particularly...

Written Answers — Child Abuse: Child Abuse (2 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: I met with the Papal Nuncio, H.E. Archbishop Giuseppe Leanza, on Tuesday 8 December to discuss the report of the Dublin Archdiocese Commission of Investigation and the issue of the cooperation received by the Commission from the Holy See and successive Papal Nuncios as it carried out its investigations. At this meeting, I emphasised to Archbishop Leanza the importance of the Vatican providing...

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

Micheál Martin: The Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) is intended, when it comes into force, to set up a mechanism that will make it possible for individuals or groups of individuals to submit a complaint to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in regard to alleged violations of their economic, social and cultural rights by...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (2 Feb 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has no EU Directives awaiting transposition. While my Department has an overall coordinating role in EU matters, responsibility for transposing EU measures into Irish law rests with those Departments with responsibility for the policy areas covered by individual EU measures. My colleague, Mr. Dick Roche T.D., Minister of State for European Affairs, chairs an...

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

Micheál Martin: The Government takes a close interest in the situation of Roma families in Kosovo and, in particular, residents of the camps around Mitrovica which are exposed to high levels of lead contamination. The Taoiseach raised the living conditions of the Roma when he met with President Sejdiu and Prime Minister Thaci during his visit to Kosovo on 22 December 2008. The Deputy will also be aware that...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: The following table gives the number of days leave granted to civil servants in my Department in 2007, 2008 and 2009 in respect of trade union business, in line with established practice. Year Number of days 2007 22.5 2008 17.5 2009 14

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: The following are the details requested by the Deputy in respect of 2009: Union Amount of subscriptions collected in 2009 Association of Assistant Secretaries and Higher Grades (A.A.S.H.G.) â'¬7,802.88 Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (AHCPS) â'¬110,348.84 Civil and Public Services Union (CPSU) â'¬147,588.76 IMPACT inc. Federated Government Employees (FGE)...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: The following table gives details of the number of staff in my Department in each of the grades concerned on 1 December 2002, 1 January 2007 and 1 January 2010. We have also included a number of Departmental and specialist grades. The figures include officers from other Government Departments serving in our missions abroad, most notably, Ireland's Permanent Representation to the EU in...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (27 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: The Government has built strong links with China, and last year celebrated the thirtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations. China is a priority country under the Government's Asia Strategy, which was established in 1999 to develop closer economic and political relations with certain countries in the Asian region. Since the Asia Strategy was launched, there has been a significant increase in...

Written Answers — International Money Laundering: International Money Laundering (26 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the reports to which the Deputy refers. There are widespread allegations relating to North Korea's financial arrangements abroad and to possible money-laundering activities. The allegations made in these reports are even more regrettable in the context of the plight of ordinary people in North Korea. While the North Korean regime continues to invest precious resources in its...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (26 Jan 2010)

Micheál Martin: As I stated previously in my reply of 19 January, I am aware of the case of Dr. Sadok Shourou, who was re-arrested on 3 December 2008, shortly after serving nearly 18 years of a 30 year sentence for his leadership of an Islamist group allegedly attempting to overthrow the Tunisian government. I understand that Dr. Shourou was arrested for the second time on foot of comments he had made...