Results 44,101-44,120 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Order of Business (19 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: A very good innings.

Order of Business (19 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: I had the porridge this morning.

Order of Business (19 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: Deputy P. J. Sheehan knows what Kerry did to us over the years, but I will take the matter up with Mr. Bernard Kouchner.

Written Answers — Offshore Islands: Offshore Islands (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: During the 1960s and 1970s the issue of Rockall was a source of legal and political controversy in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. Much of that controversy lay in fears at the time that jurisdiction over Rockall and similar rocks and skerries was thought to be central to claiming mineral rights in the adjacent sea-bed and fishing rights in the surrounding seas, as well as to the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 79, 80, and 117 together. The Goldstone Report is a serious and important document, which seeks to sift fact from allegations and rumour, and to determine so far as possible what happened in and around Gaza in the conflict at the beginning of this year, and how to pursue accountability for any violations of international humanitarian law which occurred....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: On 26 June 2009, President Zelaya was ousted by a military coup which saw him forcibly transported to Costa Rica. Roberto Micheletti was declared interim President and the military took control of the capital Tegucigalpa. On 28 June, EU Foreign Ministers strongly condemned the military actions directed against President Zelaya and called on all relevant parties and institutions to refrain...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 100 and 116 together. As the Deputy is aware, Cuba is undergoing a major transformation, and its relations with the EU have entered a new phase. Given this new context, I visited Cuba in February of this year and discussed a wide range of political, economic and social issues, including human rights. Following that visit, we are now examining how we might...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: I visited Belfast on 11 November 2009 for a series of meetings. At Stormont Castle, I met with First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, together with their Northern Ireland Executive colleagues, Margaret Ritchie and Robin Newton, for a North/South Ministerial Council meeting in Institutional Format. As on previous occasions, we had a very useful discussion...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: The deteriorating security and humanitarian situation in Yemen was discussed by Foreign Ministers at the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Luxembourg at the end of October. Council Conclusions were adopted which expressed the EU's deep concern at the deteriorating security, political and economic situation across the country and underlined the importance of a comprehensive...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Written Question 311 on 10 November 2009, which was as follows: "The Government does not consider that trade or other embargoes on Israel would contribute to the search for peace in the Middle East. I have also made clear that there would be no prospect of reaching consensus at EU level in favour of such a policy. In these circumstances, to link this issue...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the arrest of seven Saharawi human rights activists in Casablanca, Morocco, on 8 October this year. I understand that Moroccan police arrested the group at Casablanca Airport, on their return from a visit to the Saharawi refugee camps in South Western Algeria. While the Moroccan police authorities have confirmed the arrest, there are no further official details on the group's...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 75, 76 and 115 together. As I have stated on many occasions in this House, I am deeply concerned about the situation in Sri Lanka. The immediate priority is still the welfare of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) being held in camps in the north of the country, mainly in the Vavuniya area. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: Finding a solution for our undocumented citizens in the US continues to be a high priority of this Government. We are also committed to developing our bilateral migration arrangements with the United States, through the establishment of a reciprocal two year renewable E3 visa scheme. In discussions with US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, during her visit to Ireland in October, I stressed...

Written Answers — Anti-Piracy Operations: Anti-Piracy Operations (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: Operation Atalanta is the EU's naval operation acting in support of United Nations Security Council Resolutions relating to piracy off the coast of Somalia. It forms part of efforts by the wider international community to address the piracy problem in the region. Operation Atalanta currently consists of naval units from Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain and...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 110 together. On 30 October 2009, a bilateral agreement, entitled A Supplemental Agreement for Cooperation and Technical Assistance and Security, was signed by Colombia and the United States. Articles Three and Four of this Agreement provide for continued U.S. access to specific Colombian facilities in order to undertake mutually agreed activities...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: I visited Washington and New York from 14-17 October 2009. During my visit, I met with American politicians, members of the Irish community and the wider business community, including with clients of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. Every effort was made to promote Irish-American political, economic and cultural relations during the visit. I addressed the European Institute in Washington on...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: As neighbours and fellow members of the European Union, Ireland and Britain enjoy excellent cooperation across a wide range of issues. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, my primary interlocutors are the British Foreign Secretary and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The British Foreign Secretary, Mr.David Miliband M.P., visited Dublin on 1 July and we discussed a range of issues...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of remarks in the press attributed to the Italian State prosecutor in the wake of the recent trial of US and Italian intelligence personnel in Milan. The Government is strongly of the view that, in the fight against terrorism, human rights must be preserved on all occasions. In this context, I would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the Government's strong opposition to...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 83, 89 and 97 together. The Government has made very clear our strong condemnation of the continued building of settlements anywhere in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem. This process is illegal, and involves of its very nature the continual expropriation of Palestinian land and the eviction of Palestinian families and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be aware of the events which resulted in the tragic deaths of very large numbers of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire in the early part of the 20th century. Relations between Armenia and Turkey have long been overshadowed by these events, on which both sides hold different historical interpretations. However, more recently, there have been positive signs of an improvement in...