Results 44,141-44,160 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — European Economic Policies: European Economic Policies (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: The coming year will be an important one for the Common Agricultural Policy, the Common Fisheries Policy, and for the World Trade Organisation negotiations. The European Commission is expected to bring forward a formal communication in mid 2010 on the future of the CAP. In addition, the consultative process on reform of the CFP is expected to be finalised around the same time. As regards WTO...

Written Answers — Commodity Markets: Commodity Markets (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: Commodity prices clearly impact on all of us, not least in the energy area, where market speculation is considered to be one of the factors which contributed to the volatile prices that we saw in 2008. Volatility in wholesale energy prices has been a cause for considerable concern for the EU Commission and the International Energy Agency (IEA). As a member of the IEA, Ireland has access to a...

Written Answers — EU External Relations: EU External Relations (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: Russia is an important strategic partner for the EU, particularly in terms of trade, energy and the Common Neighbourhood. Trade and investment between the EU and Russia have grown substantially. The EU is Russia's largest trading partner while Russia is now the EU's third biggest trading partner. Negotiations are currently underway between the EU and Russia on a new agreement to replace the...

Written Answers — EU Defence Policy: EU Defence Policy (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the European Union's security and defence policy, ESDP, has developed as the operational arm of the Union's common foreign and security policy (CFSP) and is primarily intended to help prevent conflict overseas and to strengthen security and stability in regions such as the Balkans, the Middle East, Africa and Afghanistan. As reflected in the Ministerial...

Written Answers — European External Relations: European External Relations (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: Together with its EU partners, Ireland attaches considerable importance to achieving stability in the countries of the Western Balkans, which were recognised as having a perspective towards EU membership by the European Council at Thessaloniki in 2003. The European Union's Stabilisation and Association process provides the framework for co-operation on economic, political and legal matters...

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

Micheál Martin: Preventing war, genocide, starvation and human rights abuses are key priorities for the EU and UN worldwide. Unfortunately, no part of the world is totally free from all of these challenges. It is not the policy or practice of the Government to draw up a 'league table' on such issues. The complexity and specificity of individual country situations would render such an exercise difficult and...

Written Answers — European External Relations: European External Relations (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: Relations between the EU and Ukraine have developed in recent years on a number of fronts. At a Summit in September 2008, it was agreed to begin negotiations on a new EU-Ukraine Association Agreement to replace the existing Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. These negotiations have made substantial progress. Ukraine has also been an active participant in the EU's new Eastern Partnership...

European Union Relations. (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: The report on the development of relations between the European Parliament and national parliaments under the Lisbon treaty was adopted by the European Parliament's Committee on Constitutional Affairs on 13 March 2009. Following debate in plenary session, it was adopted by the European Parliament on 7 May 2009. I welcome the report's conclusion that the enhanced role for national parliaments...

European Union Relations. (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am in broad agreement with the Deputy in terms of the points she has made. However, I fundamentally disagree with the point she made at the outset, that given the system we have, this must be led by Government.

European Union Relations. (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: During the campaign on the second referendum on the Lisbon treaty the Oireachtas came together in committee. It did not come together on Government and Opposition lines. I accept most members were pro-Lisbon treaty, but they were not divided along party lines. There is an opportunity for Parliament to come to the Executive. We are often criticised for the way things are organised; that...

European Union Relations. (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am not so sure that it is hugely successful in the House of Commons or that the British system is the ideal one to follow. Every Minister should go before their respective committees prior to going to the Council. I have views as to whether they should get a mandate from every committee they meet prior to every Council meeting. That is something that can be discussed. Currently, it does...

European Union Relations. (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: As we speak, Ministers do not go before every committee. When I was in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment I did not attend the relevant committee prior to attending a Council meeting. There was no great demand for the committee to have the Minister of the day before it either. It is different in the case of the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. We are well used to that...

European Union Relations. (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: -----is the need to communicate Europe more effectively and make it an integral part of political life.

Diplomatic Representation. (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: I have had the opportunity to meet with ambassador Dan Rooney on several occasions since his appointment by President Obama as the United States ambassador to Ireland. As Deputies will be aware, ambassador Rooney is a long time friend of Ireland and his appointment as ambassador was widely welcomed by the Deputies of this House. I was present when ambassador Rooney presented his credentials...

Diplomatic Representation. (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: We discussed the undocumented Irish with ambassador Rooney. I visited the United States subsequently where I had extensive consultations with senators and congressmen on the Hill on this issue. I also met with ILIR, the immigration reform movement, in New York and we had substantive and good discussions on that issue, the critical point being timing, building a consensus across party lines...

Diplomatic Representation. (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: If I may say that a graduate placement programme-----

Diplomatic Representation. (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: You are so tolerant.

Diplomatic Representation. (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: Much good work has been done on the Gateway Ireland portal. We are in the position of establishing a formal network of those who attended Farmleigh and those who did not, and also the graduate placement programme-----

Diplomatic Representation. (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: Thank you, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Diplomatic Representation. (18 Nov 2009)

Micheál Martin: That is crass. It is without substance.