Results 44,141-44,160 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Official Engagements. (16 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: Positive vision versus negative delusion.

Official Engagements. (16 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy is only interested in votes and agitation for votes.

Official Engagements. (16 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: It is a short life.

Official Engagements. (16 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should give way to Deputy Barrett.

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 (16 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Barrett, we need that interconnector fast.

Leaders' Questions (16 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: That is not true.

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I welcome this report which contains a series of recommendations designed to enable the Houses to exercise their new powers under the Lisbon Treaty. I was happy to support the motion approved last week by this House which gives effect to a number of these recommendations. I am glad that arrangements are now in place which correspond to the powers laid out in S. 7 of the European Union Act...

Written Answers — Seabed Sovereignty: Seabed Sovereignty (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: The United Nations Law of the Sea Convention permits each state with a coast to claim a continental shelf of 200 nautical miles from its coastline, subject to the right of neighbouring coastal states. Beyond the 200 mile limit, continental shelf rights may be claimed only in accordance with rules set out in the Convention. Ireland claims continental shelf extending beyond the standard 200...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37, 67 and 76 together. President Rajapakse has announced that elections will be held on 26 January 2010, two years ahead of schedule. Candidatures are being accepted up until 17 December. At the moment, the front-runners are considered to be President Rajapakse himself and former General and Chief of Staff, Saratha Fonseca, who played a major role in the...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: On 29 November, Presidential elections took place in Honduras. The centre-right National Party candidate, Porfirio Lobo, was declared the winner with approximately 55% of the vote and will take office on 17 January. These elections took place against the backdrop of the ongoing military coup, which saw President Manuel Zelaya forcibly transported to Costa Rica on 28 June and Roberto...

Written Answers — Global Irish Economic Forum: Global Irish Economic Forum (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: One of the main objectives of the Global Irish Economic Forum was to examine ways in which Ireland and its global community could develop a more strategic relationship with each other, particularly in the economic sector. A key recommendation of the subsequent Report of the Forum, published by the Government on 13 October, was the establishment of a new Global Irish Network. This initiative...

Written Answers — Nuclear Proliferation: Nuclear Proliferation (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 52 and 269 together. I am deeply concerned by the Iranian Government's announcement on 29 November that it intends to build ten new uranium enrichment plants, in a major extension of Iran's nuclear programme. This is especially disappointing given the high level of engagement on the part of the E3+3, the EU generally and the International Atomic Energy...

Written Answers — International Relations: International Relations (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: The establishment of the Irish American Leadership Council is one of the central recommendations of the Ireland-U.S. Strategic Review, which was launched by the Taoiseach in March. The Irish-U.S. relationship is of enormous importance and benefit to both countries. The Taoiseach believed that we needed to take a fresh look at how we are managing our relationship with the US and our community...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 61, 69, 70, 257 and 272 together. In relation to my intended visit to Gaza, I refer Deputies to my reply to Priority Question 31 earlier today. The reasons why this visit could not go ahead is that I was refused access to Gaza, a key component of the visit. I fully intend to renew in due course my request to visit Gaza. The effect of the Israeli...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 77 and 273 together. The situation in Afghanistan remains difficult and fragile. The security situation has deteriorated further this year, with more casualties among the international forces there since the intervention began in 2001. The Taliban have retaken some areas from which they had previously been driven out. Narcotics production and trafficking...

Written Answers — International Relations: International Relations (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I have engaged with the Obama Administration over the last eleven months across a range of foreign policy issues. The Administration has taken courageous initiatives with a view to facilitating progress on key global challenges such as disarmament, non-proliferation and climate change and towards the resolution of some of the world's most intractable conflicts, such as the Middle East peace...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 63 together. As indicated in my response to Question No. 101 of 18 November, the Government continues to liaise closely with British Government counterparts to encourage the parties in Northern Ireland to complete the transfer of policing and justice powers as soon as possible. In this connection, my own contacts with Secretary of State Woodward, those...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: I would propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 245 together. The position of Dean of the diplomatic corps is a ceremonial one. The Dean leads and represents the diplomatic corps on certain State occasions. The longstanding practice whereby the Papal Nuncio assumes the position of Dean of the diplomatic corps is in full accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 and...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: The formal framework for discussion of North/South issues with the Northern Ireland Executive is the North South Ministerial Council, established under Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement. Together with the Taoiseach and a number of Cabinet colleagues, I most recently attended a plenary meeting of the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) in Limavady on 14 December 2009. The Northern...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (15 Dec 2009)

Micheál Martin: In a referendum held on 29 November the Swiss people voted in favour of a proposal to ban the further construction of minarets. The Swiss Government and a majority of the Swiss Parliament had opposed the ban, which does not affect the four existing minarets in Switzerland. Nor does it represent a ban on the further construction of mosques, of which there are currently some 150 in the country....