Results 44,401-44,420 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2009)

Micheál Martin: The calculation of the pension benefits payable to retired members of my Department, including the appropriate lump sum due, is a matter for the Department of Finance, in accordance with the regulations governing these arrangements. During the past three years, my Department has not sanctioned or applied for payment of any pension top-ups or discretionary pension-related payments outside the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2009)

Micheál Martin: No civil servants were dismissed from my Department during the period in question. However, the Deputy may wish to note that, during this period, the Department initiated disciplinary proceedings in a very small number of cases where serious misconduct was alleged. In the cases concerned, the relevant officers resigned from the Civil Service before the disciplinary process was completed. In...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (24 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: As Deputies will be aware, and as stated previously in this House on many occasions, most recently on 23 September, the Government is deeply concerned about the situation in Burma and plays an active role in international efforts to bring about positive change there. As I indicated in a statement on 11 August, the arrest, trial and conviction of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the most spurious of...

Written Answers — Programmes for Government: Programmes for Government (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: My Department has been engaged in monitoring and assessing the foreign policy commitments contained in the current programme for Government which runs from 2007 until 2012. Significant resources within the Department have been directed towards achieving these commitments over the past two years. A significant number of foreign policy commitments have been delivered, or are close to being...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 , 28, 31, 52, 62, 69 and 73 together. I refer the Deputies to my written answer of 16 September 2009 on this subject: "The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) was ratified by Ireland on 8 December 1989. The Optional Protocol to this International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR) will set up a...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: Supporting Irish communities overseas, and in particular the most vulnerable members of these communities, is an important priority for the Government. Over the past five years the Government has allocated more than €60 million, under the Emigrant Support Programme, to support our communities abroad. The socially sensitive frontline services which this funding supports continue to make a...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: Successive Irish Governments have pursued a policy of proactive engagement with the European Union. This approach has yielded excellent dividends for Ireland over the last three and a half decades. Indeed, since 1973 we have received €61 billion from the EU budget, while contributing just €19.5 billion to that budget, a net benefit to Ireland of more than €40 billion. We continue to...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am very concerned about the situation of Roma families in Kosovo and, in particular, continuing reports that residents of the camps around Mitrovica are exposed to high levels of lead contamination. The Taoiseach raised the conditions of displaced 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...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: The situation in Sudan, in particular the resolution of the ongoing conflict in Darfur, progress in the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) and the humanitarian consequences of the expulsion of thirteen international humanitarian agencies from the country, continue to be the focus of considerable international concern. Recent months have seen considerable engagement on...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 64 together. I am concerned about the situation in Afghanistan. There has been a deterioration in the security environment marked in particular by frequent insurgent attacks throughout the country prior to and in the course of the elections held on 20 August and by the high number of casualties which these caused. The number of abductions is...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: Dame Nuala O'Loan has, during 2009, continued to undertake duties in her role as Special Envoy to Timor Leste and on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 (Women Peace and Security). The Special Envoy reports regularly to senior officials in the Department on both her roles. We greatly value the work which Dame Nuala is doing and I know that my colleague, Minister Martin, is looking forward...

Written Answers — Departmental Allowances: Departmental Allowances (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: The purpose of Foreign Service Allowances is to defray certain additional expenses which officers may experience as a consequence of serving abroad at an Irish diplomatic mission. The extent to which officers require compensation through allowances is dependent on the cost of living differential between Dublin and the post abroad. Allowances are reviewed regularly to take account of any...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government firmly believes that ratification of the Lisbon Treaty will significantly aid our economic recovery. By backing the Treaty on 2 October, we will be taking a decisive step in a positive direction for our economy. A positive result on 2 October will serve to dispel the uncertainties which have arisen since last year's referendum regarding Ireland's future in the European Union....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: The United Nations Office of the Special Advisor on Africa convened an Expert Group Meeting on Natural Resources and Conflict in Africa in Cairo in June 2006. A number of cross-cutting recommendations were made to seek to harness Africa's natural resources for peace and development. The recommendations focused on the areas of knowledge generation, capacity-building, monitoring and...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 45, 49 and 55 together. The priority for the EU and the international community in the Middle East right now must be to continue to encourage Israelis and Palestinians to engage in a viable peace process with the vision of a settlement which will result in two sovereign States, Israel and Palestine, co-existing side by side in peace and security. The EU...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: 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 280,000 or so Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) currently being held in IDP camps in the north of the country. There is urgent need for unimpeded access by humanitarian agencies; for IDPs to be facilitated in returning to their homes...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: The situation of members of the minority Baha'i faith in Iran has long been a matter of serious concern to the Government and to members of the Oireachtas. In recent years, there has been a progressive increase in harassment of individual Baha'is and there are worrying indications that these are part of a concerted effort by the Iranian authorities to destroy the Baha'i faith and community...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's decentralisation programme announced in 2003 the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs has decentralised to Limerick. This Division operates externally under the name of Irish Aid. The Headquarters of Irish Aid is situated in the Department's Limerick building. 120 staff are currently based in the new Headquarters building in Limerick. Of...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government and the British Government are in frequent contact about the ongoing issues which are the legacy of the Troubles, including on follow-up to the report of the Eames Bradley Consultative Group on the Past. A public consultation process on the Eames Bradley recommendations is under way in the North, which will give an opportunity for all sectors of the community there to see if a...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 57 and 71 together. Ireland attaches considerable importance to the vital work of trade unionists in Colombia and condemns all acts or threats of violence against organisations and individuals working there. I deplore the fact that the numbers of those killed continues to rise year-on-year. Ireland has consistently raised the issue of anti trade union...