Results 44,421-44,440 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Conflict Diamonds: Conflict Diamonds (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) is an international initiative to stem the flow of "conflict diamonds". Conflict diamonds are rough diamonds used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments. The trade in these illicit diamonds has fuelled decades of devastating conflicts in countries such as Angola, Cote d'Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo...

Written Answers — Illegal Trade of Natural Resources: Illegal Trade of Natural Resources (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: The EU is closely following the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as that country recovers from the effects of the brutal 1996-2003 civil war. While much of the country has achieved a degree of stability, several localised conflicts have continued, most notably in the east of the country. These conflicts have in many cases been characterised by an appalling degree of...

Written Answers — Code of Ethics for Irish Industries Abroad: Code of Ethics for Irish Industries Abroad (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am not aware of any recent correspondence in relation to ethical guidelines between my Department and Irish companies working in the extractive industries abroad. The Government supports greater transparency in the area of foreign investment in general, including in the extractive industries. The Government also attaches the highest importance to corporate social responsibility with regard...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: At the European Council held in Brussels on 18-19 June, we achieved all of our pre-summit goals, including the permanent retention of an EU Commissioner for Ireland, and a series of legally binding guarantees relating to taxation policy, the right to life, education and the family, and our traditional policy of military neutrality, as well as a solemn declaration on workers' rights. This...

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

Micheál Martin: The number of staff employed by my Department on 1 September 2009 is 1,575. This includes 320 permanent staff who are working in the Passport Offices in Ireland and 17 permanent staff in the Passport Office London. The small number of permanent staff in the Passport Office in London is supplemented by 26 Temporary Clerical Officers who, from 1 January 2009, are included in my Department's...

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

Micheál Martin: Ireland and its EU partners continue to have concerns about human rights issues in Pakistan, including instances of intolerance towards the Ahmadiyya community there. Promoting religious tolerance remains a key EU objective in relation to Pakistan. We have urged the Government of Pakistan to make every effort to promote effectively the rights of minorities and to improve their current...

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

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). The following are the details of expenditure under sub-head A7 (Consultancy) under both Votes in 2007, 2008, and up to 14th September in 2009: Expenditure under Consultancy Subhead (A07) Vote 28 Vote 29 Total Vote 28+ Vote 29 2007 €245,462 €2,839,798...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has a network of 75 resident diplomatic and consular Missions abroad, as well as the British-Irish Inter-Governmental Secretariat in Belfast and the North-South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat in Armagh. The Irish diplomatic network provides essential consular services, diplomatic representation and commercial services overseas. A number of missions also play a key role in the...

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

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the already difficult relationship between Georgia and the Russian Federation was further exacerbated by the violent conflict which broke out on 7-8 August 2008 and by the decision of the Russian Federation to recognise the break-away regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states. The efforts of the international community have helped return some...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (23 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has a network of 75 resident diplomatic and consular Missions abroad, as well as the British-Irish Inter-Governmental Secretariat in Belfast and the North-South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat in Armagh. This diplomatic network consists of 58 Embassies, 7 multilateral missions and 10 Consulates General and other offices. These Missions also have over 80 additional...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (22 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: Iceland formally submitted its application for membership of the European Union to the Swedish Presidency on 17 July 2009. The General Affairs Council in July agreed to refer it to the European Commission for its opinion (avis), in accordance with established procedures. Given that its application is currently under consideration with the European Commission, no formal accession discussions...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: Payment of invoices by this Department is governed by the provisions of the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act, 1997 as amended by the European Communities (Late Payment in Commercial Transactions) Regulations 2002. The Act, which came into force in January 1998, initially provided for the payment of interest on invoices which are unpaid after 45 days from date of receipt. In August 2002, the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: The formal framework for members of the Government to meet members of the Northern Ireland Executive is through the North-South Ministerial Council as provided for in Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement. They meet, however, also in other contexts. There have been forty-four ministerial meetings of the Council, including in plenary and institutional format, since restoration of the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (17 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: I condemn the criminal actions of those responsible for the bomb discovered last week in south Armagh. The lives of local people going about their everyday business, in their homes and in the wider community, were put at serious risk by an unrepresentative few who have no support for their actions. I wish to pay tribute to the security authorities on both sides of the border who worked...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (17 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 to 51, inclusive, and 60 together. Ireland has a network of 75 resident diplomatic and consular Missions abroad, as well as the British-Irish Inter-Governmental Secretariat in Belfast and the North-South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat in Armagh. The Irish diplomatic network provides essential consular services, diplomatic representation and...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (17 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Government attaches the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. We have emphasised our strong support for the undocumented in all our engagements with the US Administration and Congress, including during meetings earlier this year with President Obama, Secretary of State Clinton and key Congressional leaders. As the Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (17 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: Unfortunately, no part of the world is totally free from human rights abuses. As has been stated on previous occasions, in response to similar Questions, it is not the policy of the Government to draw up a 'league table' of countries deemed guilty of the most serious human rights abuses. The complexity and specificity of individual country situations could render such an exercise difficult...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (17 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: The EU is closely following the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as that country recovers from the effects of the brutal 1996-2003 civil war. While much of the country has achieved a degree of stability, several localised conflicts have continued, most notably in the east. These conflicts have in many cases been characterised by an appalling degree of brutality, with...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (17 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: The crime of genocide, as defined in international law, involves the commission of acts with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such. These acts may include killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or mental harm; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (17 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: 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, coexisting side by side in peace and security. The EU fully supports and is actively cooperating with the current...