Results 44,461-44,480 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: As Deputies will be aware, and as stated previously in this House on many occasions, 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 indicated in the statement I issued on 11 August, the arrest, trial and conviction of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, on the most spurious of charges, further...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (16 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: At the present moment, the results of the elections in Afghanistan are still awaited. Though the outcome is not entirely certain, I am happy to set out my views on the electoral process to date. I welcome the fact that it was possible to hold both Presidential and Provincial Elections in most parts of Afghanistan on 20 August, despite the very difficult security situation prevailing there...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am dismayed by the decision of the Government of Sri Lanka to order the expulsion of Mr James Elder, the respected UNICEF Communication Chief in Sri Lanka, from the country, by 21 September. The expulsion appears to relate to remarks made to the media by Mr Elder in the course of his official duties as UNICEF spokesperson, in relation to the suffering of children during the military...

Written Answers — Ministerial Expenses: Ministerial Expenses (16 Sep 2009)

Micheál Martin: I have detailed below in tabular form the expenses incurred relating to motor travel allowance (mileage) and travel subsistence expenses incurred by all Ministers and Ministers of State who have served at my Department since January 2004. As our current electronic accounting system has only been in operation since January 2004, it has not been possible, in the time available, to retrieve...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs has offices in Dublin city centre, Balbriggan, Limerick and Cork. It also maintains a network of Missions abroad. My Department does not have any offices in County Louth, nor does it employ any staff at locations in that county.

Written Answers — Public Service Review: Public Service Review (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: My Department made a detailed submission to the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes, chaired by Mr. Colm McCarthy, in February of this year, as requested by the Department of Finance. This submission covered my Department's two Votes: Foreign Affairs (Vote 28) and Irish Aid (Vote 29). The format of the submission was in line with a template provided by the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: While international attention on Iran in recent years has related primarily on the nuclear issue, the Government and the Oireachtas have also been anxious to retain a focus on the deteriorating position of human rights in that country. I have had numerous occasions to discuss these issues in the Oireachtas, in relation to such issues as the use of the death penalty, treatment of minor...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: To date, nine members of staff of my Department have submitted applications under the Incentivised Early Retirement Scheme. Of these applications, seven have been approved and decisions are pending on the remaining two. 25 staff have applied to participate in the Special Career Break Incentive Scheme. Twelve of those applications have been approved and thirteen are currently being...

Written Answers — Bilateral Agreements: Bilateral Agreements (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 577 and 578 together. The Comprehensive Study on the All-Island Economy, launched by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in October 2006, provided a comprehensive analysis of the opportunities and challenges in strengthening North/South economic cooperation. Designed to provide momentum for a new phase of...

Written Answers — Good Friday Agreement: Good Friday Agreement (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The North South Ministerial Council has been particularly active in the period since my appointment as Minster for Foreign Affairs in May 2008. There have been two successful Plenary meetings of the Council already this year: in January in Derry and most recently at Farmleigh on 6 July. The meeting in Farmleigh was our fourth NSMC Plenary meeting since restoration of the Northern Ireland...

Written Answers — Sudanese Abductions: Sudanese Abductions (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 580 and 590 together. My Department became aware late on Friday night (3 July) of the abduction of the person mentioned by the Deputy, an Irish aid worker with Goal in Sudan. She and her Ugandan colleague, along with their Sudanese security guards, were kidnapped by armed men from a compound in Kutum, which is 120km from the state capital. My Department was in...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Minister of State at my Department with responsibility for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche T.D., met the Foreign Minister of Iceland, Mr. Ossur Skarphédinsson, on 18 May, to discuss the issue of Iceland's prospective application for EU membership. The Icelandic Ambassador accredited to Ireland has briefed officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs on the matter and the issue has...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform has primary responsibility for visa and immigration issues. There is a dedicated visa office in New Delhi staffed by experienced officials from the Department of Justice Equality and Law Reform who have full decision making powers for all visa types including visa appeals. I am not aware of any difficulties that Indian citizens have in...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland's Ambassador to Uzbekistan is based in Moscow and our bilateral relations are limited in scope. The issue of the treatment of Christians in Uzbekistan has not been one that has arisen between the two countries, although Ireland has been one of a number of countries in the EU to express serious concerns about the general human rights situation in Uzbekistan, in particular following the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the work of the Church in Chains organisation and of their quarterly and other publications on the situation of persecuted Christians around the world. Arising from correspondence I had with the National Co-ordinator of the organisation earlier in the year, I arranged for officials from the Department's Human Rights Unit to meet with representatives of Church in Chains. This...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am informed that a visa application in the name of the above individual was referred by the Honorary Consulate in Manila for a decision to the Visa Office in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Burgh Quay. The visa was approved on 6th July and the Honorary Consulate in Manila was informed accordingly.

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The legal guarantees obtained by Ireland at the June European Council relating to the right to life, education and the family, taxation and Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality take the form of a Decision of the Heads of State or Government, meeting within the European Council. The June 2009 Decision constitutes an international agreement, binding in international law, which...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: My Department deals with approximately 800 suppliers of goods and services annually, many for relatively small amounts. The Deputy will appreciate that it would be a costly and time consuming task for staff to extract the information sought by the Deputy for the past twenty years, and that it would not be possible to do this in the time available. My Department makes use of the Government...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: My Department has not contracted with the company mentioned by the Deputy. Contracts for construction and refurbishment works to be carried out on my Department's premises in Ireland are procured, managed and administered by the Office of Public Works. Accordingly, the Deputy may wish to raise the matter with that Office.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No 397 on 7 July, in which I set out the actions taken in relation to this case. Subsequent to that reply, as expected, the two Irish citizens detained arrived in Dublin on 7 July, following their deportation from Israel. Officials from my Department met with Mr. Graham on 8 July to hear at first hand of his experiences. It is understood that the...