Results 44,521-44,540 of 51,072 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Advertising undertaken by my Department typically includes; advisory notices on public opening hours over holiday periods, changes in passport application procedures and fees, and public information notices relating to significant developments in the European Union or in regard to Ireland's Official Development Assistance programme, Irish Aid. While much of this material is now placed on the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, Government Departments do not pay for the legal services provided by the Office of the Attorney General and the Chief State Solicitors Office or for advice from Counsel briefed by them. My Department has a Legal Division, staffed by qualified legal professionals who provide legal advice on a wide range of international legal issues. Having such 'in-house' legal...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The table sets out the costs relating to my official mobile telephony service since I was appointed Minister for Foreign Affairs in May 2008. Rental/ Subscription Calls Roaming Data Totals 2008 €239 €813 €140 €27 €1,219 2009 to Date €365 n/a n/a n/a €365 My Department avails of the Department of Finance Central Framework for the provision of mobile telephony services....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: In the past five years my Department has taken one court case. This case was taken in 2005, in Stockholm, against a planning permission which had been granted to develop the attic space of a building, which contained an Embassy property owned by the State. The Department initiated an appeal against this planning permission to the Stockholm Rent Tribunal (part of the Swedish court system). The...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (7 Jul 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 with President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton in Washington this March. The Taoiseach and I held extensive...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The formation of a unity government in Zimbabwe in February was far from being a solution to Zimbabwe's problems, but was nonetheless a sign of some limited progress in the political process. Five months on, despite some improvements in the situation on the ground in Zimbabwe, notably in curbing hyperinflation and adopting the South African rand as the reference currency, the political...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: In the past three years my Department has rented office space in one building in Dublin, the ground floor of Hospitality House, Cumberland Street, Dublin 2 at a cost of €144,900 per annum. All other rent commitments relating to properties in the State occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs are discharged by the Office of Public Works. The number of properties rented abroad for use...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: I was very concerned to learn of the Israeli naval seizure of the Gaza-bound Spirit of Humanity on 30 June and the arrest and detention of the two Irish citizens – Mairead Maguire and Derek Graham – on board the vessel. The priority for my Department has been to ensure the safety and well-being of Ms. Maguire and Mr. Graham and to secure their prompt release. To that end, we have been in...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Delegates' Allowance is only paid to officers who are serving as a member of a delegation representing Ireland at a meeting of the European Union or other International Organisation overseas. Chairperson's Allowance is a form of delegates allowance and is paid to officers who chair such international meetings. Delegate's Allowance can be paid for up to four nights away in any seven-day...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: From 2005 to date, my Department has used one non-Irish based printer for a significant contract which was procured on its behalf by the Government Supplies Agency (GSA). The details are as follows: Company Contract award date Quantity/Description Cost € Graficas Jomagar S.L. (Madrid, Spain) 28 November, 2006 1,750,000 copies of Mini White Paper on Irish Aid €114,546 The Department's...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (7 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Details of the numbers of passports reported in 2008 and for the first half of 2009 as lost or stolen are set out in the table. My Department does not retain statistics as to whether the loss or theft occurred in Ireland or overseas. Year Total passports issued Reported lost Reported stolen Total reported lost or stolen % of total issued 2008 577,000 31,262 5,002 36,264 6.3% 2009 to 30...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 to 121, inclusive, together. The Department of Foreign Affairs has funded scholarships for civil servants from candidate countries and new Member States in UCD since 2002. The programme is funded from a budget line of the Department of Foreign Affairs relating to a programme of support for public administrations in candidate countries and new Member States...

Written Answers — Cabinet Committees: Cabinet Committees (2 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Cabinet Committee on Aspects of International Human Rights was established on 30 October 2008, and held its first meeting on that day. The Committee has met since at senior official level, and a further Ministerial meeting is envisaged in the near future. Extraordinary rendition is one of the areas under its remit. The formal meetings of the Committee supplement the ongoing consideration...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (2 Jul 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 with President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton in Washington this March. Earlier this week, the Taoiseach and I...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (1 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: As I have stated in this House on many occasions, and most recently in my reply to Question 154 of 25 June, the continued expansion of Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories represents a primary impediment to the two-State solution. It both prejudges the outcome of final status negotiations and undermines the fundamental viability of a Palestinian State. I also firmly...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (1 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: Every applicant for an Irish passport must first establish that he or she is an Irish citizen. The passport application referred to by the Deputy was submitted on behalf of the child in question by his parents to the Passport Office on 10 January, 2007. As the applicant was born in Ireland in 2006, his application was considered under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 2004. This Act...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Jul 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of one civil servant at Clerical Officer level in my Department who is awaiting transfer to a location within the Laois/Offaly area. The timing of this transfer is not related to the moratorium on recruitment. The decentralisation to Limerick of the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is the Headquarters of Irish Aid, was completed in...

Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (30 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Evaluation and Audit Unit of my Department undertakes the programme of Value for Money Reviews under the Government's Value for Money and Policy Review Initiative. In the past three years, Value for Money Reviews have been completed in regard to the following activities: the Passport Service; support for Irish Emigrant Groups Programme; support to Tsunami Affected Countries; the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: My officials received a detailed report on the Rock the Vote project from the Voter Education Fund organisation on 5 June 2009. A copy of the report will be forwarded to the Deputy. The report describes the activities undertaken as part of the Rock the Vote project in encouraging participation in the referendum on the part of younger voters. Proposals for projects under the Communicating...

Written Answers — Overseas Visits: Overseas Visits (30 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: I do not have the information requested by the Deputy. However, I have raised this matter with the relevant authorities in Cuba, through the Embassy in Mexico which is also accredited to Cuba, and will forward their response to the Deputy as soon as I receive it.