Results 44,561-44,580 of 51,063 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (23 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: Every applicant for an Irish passport must first establish that he or she is an Irish citizen. In this case, the person in question applied for a passport on 28 July, 2008. As evidence of citizenship, she submitted her birth certificate which established that she was born in the UK. This certificate provided the names of both parents and stated that their place of birth was Ireland. The...

Written Answers — Judicial Investigations: Judicial Investigations (23 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: Extradition proceedings in relation to the case raised by the Deputy are currently before the courts. As the Deputy will be aware, the courts are independent in the exercise of their functions. Further, neither I nor my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform hold a function in relation to the determination of the current judicial proceedings. Accordingly, it would not be...

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (23 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: In relation to prisoners overseas, the Department of Foreign Affairs cannot intervene on their behalf until the prisoner requests our assistance. I understand that the Department has not to date received any such request. I can assure the Deputy that should the person in question request our assistance, we will be happy to raise his case with the British authorities.

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (23 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: I have had contact with the Japanese Ambassador on a number of occasions over the past year, when I had the opportunity to exchange views on a range of issues. The Japanese Ambassador and the officials of the Japanese Embassy have ready access to all officials in my Department at the highest level, and officials of the two sides meet on a regular basis.

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (23 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: From time to time, the Secretary of State for Foreign & Commonwealth Affairs, Mr David Miliband, and I arrange to meet bilaterally in either London or Dublin. At the moment we are looking at the possibility of meeting in July, other commitments permitting. In any event I would expect to meet the Secretary of State at the scheduled General Affairs and External Relations Councils and European...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (23 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 and 327 together. Advertising undertaken by my Department in Ireland typically includes advisory notices on public opening hours over holiday periods, changes in passport application procedures and fees, job vacancy advertisements, phone book information, and public information notices relating to Ireland's official aid programme. The following table...

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

Micheál Martin: In June and December 2008, the General Affairs and External Relations Council decided in principle to agree to an Israeli request to further develop or 'upgrade' relations between the EU and Israel. This took place in the context where the Action Plan setting out the details of EU-Israeli cooperation, principally in practical spheres such as transport, health, etc., was coming up for...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (18 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: During peak business months, the time taken by the Passport Office to process applications submitted by standard post is between four to six weeks. The application in question was received by the Passport Office on 19 May 2009 and the passport was issued on 15 June 2009.

Written Answers — Miami Five Case: Miami Five Case (18 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am not aware, nor has my Department been informed that a member of the Oireachtas has sought to visit the so-called 'Miami 5' in U.S. prisons. Any request for a visit to one or more of these individuals of Cuban nationality, convicted in the United States, is a matter for the US authorities. The Government has no standing in the matter.

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together. 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. The decision of the Burmese regime to put Aung San Suu Kyi on trial on the most spurious of charges,...

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

Micheál Martin: The international community is closely following the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the country recovers from the effects of the brutal 1996-2003 civil war. I very much regret that, while much of the country has achieved a degree of stability, several localised conflicts have continued, in particular in the east of the country. These conflicts have in many cases...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (16 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: Following a tender process, the Department currently has contracts with two Dublin taxi firms. Both companies fully comply with the Taxi Regulator guidelines. While these firms do not have a set minimum percentage of wheelchair accessible vehicles, both have a significant proportion of accessible vehicles, 11 percent in the case of one company and 15 percent in the case of the other. The...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (16 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: At its meeting last December, the European Council undertook to address the concerns of the Irish people on the Treaty of Lisbon by way of legal guarantees and other assurances. It was agreed that this work should be finalised by mid-2009. With the agreement of the Czech Presidency and our partners, it is intended to complete this work later this week at the European Council on 18-19 June....

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (11 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: At the outset, it might be helpful to explain that in line with international requirements my Department has included, since October 2006, a biometric feature in passports. This feature, which is stored on a microchip in the passport, uses facial characteristics generated from photographs submitted with passport applications. In order to meet international standards, it is necessary to use...

Ryan Report on the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse: Motion (Resumed) (11 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: It is almost exactly ten years since I spoke in the House to outline the reasons behind the Government's decision to establish the commission to inquire into child abuse. I said then, "We want the commission to carry out its work without fear or favour and to go wherever it feels it must go to get at the truth". We committed to giving the commission the time, resources and powers it...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: I condemn the horrific murder of Kevin McDaid in Coleraine on 24 May, in attacks which led to injuries to Mr. McDaid's wife, Evelyn, and severe injury to Damien Fleming. I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the McDaid family on their terrible loss and to wish Damien Fleming a full recovery. The PSNI investigation is progressing and has led to a number of arrests, with cases being...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs taxi policy is based on the principle that taxi use by officers should only take place where it is clearly required for the conduct of official business. The policy operated by my Department provides that taxis may be used for official business when public transport is not available or feasible and when officers are required, because of work or official...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: My Department is responsible for operating the Irish diplomatic network of 75 Missions overseas. The transfer of funds to operate these Missions, whose aggregate running costs amount to approximately €70 million per annum, incurs unavoidable banking charges. In addition, there are banking charges incurred by the Passport Office when accepting credit card payments from citizens for passport...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jun 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs maintains a stock of bottled water for use at meetings and other official events which take place at headquarters. The amount spent by the Department on bottled water for such events over the past three years is as follows: 2006 - €3,780; 2007 - €5,597; 2008 - €4,154; 2009 (to date) - €1,624.

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

Micheál Martin: I am aware of some disturbing reports in early April this year, alleging the detention of numbers of Iraqi men, on the grounds of their sexual orientation, with suggestions that they are to be executed. The situation in Iraq is, of course, complex and I understand that international NGOs have been unable to get confirmation that these men are in custody, what charges they may be held on, or...