Results 44,761-44,780 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: There is no doubt that the conflict in Gaza was appalling, both for the people of the territory and for the wider peace process. The stark facts of the conflict make grim reading: 1300 people killed, nearly 6000 wounded, and thousands of buildings destroyed. Estimates indicate that the rebuilding process could cost $2 billion and take up to five years. From the start of the conflict in Gaza...

Written Answers — Smarter Travel Policy: Smarter Travel Policy (17 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: My Department has not, to date, adopted a specific workplace travel plan. However, it is supportive of the Government's Smarter Travel Policy, launched by the Minister for Transport on 5 February, which recognises the valuable role that workplace travel planning can play in making commuting travel patterns more sustainable. There are a number of initiatives being undertaken by my Department...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 314 together. The recent conflict in Gaza witnessed a number of appalling incidents and alleged violations of international humanitarian law by both parties. I have called on several occasions — including at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting in Brussels on 26 January — for these incidents to be fully investigated and, where...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (17 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: Much careful consideration is given to determining the Ministerial programmes for St. Patrick's Day to ensure that Ireland's economic, trade, social and cultural interests are effectively represented and promoted. The cost of each of the individual Ministerial programmes is, however, a matter for individual Departments. I am not, therefore, in a position to provide the Deputy with costs for...

Written Answers — Bilateral Relations: Bilateral Relations (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to the answer I gave earlier in response to the Priority PQ on this subject, which is set out below. Ireland and the United States enjoy close political, economic and cultural relations. Successive Presidents and their Administrations, and Ireland's many friends on Capitol Hill from both sides of the aisle, have made an enormous contribution to bringing peace and economic...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: After one of the longest-running civil wars in Africa drew to a close in 2002, Angola has begun a period of major transition — economically, politically and socially — fuelled by a boom in oil production and high oil prices. Hopes that the end of the civil war in 2002 would lead to more political openness have only partially been fulfilled. Angola's first parliamentary election since...

Written Answers — Ireland's Future in Europe: Ireland's Future in Europe (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: When the report of the Sub-Committee on Ireland's future in the European Union was published at the end of November, I acknowledged the excellent analysis contained in the report and saluted the Chairman and all the members for their hard work. The report represents a significant contribution by the Oireachtas to our national debate on EU issues at a challenging time for Ireland in the...

Written Answers — US Military Bases: US Military Bases (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: With the collapse of the Soviet Union the five ex-Soviet Central Asian Republics (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan) had to adapt to a changed economic system and establish themselves as independent states. The Deputy will be aware that some countries of the region are rich in energy and mineral resources, but all face problems in the economic and social sphere....

Written Answers — EU Reform Treaty: EU Reform Treaty (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 73, 149 and 155 together. Ireland's position as a core member of the European Union and the Eurozone have been key elements in attracting foreign investment to Ireland and were therefore fundamental to the extraordinary period of economic growth which Ireland enjoyed up until last year. Today, they are critical to the maintenance of stability and liquidity...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 50 together. I refer Deputies to my earlier reply to Priority Question number 4. I completed a very constructive visit to Syria, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates between 1 — 5 February, my second visit to the Middle East as Minister for Foreign Affairs. The visit was timely given the recent conflict in Gaza and the prospects for efforts to revive...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 59 and 60 together. The Government has consistently supported the right to self-determination of the people of the Western Sahara. Ireland has not taken a position on the future of the Territory, be it full independence, autonomy, or integration under Moroccan sovereignty, so long as it is decided in a genuine exercise of self-determination. We strongly...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 35 together. The situation in Zimbabwe remains extremely grave. Since March 2008 the country has effectively not been governed, and infrastructure and social services are in a state of collapse. Rampant inflation, the result of disastrous economic mismanagement, has led to the effective abandonment of Zimbabwe's currency. Millions of Zimbabweans —...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The local elections held in Iraq on 31 January have given perhaps the most positive indication yet of the significant improvement of the situation in Iraq in the last two years. There are a number of aspects which I find particularly hopeful. Only a few months ago there was still real doubt that the elections could be held at all. In the event they took place almost completely peacefully,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 40, 42, 46, 66, 67 and 77 together. In a statement issued on 8 February, and in reply to Parliamentary Questions on 10 February, I made clear my deep concern at the plight of the war-ravaged Tamil population in the north of Sri Lanka, who are the innocent victims of the conflict between the Government of Sri Lanka and the rebel LTTE (Liberation Tigers of...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Czech Presidency identified a number of themes as priorities in the external relations area. These include the Eastern Partnership aimed at deepening the European Neighbourhood Policy in respect of six Eastern States, the continuation of dialogue between the European Union and Russia, further development of transatlantic cooperation and the development of relations with the non- EU...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: As a long-standing development partner of Ethiopia, Ireland greatly regrets the narrowing of the political space for opposition parties, the press and civil society, which we have observed in the country since 2005. We believe that the strengthening of democracy is a key element in the economic development process, and we regularly communicate this to our Ethiopian partners. As a...

Written Answers — Miami Five Case: Miami Five Case (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: The case to which the Deputy refers relates to five Cuban men, known as the Miami Five, who were convicted in the US in 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to first degree murder. On 4 June 2008, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, issued its judgement on appeals lodged on behalf of the five. The Circuit Court concluded that the appellants' arguments, which centred on...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am deeply concerned by the situation in Burma. There has been no political progress since the events of September 2007, and harassment and repression of monks, political activists and others by the military junta has continued unabated since that time. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is also still under arrest. Meantime, the junta appears intent on holding elections in 2010, based on the new...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 31 together. The Government is committed to seeking to increase Irish engagement in international conflict resolution as a dimension of our foreign policy. The role of the Conflict Resolution Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs is to offer support for conflict resolution efforts internationally while also seeking to develop our national capacity...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (12 Feb 2009)

Micheál Martin: I have regular contacts with the Czech Presidency, including at the monthly meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, the most recent of which took place on 26 January. On that occasion, I had a bilateral meeting with the Czech Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Vondra and Foreign Minister, Karel Schwarzenberg. At that meeting, we discussed the follow-up to the conclusions...