Results 44,781-44,800 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland has offered, through the UN Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS), to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time. This figure equates to some 10% of Ireland's standing Army (excluding Reserves) and demonstrates Ireland's commitment to the cause of international peace. Ireland is currently contributing 780 Defence Forces personnel to 13 different missions...

Written Answers — Lisbon Treaty Referendum: Lisbon Treaty Referendum (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 15 of today. As the Deputy will be aware, for the Treaty of Lisbon to enter into force, it must be ratified by all Member States. Ireland is currently one of four Member States that has not done so as yet. The others are the Czech Republic, Poland and Germany. Following the agreement of our EU partners to offer Ireland legal guarantees...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I have regular discussions with my colleagues, particularly in an EU context but also bilaterally and at UN fora, on issues relating to international peace and security. The monthly meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council provide regular opportunities in which to consider crises which may arise and the response of the European Union and the wider international...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The most recent ministerial meeting held in the framework of the current round of WTO negotiations ended inconclusively in Geneva on 29 July 2008, although progress was achieved on many of the issues covered by the negotiations. In the end, the breakdown came as a result of disagreement, primarily between the United States and India, on a special safeguard mechanism (SSM) for agricultural...

Overseas Development Aid. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: We will get in touch quickly with the NGOs. The 70% was an up-front contribution allocation early on. It was acknowledged that it was important to make such a commitment in advance of the budget. I am surprised at the Deputy's comment on value for money. The programme has grown rapidly in a short space of time and any Government expenditure programme that increases so rapidly requires...

Overseas Development Aid. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: We need to be extremely vigilant in terms of value for money audits on all of the programmes. We are vigilant and work with the OECD in that regard.

Overseas Development Aid. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: No, I would be concerned if we did not do it. I am surprised the Deputy raised the matter because it is a relatively small amount. The Deputy quoted a percentage, but the base is quite small.

Overseas Development Aid. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: We have had other examples of Government expenditure where we had to justify the necessity of carrying out some value for money assessments.

Territorial Waters. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: Ireland claims continental shelf extending beyond the standard 200 mile entitlement to both the west and south of the country. Under international law these claims must be examined by the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf. For the purposes of our claims, we have divided the extended shelf into three sectors. The first sector is to the south west of the country near the...

Territorial Waters. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I just did that in my reply and outlined the three areas in which the Department has been involved. With regard to the Porcupine Abyssal Plain, we have now achieved a successful outcome as a result of our submission to the Commission. The second claim relates to the Rockall area of the north-east Atlantic. We are not talking about Rockall itself, as the rock is of no relevance to this at...

Territorial Waters. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: We have now made our submission to the Commission on that. There is a timeframe involved. We had been hoping to reach agreement, but that was impossible. The ten year timeframe for making a submission would have been up in May, so we have made our submission now.

Territorial Waters. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: We endeavoured to get agreement first. We have an agreed Ireland-UK boundary, but the Færoe Islands and Iceland have not accepted that. There have been regular meetings in the intervening period between the four countries to try to resolve the issue, but that has not been possible. It is now a matter for the Commission. We are pursuing the issue and trying to get the correct outcome from...

Territorial Waters. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: We cannot give a timeframe with regard to when the Commission will examine the issue. We have a good record with regard to the manner in which we have pursued the issues and the successes we have had over the years.

Territorial Waters. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: They are all important. All sorts of claims can be made about economic potential, but that all remains to be determined. All of the issues are important. There is a process to be followed and if a mutually satisfactory agreement cannot be reached the best way to pursue the issue is through the UN Commission. That is the route we have taken.

EU-US Relations. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament has put forward an interesting set of proposals, which are currently being studied in my Department. Nobody can dispute that the relationship between the European Union and the US is our most important strategic partnership. This remains the case, whatever the personalities or political forces on either side. As regards the idea of a...

EU-US Relations. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: My point was that it is a matter for both parliaments. Let us not presume that we, the governments, can dictate to parliaments. Congress is conscious of its role as a Legislature independent of the US Executive. Likewise, the European Parliament has increased its status as a legislature, including its co-decision responsibilities with the Council. There is a need for contacts at that...

EU-US Relations. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The key issue is the quality of those engagements and their outcomes. It is not just a matter of quantity and frequency of meetings. It is a matter of the meetings' substance and outputs.

EU-US Relations. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: For the information of the House and as the Deputy is probably aware, the Government initiated and concluded a significant report on the strategic relationship between Ireland and the US. The Taoiseach launched it during St. Patrick's week, thereby highlighting the strategic relationship between Ireland and the US while setting it in an EU context. We have been clear in our strong support...

EU-US Relations. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: We are very proactive.

EU-US Relations. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: There has been ongoing and frequent contact between the EU and the US Administration since the election of President Obama, although it has undoubtedly been motivated by the significant global economic meltdown.