Results 44,821-44,840 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Overseas Development Aid. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The total official development assistance budget for 2009 will be €696 million. It is anticipated the aid budget will amount to 0.48% of GNP. This will mean that Ireland will most likely remain the sixth largest aid donor in the world as a percentage of GNP. This remains an enormous achievement in the current economic circumstances. The reduction in the aid budget will necessitate...

Overseas Development Aid. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy rightly points out that we have had a significant reduction in GNP in 2008 and 2009. While I do not want to go down that road, we are dealing with a net reduction of €80 million from a very substantial budget if we factor in the 2008 reduction and the expected 8% reduction in GNP in 2009. That is the context. We were aiming for 0.54% in 2009. Owing to the reduction in GNP we...

Overseas Development Aid. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The NGOs will know very soon and we will be communicating with them directly. I point out that we have one of the best records of any donor countries in assisting NGOs and missionaries in that approximately 20% of our aid programme is delivered via civil society organisations with more than €200 million being provided in 2008. No other donor allocates such a high proportion of its aid...

Overseas Development Aid. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: In my reply to the previous question I set out in some detail the important issues the Government is facing in implementing the adjustments to the aid programme which are now required. As I pointed out, with an overall allocation of €696 million in 2009, Ireland will again be the sixth most generous aid donor internationally in per capita terms. We will deliver on our commitment to resume...

Overseas Development Aid. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I would not accept that we were always claiming a lead role. It was only in the recent past that we have been claiming a leading role.

Overseas Development Aid. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: Back in 2000 we contributed approximately €220 million and we have made dramatic progress since then. Of course our GNP grew dramatically over the same period and the linkage of the amount of aid allocated with GNP was a significant factor in that and agreements we made in that regard. Now that the GNP has reduced very significantly, people are very reluctant to factor in that decline in...

Overseas Development Aid. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am simply saying that there clearly is a cut in the aid programme. Some relates to the reduction in GNP and some relates to additional amounts that have been cut.

Overseas Development Aid. (23 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The key issue for us is to create a sustainable pattern of finances that will ensure continued sustainable allocations for aid into the future. We are borrowing very significant amounts of money this year to support this programme and other programmes across Government expenditure generally. We are very keen to maintain our relationships and fulfil our commitments to the nine programme...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the current serious humanitarian situation with regard to Roma families residing in camps in Kosovo which are exposed to dangerously high levels of lead. International Roma Day offers an opportunity to highlight this issue and others relating to the well-being of Roma worldwide. Ireland continues to support all efforts to re-locate Roma families to safe facilities and we have...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (22 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I am informed that a visit visa application in the name of the above individual was recently refused by the Visa Office in Abuja. Officials in my Department have reviewed the record of correspondence received by the Department and have been unable to identify any other correspondence in relation to this individual. If the Deputy is aware of any such correspondence I would be grateful if it...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (22 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The total Official Development Assistance (ODA) budget for 2009 will be €696 million. €571 million will be administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs, with the balance of €125 million being contributions to development co-operation by other Government Departments and through Ireland's allocation to the EU Development Co-operation Budget. The total budget of €696 million...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: As a founding member of the Council of Europe, Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the European Court of Human Rights and its efforts to promote and protect human rights standards across member countries. Ireland has participated in recent discussions on the reform of the Court, which include proposals to increase the case- processing capacity of the Court aimed at alleviating the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: Events planned around the world to mark International Roma Day on 8 April 2009 provided an opportunity to highlight a number of important humanitarian issues facing this minority group, particularly in mainland Europe. Ireland fully supports the EU, the Council of Europe and the OSCE in their ongoing efforts to bring all prejudice and mistreatment of the Roma people to a definitive end. In...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (22 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: Given the gravity of the humanitarian and political situation in Sri Lanka, I very much welcome and support all international initiatives underway to relieve the humanitarian situation in the short term and thereafter to help bring about a swift resolution to the conflict there. The Government have been strongly supportive of efforts by Mexico and others to have the humanitarian situation,...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 to 500, inclusive, together. The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) was established pursuant to UN Resolution 60/251, adopted on 15 March 2006, to replace the much criticised Commission on Human Rights (CHR). Ireland fully supported the setting up of the Human Rights Council and, along with our EU partners, played an active part in the negotiations leading to...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The total official development assistance (ODA) budget for 2009 will be €696 million. Some €571 million will be administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs, with the balance of €125 million being contributions to development co-operation by other Government Departments and through Ireland's allocation to the EU Development Co-operation Budget. On current projections, total...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (22 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: I have made clear the Government's strong condemnation of all uses of military force contrary to international law. This can relate to the types of weapons used and to the way in which weapons are used. It applies to all uses intentionally aimed at causing civilian casualties. There is no realistic proposal for an arms embargo which would address this problem in relation to the Middle...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (22 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The current situation in Georgia, following the outbreak of conflict there in August 2008, is tense but relatively stable. Since the conflict, continued efforts by the international community, most notably the European Union, the United Nations and the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe, have helped to return stability to the region. Work is continuing with a view to...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (22 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy will be aware that the parliamentary elections in Moldova took place on 5 April and resulted in a victory for the ruling Communist Party. On 6 April, the Organisation for Security and Co-Operation in Europe's office of democratic institutions and human rights released a statement noting that the elections had met many international standards but that further improvements were...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Apr 2009)

Micheál Martin: The following table sets out the total number of uncertified sick days taken by staff in my Department during the years in question, along with the number of uncertified sick days taken on Mondays and Fridays: Year Total number of uncertified sick days taken Mondays Fridays 2007 1317.5 321 199 2008 1232 310 183 2009 334 62 42 The following table shows the number of staff taking fewer...