Results 45,081-45,100 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Docklands Development Project. (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I also am here to take Deputy Neville's Adjournment matter.

Docklands Development Project. (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Given the national remit of the matter tabled by Deputy Neville, I was particularly anxious to come before the House to clarify that position. He should be grateful and appreciative of my presence.

Docklands Development Project. (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: There is general consensus among relevant Departments and State agencies that the ambitious plan for the regeneration of the Cork docklands advanced by Cork City Council is potentially of major significance both to the city itself and in a wider national framework. With an area of more than 160 hectares contiguous to the city centre, the docklands offer the prospect of developing a modern,...

International Agreements. (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. Visits to Ireland by children from the Chernobyl region of Belarus have been continuing for more than 17 years. There are approximately 50 associations in Ireland involved in bringing to this country more than 2,500 children each year for rest and recuperation. I cannot praise too highly the selfless efforts of the many charities and families...

International Agreements. (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I will.

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: We considered amendments No. 4 and 7 on Committee Stage. The effect of both would be to prevent the participation of the Defence Forces in peacekeeping operations with countries that may not be parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. They would affect the provisions of the Bill concerning inter-operability, dealt with in Article 21 of the convention and section 7 of the Bill. As I...

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: It is an "Ar eagla na heagla" amendment. I understand Deputy Higgins's point but we need to have balance and ensure our forces can participate in peacekeeping without inadvertently being prosecuted for something of which they had no prior knowledge.

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: We discussed this. Section 6 of the Bill creates certain criminal offences regarding cluster munitions and explosive bomblets in accordance with the obligations the State will assume under the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Section 9 creates similar offences for anti-personnel mines and both provisions extend the jurisdiction of the State for these offences beyond the territory of the...

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I made my arguments already. The issues are fundamental and I gave the American example as a good example. There is no point in going back over the points.

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Thank you. We can come back to it.

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I move amendment No. 10: In page 12, line 5, to delete "€250,000" and substitute "€1,000,000". In essence, this amendment is that of Deputy Timmins. I said on Committee Stage that I would respond to Deputy Timmins who first proposed what are now amendments Nos. 10 and 11. I am sympathetic to his aims. We have consulted Parliamentary Counsel on appropriate formulations and these now...

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Yes, it does.

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I move amendment No. 12: In page 12, between lines 23 and 24, to insert the following: "(2) Where a cluster munition, explosive bomblet or anti-personnel mine is to be delivered to the Defence Forces for destruction under subsection (1), the court shall, unless it is satisfied that there are special and substantial reasons for not doing so, order the convicted person to pay the costs and...

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the House will recall, I introduced a new Part 4 of the Bill by way of amendment on Committee Stage. That new part puts in place a clear legislative framework providing that any statutory investment mandate is qualified by requirement to exclude investments in the manufacturers of cluster munitions and anti-personnel mines. Part 4 sets down the requirement to avoid initial investments of...

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. They, on behalf of their parties, have shown a strong commitment that has endured. I appreciate their co-operation on the passage of the legislation through this House. I also pay tribute to my predecessor who was very involved at the initial stage of this with other like-minded countries. It is an achievement for Ireland that we negotiated...

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Order for Report Stage (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I move: "That Report Stage be taken now."

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: We had a discussion on this on Committee Stage. It is not just about parliamentary convention but as the Deputy knows, it has arisen from important practical reasons, such as the need to take cognisance and make necessary administrative and other arrangements before an Act can be properly implemented. In the present case, Defence Forces training manuals must be adapted to take account of...

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I debated the issues with Deputy Higgins on Committee Stage. Section 2 makes provision for the interpretation of key terms as defined in the conventions on cluster munitions and the ban on anti-personnel mines. The key issue is consistency with what has been negotiated with all the other states. The success of the Dublin convention was the fact that up to 114 different countries arrived in...

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: It is a debatable point. If one takes it that the cluster munitions convention represents a substantive diplomatic achievement——

Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Report and Final Stages (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: ——the modus operandi by which it was achieved is, by definition, deserving of commendation. Consider the consequences if, as a Minister, I agreed with ten other Ministers on the standard to be set and two or three of the countries, for example, had a difficultly. In the case of the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister, Mr. Gordon Brown, intervened personally to enable the United Kingdom...