Results 45,141-45,160 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government has been working to ensure that Irish pork products are available for sale again as soon as possible in Ireland's major markets, including in the European Union. My Department, through its network of Embassies, is working closely with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and Bord Bia to keep the relevant authorities in our major markets fully informed of...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Within the period in question, the Department of Foreign Affairs has had two laptops stolen, one USB memory stick was lost and three mobile phones were lost or stolen. These devices did not contain any sensitive data and both laptops were encrypted. The Department encrypts all laptops before issue and also issues guidelines to all officers on the appropriate use of IT equipment,...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to reply to Questions Nos. 353 and 354 together. I have provided below in tabular form details of the hotel accommodation costs incurred under the headquarters budget of my Department for each year from 2004 to date, for officers travelling overseas and within Ireland in an official capacity. There are no State Agencies operating under the remit of my Department. Year 2004 2005...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department has 257 computer servers across offices in Ireland and its 75 Missions around the world. Each of these servers is owned by the Department. Server capacity falls into the following ranges: (a) Up to 100 gigabytes — 29 servers (b) Between 300 and 400 gigabytes — 226 servers (c) Above 400 gigabytes — 2 servers. There are no State agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Increments are paid annually to staff in my Department who have not reached the maximum point on the appropriate salary scale for their grade provided that they meet required standards in relation to performance and attendance set down under the Civil Service Performance Management and Development System. In the time available, it has not been possible to provide the financial information...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's decentralisation programme announced in 2003, 125 posts attached to the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs were to decentralise to Limerick. The Division is the Headquarters of Irish Aid. Following sanction of an additional 20 posts by the Department of Finance in 2005, the total number of posts attached to Irish Aid Headquarters...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The core staffing number approved by the Department of Finance for my Department is 1,576 (on a full-time equivalent basis). This figure includes approximately 300 locally recruited staff employed at missions abroad. The following table sets out the number of staff on the Department's payroll, excluding those who are locally recruited abroad, broken down by grade and the relevant salary...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The core staffing number approved by the Department of Finance for my Department is 1,576. This includes 320 permanent staff who are working in the Passports Offices in Ireland and approximately 300 local staff currently employed at missions abroad. The number of staff currently serving as of 1 December is 1,557. The shortfall of 19 is accounted for by vacancies for which replacements have...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The core staffing number approved by the Department of Finance for my Department is 1,576. The number of staff currently serving as of 1 December is 1,557. Of this total, 927 staff are based in six offices located in Ireland. The remaining 630 staff, of whom 300 are locally recruited, are based in Missions abroad. The following table provides a breakdown by grade of the staff serving in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are currently no State agencies or authorities operating under the responsibility of my Department. There are three Advisory Committees and one Educational Commission, which come under the aegis of the Department; these are the Development Education Advisory Committee; the Government Emigrant Services Advisory Committee; the Advisory Board for Irish Aid; and the Fulbright Commission. No...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Institute for International and European Affairs (IIEA) is an independent policy research think-tank and forum. The Department of Foreign Affairs pays an annual fee, currently set at €6,000, in respect of its corporate membership of the IIEA. In the past, the Institute has also received funding from my Department under the Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI). The scheme provides...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 363 to 365, inclusive, together. The information on the hospitality hosted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Ministers of State in the Department of Foreign Affairs in the period June 2007 to date is detailed in the tables. The breakdown of events is as follows: lunches 68%, receptions (wine andcanapés) 25%, dinners 4.2%, receptions (wine only) 1.4%,...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will appreciate, in the time available, it has been difficult to research all aspects of funding received by my Department over such a long period. However, following a detailed examination of the Department's records, I understand that the only direct EU funding received by my Department was the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace I), which was...

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: There were fundamental contradictions in Deputy Ó Caoláin's original contribution in which he stated a better deal than expected was achieved. However, he quickly moved away from that. On his point in regard to the Commission, under Lisbon there will be fewer members of the Commission; that is a legal fact. There is no getting around this; an interim agreement cannot be provided.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I apologise. Under the Nice treaty the number of Commissioners must be reduced. That is a legal imperative.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy does not.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: No, through the Chair——

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I will address the point made by the Deputy.

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: I did not interrupt Deputy Ó Caoláin who asked about the Commission. I am making the point that we succeeded last week in obtaining agreement that under Lisbon there will be one Commissioner per member state. Everybody in this House knows that during the last referendum campaign Sinn Féin erected on every lamppost in Ireland posters stating "Vote No, Keep Your Commissioner".

European Council Meeting: Statements (17 Dec 2008)

Micheál Martin: If the Deputy allows me to finish, I will tell him. The member states in question are the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.