Results 45,181-45,200 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 283 together. While there is no appetite among Member States for a renegotiation of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU always works on the basis of accommodating the interests of all Member States. It has in particular an admirable record of consistently finding satisfactory solutions to challenging issues. From discussions with EU counterparts, it is clear...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government are aware of the sensitivities surrounding the timetable for the coming year as it relates to the European elections which are due to be held in June 2009. In Brussels on 6 October, I addressed a plenary session of the European Parliament's Constitutional Affairs Committee on the Lisbon Treaty. My appearance before the Committee provided a welcome opportunity to engage in a...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: To date, the Treaty of Lisbon has been ratified by twenty-two Member States, with ratification awaited by Germany, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Poland. Two of these states have already completed their parliamentary procedures. It is anticipated that by January next year, Ireland may well be the only State not to have ratified the Treaty. It is clear that the concerns expressed by the Irish...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: As I have stated recently in the House, the situation in Burma remains of major concern. There has been a conspicuous absence of political progress since the events of September 2007, and repression by the military of monks, political activists and others continues. In May, the military junta pressed ahead with a fundamentally flawed referendum on a new Constitution for Burma. At the same...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Press Office in the Department of Foreign Affairs consists of a Press Officer assisted by three support staff. The Press Office serves the needs of the Department's three Ministers and the Department of Foreign Affairs as a whole. In addition, as part of the Ministerial private office staff, a Press Adviser has been appointed. I do not have a separate Press Office. The Department's Press...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 290 to 292, inclusive, together. Under the Government's decentralisation programme announced in 2003, 125 posts attached to the Development Co-operation 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,...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's Decentralisation Programme, the Development Co-operation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which manages the Irish Aid programme, is currently completing its decentralisation to Limerick. In the coming weeks, the staff of the Directorate will move into the new permanent Headquarters in Limerick. We are advised by the Office of Public Works that,...

Economic Competitiveness. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department works closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the State agencies under its aegis, in promoting Ireland's economic interests overseas. As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I attach the highest priority to using our network of embassies to further the Government's economic objectives, including attracting inward foreign investment. Our embassy in...

Economic Competitiveness. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: American investment in Ireland is very significant and over 100,000 jobs have been created by American companies. The figures are available in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and can be supplied to the Deputy. The key point is that it has been a significant factor, not merely in terms of quantity of investment but in the types of industries that have come in such as life...

Economic Competitiveness. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I was very keen to get that figure when I was Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment in order to tell Enterprise Ireland to do some homework regarding how many jobs Irish companies create in the US. The figure now is approximately 80,000 jobs. It is by no means a one-way street. I had the unusual circumstance about a year and a half ago of a US Senator lobbying me to see if a...

Economic Competitiveness. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The core issue here will be what is in the fundamental interest of corporate America, of the multinationals and of the American economy. As I said earlier, it can be argued that if companies become global economic powers in their respective fields this is ultimately beneficial to the American economy. That is ultimately what will inform the policy response in the United States.

International Agreements. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The current global economic crisis presents us with major challenges which require a global response. We are working with our EU partners to contribute to a comprehensive and genuine reform of the global financial system, on the principles of transparency, banking stability, integrity and improved economic governance. In doing so, it is important to maintain a spirit of co-operation and...

International Agreements. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am not entirely convinced by the Deputy's argument. It is much to early to rush into a definitive position on the best international mechanism to deal with the present circumstances. My understanding of the historical background of this issue is that the relationship between the International Monetary Fund and United Nations was governed by a broad framework agreement entered into in...

International Agreements. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: It is not a correct analysis of the Sarkozy position to state it does not amount to more than the making of adjustments. The French President would not agree with that perspective.

International Agreements. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: As I stated, these are still early days and I am not convinced by the Deputy's argument on what is the most effective international institution to address the issue. Without doubt, the existing institutions require fundamental reform as they are outdated in terms of membership, composition and so forth. The United Nations also requires significant reform to deal with modern global...

International Agreements. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Hedge funds are not the only fire to have spread from America. We also have problems arising from the sub-prime mortgage market.

Foreign Conflicts. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The resurgence of fighting in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo is a matter of grave concern, both in terms of its implications for the humanitarian situation and for the stability of the wider Great Lakes region. It has seriously undermined the Goma and Nairobi peace agreements and placed the progress made over the past year in the Great Lakes peace process in...

Foreign Conflicts. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The force was established in 1999 and there are 17,000 troops from the 20 different countries involved. It is clearly the largest and most expensive UN peacekeeping mission, with a budget exceeding $1 billion, so this is no mean attempt to deal with the problems. It is mandated to use all necessary means to protect civilians from physical attack. It is clearly signalling to the...

Foreign Conflicts. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: That is a very reasonable proposition and it has neither been ruled in or out. It will require the agreement of all the member states as regards participation, particularly in the context of the battle groups for rapid deployment under a UN mandate. Again, no decision has been taken and it is probably an issue that will surface at the GAERC meeting. We have an open mind with regard to EU...

Middle East Peace Process. (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Ireland, together with its EU partners, is committed to a negotiated and comprehensive settlement in the Middle East, with a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at its core. Ireland strongly supports the Annapolis process, launched under US auspices in November 2007, aimed at reaching agreement between Israel and the Palestinians by the end of this year. While it is clear...