Results 45,241-45,260 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Schools Refurbishment. (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter because it gives me the opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, to outline to the House the Department's position regarding the allocation of funding for Ardscoil na mBráithre, Clonmel, County Tipperary. The main purpose of the emergency works scheme is to ensure the availability of funding for urgent...

Written Answers — Irish Prisoners Abroad: Irish Prisoners Abroad (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Flood Report, which was commissioned by my predecessor, is a seminal study into the needs of Irish Prisoners overseas. It will serve as the template for future Government action in this area for many years to come. On 21 October in the Seanad, I outlined some of the measures we have already taken to implement its key recommendations. One of the principal elements in the Report was the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I remain deeply concerned at the situation in Zimbabwe. Over the last number of years, but especially in recent months, ordinary Zimbabweans have suffered from state violence, economic chaos and the collapse of basic social services such as health and education. Now, as a result of drought, the disruption caused by violence, and a lack of basic inputs such as seeds and fertilisers which...

Written Answers — Benchmarking Awards: Benchmarking Awards (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Public Service Benchmarking Body, whose report was published on 21 December 2007, carried out a detailed evaluation of the pay and jobs of 109 grades in the public service in accordance with its terms of reference. While there is not a specific link between benchmarking and services to the public, "Sustaining Progress" and its successor "Towards 2016", the ten-year Social Partnership...

Written Answers — Passport Fraud: Passport Fraud (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The figures for Irish passports reported as lost or stolen for 2007 and from 1 January to 13 November 2008 are: Year Total passports issued Lost or mislaid Stolen Total lost, mislaid or stolen % of total issued 2007 600,000 32,156 5,425 37,581 6.3% 1 January to 13 November 2008 539,000 28,624 4,458 33,082 6.1% These figures are in line with other comparable countries. Stolen passports...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following tables set out the average number of sick days per head of staff in my Department in each of the years specified. It is not possible to provide the average number of sick days excluding long-term illnesses for 2006 as our records for that year, and the years prior to that, do not distinguish between short- and long-term illnesses. The figure for the total number of employees...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The person in question was born in Scotland to an Irish-born parent. He was therefore automatically an Irish citizen at birth. In the year 2000, he renounced his Irish citizenship by lodging a declaration of alienage with the Irish Embassy in Berlin and surrendered his passport. Under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, a person born in the island of Ireland who has renounced Irish...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes â€" Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). I have set out in the following tables the names of the consultants engaged by my Department together with an indication of the work carried out and the amounts paid to each consultant for each of the years 2000 to 2008 (to date) under both Votes. I am very...

Written Answers — International Summits: International Summits (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I refer the Deputy to my response to question number 182 posed by Deputy O'Caoláin on Thursday 13th November 2008: In May 2008, the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) wrote to my Department requesting the inclusion of a youth delegate in Ireland's delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in 2009. My Department is considering the NYCI's proposal which, however, gives rise to a...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department is fully aware of the tragic death of the person referred to in the Deputy's question. My deepest sympathies go out to the family of the deceased. With regard to the assistance provided by the Irish Consulate General, New York to the family, I am satisfied that all possible measures were taken to assist the family at this very sad time. This included liaison with the Medical...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The calculation of the pension benefits payable to retired members of my Department, including the appropriate lump sum due, is a matter for the Department of Finance.

Docklands Development Project. (18 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: I welcome the raising of this issue by my constituency colleague from Cork South-Central, Deputy Michael McGrath.

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...