Results 45,281-45,300 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (21 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: At the outset, I would like again to express my deepest sympathy to the family concerned. My Department became aware of the case mentioned by the Deputy in December 2006 and considerable consular assistance was provided, including assistance in the repatriation of the remains of the deceased. The authorities in Botswana conducted enquiries into the death of the deceased, following which a...

Seanad: Irish Prisoners Abroad (21 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government welcomes the debate. The motion has been tabled by Senator Mary White, who has been a strong advocate of the rights of Irish prisoners overseas. The debate relates to the Flood report. In 2005, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, asked former Minister of State, Mr. Chris Flood, to undertake the study. That request arose out of a commitment in the...

Seanad: Postgraduate Medical Training (21 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am your man. I thought the Adjournment matter would be about the Lisbon treaty.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware, Grupo Raíces is a group of Latin American and Irish citizens concerned about the situation in Colombia. In relation to the first part of the Deputy's question, the Irish government supports both the Colombian government and civil society groups in their efforts to support the peace process in Colombia. Irish Aid currently funds local NGOs working to protect...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (16 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department became aware on 11 September of this case mentioned by the Deputy when the person concerned emailed our Embassy in Paris outlining the incident as set out in the letter by the Deputy. Our Embassy immediately contacted JWT on the same day to ensure that the person concerned had filled out a police report with one of their representatives. The Embassy also then contacted the...

Written Answers — Icelandic Investments: Icelandic Investments (16 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are no investment funds operating under the responsibility of my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (15 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: There have been no payments or contracts between this company and my Department, or any bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, from 2000 to date.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: All amounts assessed on Ireland to cover the expenses of UN peace-keeping operations are paid directly by the Department of Foreign Affairs to the UN on behalf of the Government. The total amounts paid in such obligatory assessed contributions from 1996 to 2008 are as follows: 2008 (to date) â'¬16,160,648 2007 â'¬20,610,666.85 2006 â'¬11,680,561 2005 â'¬11,172,638 2004...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (14 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: There have been no new agencies established under the aegis of my Department since 1997.

Written Answers — Information Obligations: Information Obligations (14 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: My colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, TD, has the lead role in this matter and has tasked her Department with coordinating the overall process to measure and reduce regulatory burdens across Government. My own Department has engaged with the identification, prioritisation and measurement process, an exercise in which all Departments are...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (14 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department has not had any EU measures which required transposition into primary or secondary legislation in the past 12 months. While my Department has an overall coordinating role in EU matters, the core responsibility for transposing EU measures into Irish law rests with those Departments which oversee and maintain our national legislative and regulatory framework in the policy areas...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (14 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: While my Department has an overall coordinating role in EU matters, the core responsibility for transposing EU measures into Irish law rests with those Departments which oversee and maintain our national legislative and regulatory framework in the policy areas covered by individual EU measures. There are currently no Directives awaiting transposition in my Department. My colleague, Mr. Dick...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (14 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I met with the Iranian Foreign Minister, Mr. Mottaki, in New York on 29 September, during my attendance at the General Assembly of the United Nations. The main topics discussed were regional issues, such as recent events in the Caucasus, the Middle East Peace Process and the issue of Iran's nuclear programme, where I restated Ireland and the EU's full support for the approach of the 'EU3 +...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (14 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department, through Irish Aid, is not involved in the direct contracting of air transport for the shipment of relief supplies to international crises. A number of Irish Aid's partners in the UN and Red Cross families, as well as some of our NGO partners, arrange for the transport by ship, by road and by air of essential supplies as part of their ongoing operations in emergencies. On...

Written Answers — Foreign Policy Issues: Foreign Policy Issues (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: President Zardari faces significant political and security challenges. In addition, Pakistan is experiencing severe problems with the economy and serious, endemic, governance issues. As regards Afghanistan, the new President has got off to a promising start. I very much welcome the invitation he extended to President Karzai of Afghanistan to attend his swearing-in ceremony in Islamabad on 9...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 45, 51, 53 and 71 together. The EU has played a very positive role in promoting conflict resolution in Georgia, working closely with all sides while maintaining a cohesive position on issues of substance relating to the conflict. Lessons from the EU's involvement in Georgia can certainly be drawn on for the future. The outstanding role played by the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The case to which the Deputy refers relates to five Cuban men, known as the Miami Five, who were convicted in the US in 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to first degree murder. On 4 June 2008, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, issued its judgement on appeals lodged on behalf of the five. The Circuit Court concluded that the appellants' arguments, which centred on...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Contacts: Diplomatic Contacts (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 28 together. On 20 September, the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee "recalled" President Thabo Mbeki as President of South Africa, as a result of comments made by a judge in relation to the prosecution of former Deputy President Jacob Zuma. President Mbeki immediately handed his resignation to the Speaker of Parliament, to...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 17, 57 and 160 together. 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...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 36 together. The Government has taken a number of steps to address the outcome of the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty. At the European Council in June the Taoiseach gave his colleagues his initial assessment and explained that we needed time to analyse the result and to reflect on its full implications. Only then could we turn to devising solutions...