Results 45,301-45,320 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 58 and 155 together. Since the referendum in June I have discussed the outcome and its implications with my counterparts in the Council of Ministers, and with leaders of the European Parliament and the European Commission. The June European Council agreed that more time was needed to analyse the situation and that the Irish Government would consult at home...

Written Answers — Emigrant Issues: Emigrant Issues (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government continues to attach a high priority to supporting Irish communities overseas. This commitment is reflected in the unprecedented level of funding secured for emigrant services in recent years. The needs of the Irish community in Britain, in particular older people and those at risk of social exclusion, are a key priority. Since the publication of the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government consistently raises with the British Government ongoing issues which are the legacy of the Troubles. As the Deputy is aware, matters arising from the past are being addressed through a variety of mechanisms, including the Weston Park Inquiries, the ongoing work of the Historical Enquiries Team, the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland and the work of the Victims...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 39 and 73 together. The situation in Iran, in particular in relation to the nuclear question and to human rights, remains of serious concern. On the nuclear question, Ireland fully supports the twin track approach of the EU3+3 (involving France, Germany, the United Kingdom, together with the US, Russia and China), which offers Iran positive engagement and...

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

Micheál Martin: Visits to Ireland by children from the Chernobyl region have, for over 17 years, offered the children the chance for rest and recuperation with Irish families. The continued success of these visits is due to the efforts of the many charities and families who respond generously to the children year after year. In recognition of the valuable work of Chernobyl Children's Project International,...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I met with the British Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, on 11 September when we had substantive discussions on a wide range of European and international issues, including the Lisbon Treaty, Climate Change, the Millennium Development Goals, Zimbabwe, the Middle East, Iran and the conflict between Georgia and Russia. We also briefly touched on the Northern Ireland situation. With regard to...

Written Answers — Emigrant Issues: Emigrant Issues (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government have progressively and substantially increased the level of funding available for emigrant services in recent years. These increases have enabled the Emigrant Support Programme, administered by the Irish Abroad Unit of my Department, to provide greater financial support to frontline welfare organisations which assist the most vulnerable members of...

Written Answers — International Conventions: International Conventions (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Convention on Cluster Munitions was adopted by consensus by the 107 states that participated at the Dublin Diplomatic Conference hosted by the Government in Croke Park from 19 to 30 May last. The Convention will be opened for signature at a ceremony to be hosted by the Norwegian Government in Oslo on 3 December. As a demonstration of commitment to its early entry into force, the...

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

Micheál Martin: I remain deeply concerned by the situation in Tibet. Following the disturbing events there in March, and in the lead-up to the Beijing Olympic Games, the situation remained extremely tense and widespread restrictions remained in place on the local population. Some of those restrictions are gradually being lifted and tourists and other outsiders are being permitted to visit the area. But...

Written Answers — Immigration Policy: Immigration Policy (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Immigration arrangements at Dublin Airport are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who answered a number of parliamentary questions on this case recently. In the circumstances, there has been no Ministerial or official contact between this Department and the Nigerian Embassy, although the Nigerian Ambassador, at an informal gathering, did...

Written Answers — Planned Coup: Planned Coup (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am aware from media reports of allegations of a planned coup against the Venezuelan Government. However, I am not in a position to assess the reliability of these allegations. I would also note that the recent meeting of Heads of State and Government of the Union of South America decided to make no statement on the matter, despite a Venezuelan request to do so.

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41 and 66 together. It is the policy of my Department to make all requests and replies made under the Freedom of Information Act, which are not of a personal nature, publicly available. There is a Freedom of Information Requests Database available on the website of my Department, which contains copies of the non-personal requests made since April 2004 to date....

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

Micheál Martin: I proposed to take Questions Nos. 42 and 67. I remain deeply concerned at the situation in Darfur, and the ongoing suffering of its people. The fracturing of the main rebel groups over the past year, and the apparent determination of the Government of Sudan to pursue a military solution, at a high price in terms of ongoing suffering for ordinary people, makes the search for peace even more...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Irish Aid provides support to anti-poverty initiatives in Latin America, and elsewhere in the developing world, through a number of funding mechanisms. Total Government support to civil society in Latin America exceeded €16 million in 2007. Through the Multi Annual Programme Scheme, (MAPS), Irish Aid has established a strategic and programmatic relationship with key Non-Governmental...

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

Micheál Martin: The situation in Burma remains of major concern. There has been a conspicuous absence of political progress since the Saffron Revolution in 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 time, they also extended the...

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

Micheál Martin: Overall, there has been a substantial improvement in the security situation in Iraq over the last 18 months. This has been based both on intensified security actions by Iraqi and international forces, and on internal progress in reconciliation and political accommodation, which we have always stressed as an essential element in resolving Iraq's problems. While the level of violence remains...

Written Answers — Election Monitoring: Election Monitoring (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Together with our EU partners, Ireland has been monitoring preparations for the parliamentary elections planned in Bangladesh for December 2008. An election observation Exploratory Mission was deployed to Bangladesh between 15th and 28th June last to assess whether re-deployment of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EOM), suspended on 11th January 2007 when the elections...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 69 together. As I have reported to the House on a number of previous occasions, the Government is seriously concerned about the political, security and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka. I am particularly troubled at the extent of civilian casualties, the increasing numbers of internally displaced families and the disruption to the delivery of...

Written Answers — Sporting Events: Sporting Events (9 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am aware of the concern, and indeed the intimidation, that can arise from slogans and songs during and after Celtic-Rangers matches. Since its opening in 1998, the Consulate General of Ireland in Edinburgh has maintained a wide-ranging dialogue with the Scottish Government on all relevant issues. In September, for instance, the Consul-General met with senior officials in the Scottish...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 74 and 166 together. More than three weeks after the signing of a power-sharing agreement between Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party, and the Tsvangirai and Mutambara factions of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), there has still been no agreement on forming a Government, and the situation in Zimbabwe remains deeply worrying. Although political violence...