Results 45,341-45,360 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Diplomatic Contacts: Diplomatic Contacts (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The collapse of Ukraine's governing coalition in September and the calling in October of the third parliamentary elections in three years are matters of concern. However, Ukraine is a young democracy and has already travelled a great distance in terms of reform, though clearly further reforms are necessary, including clarifying the roles of the President and the government. The current...

Written Answers — World Trade Organisation Talks: World Trade Organisation Talks (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The most recent ministerial meeting held in the framework of the current round of WTO negotiations ended inconclusively in Geneva on 29 July 2008, although progress was achieved on many of the issues covered by the negotiations. In the end, the breakdown came as a result of disagreement, primarily between the United States and India, on a special safeguard mechanism (SSM) for agricultural...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: As I stated in the House on 9th October last in reply to a Parliamentary Question, I am deeply concerned about the situation in Afghanistan. The security situation, of course, gives grounds for particular concern. The UN Secretary General concluded in his most recent report on Afghanistan, issued on 23rd September, that the situation deteriorated markedly over the last six months. He noted...

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

Micheál Martin: With the fifth wave of enlargement, twelve new countries joined the European Union, on 1 May 2004 and 1 January 2007, bringing the total membership from 15 to 27. In addition there are two candidate countries currently engaged in accession negotiations — Croatia and Turkey — and a third candidate country — the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, with which negotiations have not yet...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: Ireland, together with its EU partners, attaches great importance to achieving stability in the countries of the Western Balkans, including through the European Union's Stabilisation and Association (SAA) process. This process provides the framework for co-operation on economic, political and legal matters and aims to bring countries closer to EU standards and principles. Stabilisation and...

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

Micheál Martin: The terrible events in the Democratic Republic of Congo in recent weeks, as well as the ongoing situations in Somalia, Darfur and Zimbabwe, serve to remind us that combating both the causes and effects of war, instability, poor governance and hunger in Africa is one of the most important tasks facing the international community in the 21st century. Conflict has many causes and many...

Written Answers — European Union Development: European Union Development (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The current international situation poses very real challenges for the European Union. The Union's agenda at present is dominated by such issues as the international financial crisis, climate change, the Union's role in the world and the ratification of the Lisbon Treaty. The recent European Council dealt with all these issues in a very positive and effective manner. The Union is clearly...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Contacts: Diplomatic Contacts (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: The EU has been involved in conflict resolution efforts in Georgia from the start of the recent crisis and has played a key role in every step which has reduced tensions there. The pledge of assistance made at the 22 October donor reconstruction conference for Georgia, which the EU co-sponsored, will help Georgia to develop economically and rebuild the damage done during the fighting in...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Contacts: Diplomatic Contacts (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: EU-Russia relations have inevitably been affected by events in Georgia, which have pointed to a new and worrying stance by Russia in relation to its right to intervene to protect its interests and citizens. Both Russia and EU Member States must abide by the international standards they have themselves signed up to through the UN, OSCE and Council of Europe. However, the EU and Russia share...

Written Answers — International Co-operation: International Co-operation (5 Nov 2008)

Micheál Martin: As neighbours and fellow members of the European Union Ireland and Britain enjoy excellent cooperation across a wide range of issues. One focus of cooperation is of course our intensive engagement on matters relating to Northern Ireland. In addition, the two Governments engage on matters of mutual interest through the British-Irish Council, established under the Good Friday Agreement to...

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

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280, 285 and 286 together. The results of the comprehensive independent research, commissioned by the Government, which were published in September, confirmed that our people want Ireland to continue to be fully involved in the Union. Seventy per cent of Irish people agree that membership is a good thing, while just eight per cent disagreed. In that sense, the...

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

Micheál Martin: At present, the Treaties make no provision for the withdrawal of a State from the Union. Under the Lisbon Treaty, if ratified, this however would change, as explicit provision is made there for withdrawal. The withdrawal of any country from the Union would have a profound impact, including on foreign trade. Such a move would require a country to re-negotiate the terms of its external trading...

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...