Results 45,401-45,420 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: Deputy Pat Rabbitte's party could print its own money anyway.

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (30 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: The establishment of the Irish Abroad Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2004 has greatly enhanced our capacity to develop and implement policies to support the Irish community overseas, in particular elderly people and those at risk of social exclusion. My Department remains very supportive of the excellent work of the Safe Home programme. The award of a €249,900 grant in April...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (30 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs implements the following schemes involving awards to staff: the Scheme of Performance Related Pay Awards (for officers at the level of Deputy Secretary and Assistant Secretary) and the Exceptional Performance Awards Scheme. The Scheme of Performance Related Pay Awards in the Civil Service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. It...

Written Answers — Compulsory Purchase Orders: Compulsory Purchase Orders (30 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are four bodies operating under the aegis of my Department, details of which are set out below. None of these bodies has the power to issue compulsory purchase orders. The Development Education Advisory Committee was established in 2003 following the recommendations of the Ireland Aid Review Committee. Its purpose is to advise the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister of State for...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department's policy is that all portable electronic data devices are encrypted. The policy is an operational one, overseen and implemented by the Department's ICT Unit at point of issue of such devices. Full hard disk encryption has been implemented on all laptops issued by my Department in the past three years.

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: In the period in question two Department owned laptops have been stolen and one Department issued USB memory stick was lost. None of these items has been recovered to date. These devices did not contain any sensitive data and both laptops were encrypted.

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: I wish to share time with the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley.

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: I applaud the decision taken by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Finance to bring this issue to the attention of the Government yesterday evening. It is in everyone's interest to take decisive and cohesive action on this issue. The international financial system has been affected by unprecedented turmoil and dislocation over recent months. Credit markets, which are central to meeting the...

Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Bill 2008: Second Stage (30 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: Such an over-simplistic presentation led to yesterday's inconclusive result at Congress level. That result has the potential not only to affect the US economy but also to have global ramifications. The Government's decision to introduce the legislation before the House will affect every member of Irish society. In essence, it is about employment. Deputies spoke about the decline in this...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (25 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government continues to attach the highest priority to finding a solution for our undocumented citizens in the United States. At the same time, we have also argued that the long term strength of our bilateral relationship with the United States would benefit greatly by the establishment of new immigration arrangements which would facilitate greater legal...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is Irish Aid's headquarters, is decentralising to Limerick. This is scheduled to be completed in early November 2008 and involves the relocation to Limerick of 138 posts. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the provision of office...

Written Answers — Irish Territorial Waters: Irish Territorial Waters (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1033 and 1034 together. In accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which Ireland is a party, all ships enjoy the right of innocent passage through the territorial sea. All ships, therefore, are entitled to enter the territorial sea without prior notification or consent, provided that their passage is not prejudicial to the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: While my Department has an overall co-ordinating role in European Union matters, responsibility for incorporating EU legislation into Irish law rests with individual Departments in their respective areas of responsibility. In Ireland's years of our EU membership, a large proportion of primary and secondary legislation has originated from agreements reached at EU level. It is not possible to...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1037 and 1067 together. I have in principle welcomed the agreement signed on 15 September by Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and the two factions of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), as have my EU colleagues. Ireland will reserve full judgment on this agreement until we have a clear picture of the allocation of Ministerial portfolios; and...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: Vehicles for use by Ireland's diplomatic missions, including the Irish Aid programme, are purchased in line with State procurement guidelines, with particular regard to the overriding principles of safety and security. Vehicles purchased by Irish Aid for use in the developing countries in which they operate, are of necessity mostly all-terrain, 4-wheel drive vehicles, such as the Toyota...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: No State agencies are operating under the responsibility of my Department. I can inform the Deputy that three advisory committees and one educational commission come under the aegis of the Department. The Development Education Advisory Committee was set up in 2003 following a recommendation made by the Ireland Aid Review Committee. Its purpose is to advise the Minister for Foreign Affairs,...

Written Answers — Reconciliation Fund: Reconciliation Fund (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Reconciliation Fund was established in the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1982. It provides assistance to organisations involved in reconciliation work to help to create a better understanding between people on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain. Since 1999, grants of over €24 million have been awarded to over 700 groups involved in a wide range of cross-community...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (24 Sep 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 — International Agreements: International Agreements (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1042, 1045, 1046, 1053 and 1058 together. Ireland has a long tradition, dating back 17 years, of hosting children from Belarus for holiday periods with the agreement of the Belarussian authorities. Ireland can be proud of this generous response to those affected by the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl. I warmly commend the various charities and host families...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs was not represented at the conference in question and, as a result, no costs were incurred.