Results 45,421-45,440 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am very concerned about the case of Bishop Jia Zhiguo, who was rearrested on 24th August in Zhengding. Though he was allowed to return home on 18th September, he is currently under house arrest. Bishop Jia Zhiguo has been the subject of repeated arrests over a great many years. His case has been raised on a number of occasions with the Chinese authorities through the EU-China Human Rights...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: All officials of my Department are bound by the provisions of the Official Secrets Act. In addition, on the day of their appointment, all officials are made aware of their responsibilities under the Data Protection Acts. Ongoing awareness training is also provided; each Division has a nominated Data Protection Coordinator and, earlier this year, my Department launched a dedicated Data...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: In the period in question two laptops have been stolen and one USB memory stick has been lost. No personal information was held on any of these devices and the data contained on them was unclassified. All laptops and USB memory sticks now issued by the Department are encrypted.

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

Micheál Martin: In total, the Government allocated €5.8 million to meet the costs associated with informing the public about the Lisbon Treaty, €5 million of which was allocated to the Referendum Commission. The balance of €0.8million was allocated from the budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs for expenditure in connection with the Government's information campaign on the contents of the Lisbon...

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

Micheál Martin: My Department pays an annual fee, currently set at €6,000, in respect of its corporate membership of the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA). In addition, the Institute has also received funding from my Department under the Communicating Europe Initiative (CEI). This scheme provides grants to organisations and individuals for projects aimed at increasing knowledge and...

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

Micheál Martin: Advertising undertaken by my Department in Ireland typically includes advisory notices on public opening hours over holiday periods, changes in passport application procedures and fees, recruitment notices and public information notices relating to Ireland's official aid programme. My Department's policy is to keep advertising costs to a minimum and much of this material is now placed on the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1052 and 1056 together. As has been made repeatedly clear, the Government is completely opposed to the practice of the extraordinary rendition of prisoners. The Government has received specific assurances from the US authorities that such prisoners have not been transferred through Irish territory, nor would they be, without our permission. These assurances...

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

Micheál Martin: There are four bodies operating under the aegis of my Department. Details on these four bodies are set out below: 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 Overseas Development and Irish Aid on policy regarding development...

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

Micheál Martin: The requested details for my Department during the periods in question are set out in tabular form: Numbers of staff by grade (Private and Constituency Offices) Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Micheál Martin, T.D. Minister of State, Mr. Dick Roche, T.D. Minister of State, Mr. Peter Power, T.D. Private Secretary 1 1 1 Higher Executive Officer 1 0 0 Executive Officer 2 0 1 Staff...

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

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government continues to attach a very high 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 — Consular Services: Consular Services (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: Consular assistance was provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs, to the person mentioned by the Deputy, when her father died in Mostar, through the Irish Embassy in Slovenia, which is also accredited to Bosnia-Herzegovina. On 26 May, the Irish Embassy Ljubljana was informed that the death had occurred of an Irish national in Mostar. The Consular Section of my Department offered consular...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: The opening of further resident diplomatic missions abroad, including in Bosnia Herzegovina, is considered by the Government on an ongoing basis. However, any expansion of our overseas network can only be undertaken on the basis of clear priorities. The current position is that our Ambassador to Slovenia is also accredited to Bosnia Herzegovina on a non-resident basis, and there are no plans...

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

Micheál Martin: The following tables set out the grades, numbers and remuneration of the civil service staff in my constituency office and those of the two Ministers of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Grade/Position Number Salary Scale Executive Officer 1 Executive Officer PPC Salary Scale €32,179 – €51,054 per annum Clerical Officer 2 Clerical Officer PPC Salary Scale €24,397 –...

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

Micheál Martin: There are four bodies operating under the aegis of my Department. Details on these four bodies are set out below: 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 Overseas Development and Irish Aid on policy regarding development...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (24 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 — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (24 Sep 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). I have set out in the following table details of expenditure under sub-head A7 (Consultancy) under both Votes in 2007 and to date in 2008. Expenditure under Consultancy Subhead (A07) Vote 28 Vote 29 € € 2007 245,462 2,840,000 2008 130,458 2,853,000 I...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The St. Andrews Agreement 2006 included a commitment to bring forward an Irish Language Act for Northern Ireland, reflecting on the experience in Wales and our own experience in Ireland. It also called on the incoming Northern Ireland Executive to work to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language. The British legislation giving effect to the St. Andrews Agreement included a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). I have set out in tabular form below details of expenditure under sub-head A7 (Consultancy) and also the amount spent on public relations, marketing or advertising consultants, for the period in question. It should be noted that the figures relating to public...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are three advisory committees and one educational commission which operate under the aegis of my Department. The Advisory Board for Irish Aid, the Development Education Advisory Committee and the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee are advisory in nature and are serviced by staff of my Department. The Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission)...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department does not allocate monies to rural development and LEADER programmes.