Results 45,441-45,460 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 299 and 300 together. The situation in Sri Lanka is regularly discussed with EU partners, and the EU continues to play an active role as one of the four Co-Chairs of the 2003 Tokyo Conference on Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka. Ireland is supportive of all efforts to bring about a sustainable and effective solution to the conflict in Sri Lanka and...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: It remains my strong view that dialogue is the only peaceful and sustainable way of ensuring the protection of Tibetan religious and cultural identity, as well as addressing Chinese concerns regarding its territorial integrity. I welcome the meetings on 4 May and 1 July between the Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama. I regret that the most recent meeting does not seem...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy has previously been informed, Ireland is fully supportive of efforts to bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Colombia. The Government of Colombia has repeatedly stated its commitment to bringing to an end all terrorism in Colombia within the framework of the Justice and Peace Law. This Law, passed in 2005, provides an overall legal framework for the demobilisation,...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will appreciate, the issuing of a Permanent Resident Card, known as a Green Card, to live and work in the United States, is the exclusive responsibility of the American authorities. However, in response to the Deputy's representations, our Consulate in Chicago made enquiries on behalf of the individual concerned with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (10 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following table provides the relevant details of the air travel undertaken by myself and other Ministers at my Department, including my predecessor, since June 2007. As the Deputy may be aware, the cost of the Government Jet is charged to the Vote of the Department of Defence. Rail travel costs totalling €128 were incurred by Minister of State, Peter Power T.D. in May 2008. No expenses...

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; the Emigrant Services Advisory Committee and the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission). The Development Education Advisory Committee and the Emigrant...

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

Micheál Martin: Under both of my Department's votes, Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation), every effort is made, on an ongoing basis, to ensure that costs are kept under control and that value for money is obtained for all public expenditure. In line with the decision of the Government on the savings to be achieved this year, as announced by the Minister for Finance on 8th July,...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (9 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Office can only issue a passport to an Irish Citizen. In this case, an application for an Irish passport was submitted on behalf of a child by his parents. The child was born in Ireland in 2005. Under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 2004, persons born in the State after 1 January 2005, where neither parent is an Irish or British citizen or otherwise entitled to reside...

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

Micheál Martin: The grave situation in Zimbabwe is of the utmost concern to the Government. I have consistently stressed Ireland's utter condemnation of the conditions in which the 27 June election took place. The widespread state-sponsored violence and intimidation, which resulted in the deaths of close to one hundred supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and led to Morgan Tsvangirai's...

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

Micheál Martin: I warmly welcome the release last week of Ingrid Betancourt and fourteen fellow hostages on foot of an operation conducted by the Colombian army. I would also renew my call for the release of all hostages held in Colombia. The European Union has not been involved in negotiations in Colombia. However, a number of EU Member States, which have a history of involvement in the region, have been...

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (9 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: Neither I nor the Ministers of State at my Department have plans to visit China in an official capacity in August. Separate from the above, additional consular resources will be deployed in China to assist Irish citizens as the need arises.

Written Answers — Departmental Publications: Departmental Publications (9 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: Presented in tabular form are details of the various publications and booklets produced by my Department for the period in question. Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) Cost (Design and Print) € Report on Irish Prisoners Abroad 6,066 Department of Foreign Affairs, Annual Report 2006 341 Information Sheets containing biographies of Taoiseach and Ministers, primarily for use by Missions abroad...

Written Answers — European Parliament: European Parliament (8 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under the existing European Community Treaty, which governs seating arrangements for the European Parliament, Ireland will have 12 MEPs as and from the 2009 elections. The Lisbon Reform Treaty envisaged no change in that allocation.

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (8 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: In accordance with the Public Service Management Act 1997, proposals will very shortly be brought to Government for the appointment of Special Advisers in my Department and for the making of the required Orders.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following table sets out the number of established officers in the Department's Press Office, their grade and salary scale. Grade/Position Number Annual Salary First Secretary 1 Assistant Principal PPC Salary Scale €67,960 – €84,746 per annum Third Secretary 2 Administrative Officer PPC Salary Scale €34,275 – €60,693 per annum Clerical Officer 1 Clerical Officer PPC...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following table sets out the number of staff employed in my constituency office, their grade and salary scale: Grade/Position Number Salary Scale Executive Officer 1 Executive Officer PPC Salary Scale €31,394 – 49,806 per annum Personal Secretary (Non-established, based in constituency) 1 Executive Officer Standard Scale €29,820 – €47,321 per annum Personal Assistant...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Value for Money and Policy Review of the Support for Irish Emigrants Groups Programme, which was undertaken by Goodbody Economic Consultants, was completed in July, 2007. Copies of the Report were lodged with the Houses of the Oireachtas on 1 August 2007 and with the Value for Money and Policy Review Secretariat of the Department of Finance at the same time. The Review was undertaken...

Written Answers — Ministerial Correspondence: Ministerial Correspondence (8 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The case to which the Deputy refers relates to five Cuban citizens who were convicted in the US in 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to first degree murder. As I have previously informed the Deputy, it is my understanding that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta, Georgia, has considered this case three times and most recently upheld the 2001 convictions on 4 June 2008. It is...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (8 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 460, 461 and 465 together. The situation in the ethnic Somali Ogaden region of Ethiopia has deteriorated sharply in the last six months. The conflict between the Ethiopian Government and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) is causing serious hardship for the mainly pastoralist and nomadic people of the region, whose livelihoods have been disrupted. Aid...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (8 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 462 and 463 together. In advance of the referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the Government conducted an intensive information campaign aimed at providing the electorate with factual information about the Treaty. The Government did not commission any research on voter attitudes. However, individual political parties were of course free to conduct their own private...