Results 45,441-45,460 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

European Council: Statements (29 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: ——to deal with the global financial crisis, which is an exceptional and extraordinary situation. Up to then, the European Central Bank played a significant role in ensuring continuing liquidity for banks across Europe, and particularly for the Irish banks. Deputy Timmins mentioned Iceland and I respectfully suggest that we could have been in that space if it were not for the European...

European Council: Statements (29 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: President Sarkozy has indicated that he is always available to come to Ireland.

European Council: Statements (29 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: He enjoys robust debate at the best of times. I would say he would anticipate further robust debate even from existing candidates and maybe future candidates. In any event, he is available to come here but there has been no confirmation of when he may arrive again.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (23 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following table sets out the names and remuneration of my Special Advisors in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Both staff are contracted under terms and conditions of employment set by the Minister for Finance and are employed on a full-time basis. Their appointments will terminate no later than the date on which I cease to hold my office as Minister. Name Position Remuneration...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The estimated costs to my Department of incremental pay increases during 2008 and 2009 are as follows: Year Estimated Cost â'¬ 2008 1,073,000 2009 1,108,000 These estimated figures are based on the current number of staff employed in my Department and are derived using the midpoints of the salary scales for each grade of officer. They also take into account increases due in each...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The estimated costs to my Department of pay increases due under the Towards 2016 social partnership agreement are as follows: Year Cost â'¬ 2008 (from 1 September) 712,000 2009 3,324,000 The 2009 figure includes the full-year cost of the 2.5% increase payable from September 2008 and the cost for four months of the 3.5% increase that falls due in September 2009.

Written Answers — US Higher Education Grants: US Higher Education Grants (21 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Fulbright Commission (Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange) provides scholarships to Irish citizens to lecture, research or study in the United States and for US citizens to lecture, research or study in Ireland. The Commission has supported more than 1,600 Irish postgraduate students, academics and professionals who have studied in top US colleges and research...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 371 and 372 together. Under the Government's decentralisation programme announced in 2003, 125 posts attached to the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs were to decentralise to Limerick. Following sanction of additional posts by the Department of Finance in 2005, the total number of posts from the Division transferring to...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 373, 374 and 378 together. In 2006, one member of staff of my Department retired early under the terms of the Cost Neutral Early Retirement Scheme. No other officers have availed of early retirement within the last five years. The Deputies will appreciate that, since we had only one individual availing of early retirement, to release any further information...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (21 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: All data held in my Department, including personal data, is protected by both physical and technical safeguards. My Department's policy is that all portable electronic data devices are encrypted. Full hard disk encryption has been implemented on all laptops issued by my Department in the past three years. The Department does not issue blackberry devices and the small number of hand held...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The average levels of absenteeism within my Department, for each of the five years from 2003 to 2007 inclusive, are set out below. Each figure given is the total number of days lost to absence expressed as a percentage of the total available working days for staff in the Department. 2003: 1.98% 2004: 2.28% 2005: 2.57% 2006: 2.76% 2007: 3.58%

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 379 together. There are currently no agencies operating under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (21 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: At the outset, I would like again to express my deepest sympathy to the family concerned. My Department became aware of the case mentioned by the Deputy in December 2006 and considerable consular assistance was provided, including assistance in the repatriation of the remains of the deceased. The authorities in Botswana conducted enquiries into the death of the deceased, following which a...

Seanad: Irish Prisoners Abroad (21 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government welcomes the debate. The motion has been tabled by Senator Mary White, who has been a strong advocate of the rights of Irish prisoners overseas. The debate relates to the Flood report. In 2005, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, asked former Minister of State, Mr. Chris Flood, to undertake the study. That request arose out of a commitment in the...

Seanad: Postgraduate Medical Training (21 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I am your man. I thought the Adjournment matter would be about the Lisbon treaty.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (16 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy is aware, Grupo Raíces is a group of Latin American and Irish citizens concerned about the situation in Colombia. In relation to the first part of the Deputy's question, the Irish government supports both the Colombian government and civil society groups in their efforts to support the peace process in Colombia. Irish Aid currently funds local NGOs working to protect...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (16 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department became aware on 11 September of this case mentioned by the Deputy when the person concerned emailed our Embassy in Paris outlining the incident as set out in the letter by the Deputy. Our Embassy immediately contacted JWT on the same day to ensure that the person concerned had filled out a police report with one of their representatives. The Embassy also then contacted the...

Written Answers — Icelandic Investments: Icelandic Investments (16 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: There are no investment funds operating under the responsibility of my Department.

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (15 Oct 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 — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: All amounts assessed on Ireland to cover the expenses of UN peace-keeping operations are paid directly by the Department of Foreign Affairs to the UN on behalf of the Government. The total amounts paid in such obligatory assessed contributions from 1996 to 2008 are as follows: 2008 (to date) â'¬16,160,648 2007 â'¬20,610,666.85 2006 â'¬11,680,561 2005 â'¬11,172,638 2004...