Results 45,521-45,540 of 50,917 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Peacebuilding Commission: Peacebuilding Commission (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: The UN Peacebuilding Commission was formally established by parallel resolutions of the UN General Assembly and Security Council in December 2005, on foot of a recommendation from the UN World Summit in September 2005. The Commission became operational in June 2006. Its purpose is to enhance the coherence and impact of the international community's activities by advising on and proposing...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: I congratulate the people of Nepal on the successful establishment of the Constituent Assembly following elections on 10 April 2008 and welcome the fact that the transition to a new form of Government in Nepal has taken place in a largely peaceful and orderly manner. The people of Nepal have shown, after ten years of internal disturbances and war, their commitment to democracy and their...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: In the context of Ireland's participation in the EU military mission, EUFOR Tchad/RCA, the Government decided to establish diplomatic relations with Chad. The Ambassador designate of Ireland to Chad, Kyle O'Sullivan, is resident in Abuja, Nigeria, and has already visited Chad on a number of occasions. He is expected to present his credentials shortly. I am confident that the establishment of...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: Special sessions of the Human Rights Council can only be requested by members of the Council with the support of one third of the membership. Ireland is currently not a member of the Human Rights Council. I am not aware that any member of the Council intends to call for a special session on China I would note, however, that General Assembly resolution 60/251 of 15 March 2006, which...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Honorary Consul General of Ireland in Beirut, Lebanon, is Mr. Khaled Daouk. He was appointed as Honorary Consul in 1988 and as Honorary Consul General in 1995. Question No. 98 answered with Question No. 74.

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 106 together. Intensive discussions are continuing in the current round of the WTO negotiations. There remain many issues to be resolved, not alone on the agriculture dossier, but also on the issues of non-agricultural market access, trade in services, rules and trade facilitation. The Government wants to see a successful outcome to the negotiations...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 114 together. The programme for Government of June 2007 committed us to campaign for a complete ban on the use of cluster munitions and to seek agreement on an immediate freeze on their use pending the establishment of effective international instruments to address humanitarian concerns. In implementation of this commitment, Ireland hosted and chaired...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: As my predecessor, Deputy Dermot Ahern, outlined in his response to a parliamentary question on 17 April, in the context of our EU Presidency, diplomatic relations with Burma were established on 10 February 2004 through the issue of a Joint Communiqué in the names of the two Governments. However, due to the deterioration in the political situation which followed shortly afterwards,...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the legal regime governing the exploration and exploitation of Ireland's continental shelf. The regime governing the exploration and exploitation of the continental shelf in international law is set down by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Under that Convention a coastal state is entitled to a continental shelf 200...

Written Answers — Energy Prices: Energy Prices (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: The June European Council will consider the issue of higher food and oil prices. Ireland and its EU partners recognise that this issue presents significant challenges to Ireland, the EU and the world economy. The global upward trend in oil prices moreover reinforces the imperative for Ireland to reduce its oil dependency and to use energy wisely and efficiently. While the above concerns all...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: Along with our partners in the EU, Ireland's position on the Kosovo final status issue has been that a final settlement for Kosovo must provide for a multi-ethnic, secure and democratic Kosovo, consistent with EU values and standards and contributing to the stability of the region. The EU has consistently highlighted the protection of minorities and the right to return of refugees and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 115 and 123 together. I called on the Chinese Ambassador on 15 May to personally convey my condolences and those of the people of Ireland to those bereaved by the recent earthquake in Sichuan Province. My Department maintains regular contact with the Chinese Embassy in Dublin to convey the Government's ongoing concerns at the situation in Tibet and to...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 121 together. The situation in Zimbabwe continues to be both shocking and deeply disturbing. With voting in the second round of the Presidential election due to take place on 27 June, the situation remains violent and unstable. At least 50 people have been killed since March, and targeted violence has resulted in thousands being displaced, rendering...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: I remain very concerned at the situation in Somalia. The country has been without an effective government since 1991, and despite an initial period of stability after Ethiopian troops and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces defeated the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) in December 2006, the situation has worsened catastrophically in recent months. Fighting in Mogadishu since October...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: The meeting of the OECD Council at Ministerial level in Paris on 4 and 5 June was attended by the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Dr. Martin Mansergh. The Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. John McGuinness, attended the session on the multilateral trading system. The theme of the meeting was Outreach, Reform and the Economics of...

Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Analysis: Regulatory Impact Analysis (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: My Department engages fully with the 'Regulatory Impact Analysis' (RIA) process which has been in place since 2005. The RIA process assesses the impact a body of legislation could have in changing existing regulatory obligations for business. Since the introduction in June 2005 of Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA), my Department has carried out two RIA screenings on: the British-Irish...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: The December 2007 European Council reaffirmed that the future of the Western Balkans lies within the European Union and the countries of the region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) continue to feature on the agenda of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. On 18 February last, EU Foreign...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 176 together. The President of the European Council, assisted by the President of the Commission and the High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, will meet President Medvedev, together with Premier Putin and Foreign Minister Lavrov at the next EU Russia Summit in Khanty-Mansiisk, Siberia on 26-27 June. This will be the first...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 165, 166 and 172 together. The reduction of poverty, hunger, conflict and human rights abuses in Africa is one of the most important tasks of the international community in the 21st century. Conflict has many causes and many manifestations, but poverty, inequality and exclusion have proved to be the most fertile breeding grounds for violence, ethnic hatred...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (18 Jun 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 174 together. The situation in Darfur remains of grave concern, and the suffering of its people continues unabated. The fracturing of the main rebel groups over the past year, and the apparent determination of the Government of Sudan to pursue a military solution, at a high price in suffering for ordinary people, makes the search for peace even more...