Results 45,561-45,580 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (7 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: As the Deputy will be aware, I have only been in my current ministerial role since May of this year and so it is not possible to provide a year-on-year comparison of my carbon footprint in this post. Using the carbon calculator on the Government's climate change awareness website, www.change.ie , the carbon emissions arising for my official travel, for the period May 2008 to date, have been...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (7 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: According to Central Statistics Office estimates, approximately 16,200 Irish emigrants returned to live in Ireland in the past year, bringing the total number of returned emigrants since 2003 to over 107,000. As the Deputy will be aware, the vast majority of returning emigrants do not request State assistance in making arrangements for their return. However, some returning emigrants do...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (7 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together. The Government remains seriously concerned about the humanitarian and security situation in Gaza, where the population of 1.5 million have been facing unsustainable conditions of daily life. Aid dependency is now at an all-time high. We have consistently called for an end to the isolation of the people of Gaza, in particular through...

Establishment of Sub-Committee: Motion (2 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I support the motion to form a sub-committee, which shall be called the Sub-Committee on Ireland's Future in the European Union, and regarding the appointment of members to the Select Committee on European Affairs. Today is an important day for the Oireachtas and for our country's future in the European Union. The sub-committee will have a key contribution to make as we seek to chart a way...

Establishment of Sub-Committee: Motion (2 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Leader of the Seanad, Senator Cassidy, is working on it.

Establishment of Sub-Committee: Motion (2 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I thank Members for their agreement to the establishment of the committee. I have been engaged in discussions since late July with representatives of the different political parties to ensure that the Oireachtas would have a role not only in debating but in charting a way forward regarding this country's engagement with the European Union. That is the rationale behind the establishment of...

Establishment of Sub-Committee: Motion (2 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: ——to make a contribution to what is a substantive and meaningful debate about Ireland and its role within Europe, how we see our future within the European Union in terms of the key issues, both economic and social, for Ireland and what kind of assurances people want into the future. We are making a genuine effort to try to resolve and understand these issues. Hence, we engaged in...

Establishment of Sub-Committee: Motion (2 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: These are questions on which we need to ponder. If one takes one line about whether we want to stop where we are in our engagement in Europe and perhaps take a more isolated marginal position, where does that leave us? These are the questions that the committee, in essence, must tease through. Deputy Timmins's point about the knowledge of European Union institutions is well borne out by the...

Membership of Committee: Motion (2 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: I move: That Deputies Beverley Flynn and Joanna Tuffy be appointed to the Select Committee on European Affairs.

Order of Business (2 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: It is eight weeks.

Order of Business (2 Oct 2008)

Micheál Martin: Come fly with me.

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

Micheál Martin: I did not say that.

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...