Results 45,621-45,640 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

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...

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

Micheál Martin: The number of staff employed in my Department is 1,242. This figure excludes approximately 300 staff who are recruited locally to work in our Missions abroad, as well as 90 Temporary Clerical Officers engaged by the Passport Office on fixed term contracts to help meet the increased demand for passports in the lead up to, and during, the busy summer period. With the exception of the 17...

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

Micheál Martin: There are no agencies operating under the responsibility of my Department. However, there are three Advisory Committees and one Educational Commission, which operate under the aegis of the Department. All individuals who serve on these four bodies do so in a voluntary capacity. Details on these four bodies are set out in this answer. The Development Education Advisory Committee was...

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

Micheál Martin: There are no State Agencies operating under the aegis of my Department. However, there are a number of bodies and advisory committees, some of whom have administrative budgets. The Advisory Board for Irish Aid, which replaced the Irish Aid Advisory Committee, was established in August 2002 to provide general oversight and advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State...

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

Micheál Martin: All staff employed by the Department are in receipt of a salary which is in excess of the national minimum wage.

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

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes, namely Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). Details of twenty three reports commissioned by my Department from 2002 to date in 2008 are set out in this answer. Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) Reports Task Force on Policy Regarding Emigrants The Government established the Task Force in December 2001 to...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is Irish Aid's Headquarters, is decentralising to Limerick. Following sanction by the Department of Finance of additional posts for DCD, the total number of posts decentralising to Limerick has increased from the original figure of 124 agreed by Government to...

Written Answers — Efficiency Reviews: Efficiency Reviews (3 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: In Budget 2008, the then Tánaiste and Minister for Finance announced that the Government agreed to an efficiency review of administrative spending across all Departments. As part of this process, Departments were required to examine their administrative spending and to provide specific proposals for savings to the Department of Finance. My Department has submitted relevant proposals to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2008)

Micheál Martin: The following table sets out the number of staff broken down by grade/position working in my Department and the number of vacancies currently being carried. The figure of 1,242 excludes approximately 300 staff who are recruited locally to work in our Missions abroad, as well as 90 Temporary Clerical Officers engaged by the Passport Office on fixed term contracts to help meet the increased...