Results 45,801-45,820 of 51,089 for speaker:Micheál Martin

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (22 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The official car assigned for my use is driven by members of an Garda Síochána. I have been advised that such vehicles are exempt from tolls under section 62 of the Roads Act 1993. Accordingly, there is no cost to the Exchequer.

Written Answers — Departmental Procurement Policies: Departmental Procurement Policies (22 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The commitment in the Programme for Government 2007-2012 to which the Deputy refers has been brought to the attention of purchasers in all Government Departments and public bodies via the e-procurement network maintained by the Department of Finance, and information on the initiative is available on the Government's procurement portal website at www.etenders.gov.ie. The response to this and...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (22 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 to 122, inclusive, together. The Programme for Government proposed the development of an Irish Academic Centre for Conflict Resolution to provide academic and analytical expertise in this area, and to act as a resource for my Department's Conflict Resolution Unit. The development of the Centre will help to deliver on the Conflict Resolution Unit's mandate...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (22 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: Reaching out to and strengthening links with the Irish community in Britain and with those of Irish ancestry has been, and continues to be, a cornerstone of Government policy. This commitment is reflected in the unprecedented level of funding secured for emigrant services in recent years. Since the establishment of the Irish Abroad Unit in 2004, the range and extent of the Emigrant Support...

Written Answers — Broadcasting Services: Broadcasting Services (22 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The extension of RTÉ and TG4 television programming to the Irish community in Britain has been a long-standing and key objective of the Government. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, following a series of meetings between the Irish Abroad Unit, the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and RTÉ, my colleague Eamon Ryan TD, Minister for Communications, Energy and...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (22 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government continues to be fully committed to extending the free public transport scheme to Irish emigrants of pensionable age when visiting Ireland. The most recent development in this regard is that the Department's Irish Abroad Unit, working closely with our network of Missions in EU Capitals, has researched the type of provisions made in other EU countries to subsidise pensioners'...

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

Micheál Martin: The opening of further resident diplomatic missions abroad, including the Ukraine, is considered by the Government on an ongoing basis. However, any expansion of our overseas network can only be undertaken on the basis of clear priorities. The current position is that our Ambassador to the Czech Republic is also accredited to the Ukraine on a non-resident basis, and there are no plans at...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (21 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Government is deeply concerned about the ongoing crisis in Zimbabwe. Since polling day on 29th March, the situation on the ground has deteriorated considerably. There are reports that at least 20 people have been killed, and over 28,000 displaced. State-sponsored beatings and torture meted out to opposition supporters and activists have reached appalling levels, and many of those who have...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (21 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: COMOSOC is a group of Colombian social and political movements including trade unionists, human rights groups, Church groups, indigenous groups, Afro-Colombian social groups and health groups. The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware that Grupo Raíces, a group of Colombian and Latin American residents in Ireland, hosted a delegation from COMOSOC last week. The Irish government supports...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (21 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Irish government supports both the Colombian government and civil society groups in their efforts to support the peace process in Colombia. In 2007, Irish Aid provided funding to the sum of €200,000 — the first of three equal yearly instalments — to Children in Crossfire, an NGO working to protect children's rights in Colombia and Brazil. In 2007, Irish Aid also provided...

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: Thirty Bills——

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 (21 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: We had it yesterday in the foreign affairs committee.

Order of Business (21 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Deputy should stop badgering the Chair.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (20 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). I have set out in the table details of expenditure under sub-head A7 (Consultancy) under both Votes since 1 January 2008, and for each of the previous 5 years. Year Subhead A7 Expenditure Vote 28 Subhead A7 Expenditure Vote 29 (€) (€) 2003 630,295...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The table sets out the number and cost of mobile phones, or such communications equipment, issued to staff in my Department for the past three years. Year Number of mobile Phones Annual cost of mobile phones â'¬ 2005 241 205,107.27 2006 215 179,886.85 2007 220 166,909.03

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (20 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The Passport Office can only issue a passport to an Irish Citizen. The person in question 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 without restriction in the State or in Northern Ireland, may claim citizenship by birth...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (20 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: The requested details for each Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of State at my Department during the period in question are set out below: Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister Ray Burke T.D. June 1997 to October 1997 Four civil servants were employed in the constituency office of the Minister. Minister David Andrews T.D. October 1997–January 2000 No civil servants were employed in...

Seanad: Tragedy in Burma: Statements (20 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: Cyclone Nargis struck Burma-Myanmar on 2 and 3 May 2008 with winds up to 200 km/h, sweeping through the delta region and the country's main city and former capital, Yangon. Damage from the cyclone was most severe in the delta region, where the effects of extreme winds were compounded by a sizable storm surge that destroyed an estimated 95% of housing. Yangon sustained a direct hit, which...

Seanad: Tragedy in Burma: Statements (20 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: A country that was once termed the "rice bowl of Asia" has over many years been reduced to abject and desperate poverty in many of its regions by mismanagement, corruption and military offensives against Burma's own people. A country rich in natural resources is now one of the ten poorest countries in the world, its wealth in precious metals, stones, minerals and hardwoods plundered by the...

Seanad: Tragedy in Burma: Statements (20 May 2008)

Micheál Martin: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach.