Results 21-40 of 4,092 for speaker:Michael D Higgins

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: Question 25: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his view on the present position in southern Sudan and such briefings as he may have received on border and resource issues as may arise following the recent referendum. [2856/11]

Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: They should have supported John Ging, whom we all congratulate.

Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: I appreciate the Minister of State's reply. Perhaps he will convey to former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Martin, my appreciation of his courtesy and co-operation during the period of his Ministry. On Tunisia, is it the view of the European Union that the French Government should freeze the assets of the Ben Ali family, including those of the wife of former President Ben Ali and his...

Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: It is appropriate that the Minister of State mentions the Duvalier family because that family's assets are also in France. When Papa Doc junior fled Haiti loaded with the assets of the Haitian people there was a deep reluctance on the part of the French Government, given its particular form of colonial diplomacy, to freeze the assets of the Duvalier family. The Minister of State can,...

Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: Saudi Arabia.

Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State's reply, which is practical. At the time I tabled this question, almost 40 people had been reported dead. Food provision is important, given that only one fifth of the rice farms survived. There is not only an emergency in the context of the immediate homelessness caused by the flooding, but also in regard to food security in the short term.

Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: I wish the Nigerian people well and I hope the electoral process will advance democratic participation. The background to this is that Nigeria continues to produce more oil while it sinks in the league of UNDP countries. In other words, the people's welfare is worsening while more oil is produced. Is the EU concerned about the religious and ethnic clashes that have taken place in recent...

Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: I note that the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, is a student of WikiLeaks. Therefore, he will be interested to hear that one of the most interesting ones on Nigeria is a statement by Shell to the effect that "We have people in all the relevant Nigerian ministries." Given that the candidate for the Presidency that has been chosen by the lead party is in favour of the privatisation of the...

Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: I do not intend to delay the House on the matter. The Minister of State knows my views. There is a difference of opinion between the senior Minister and several Ministers on the failure of the Government to take the powers it had under the 1978 and 1987 air navigation Acts to achieve inspection. In order to save time on a later question, I understand a Cabinet sub-committee was dealing with...

Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: The work of the sub-committee was suggested as an alternative to my own legislation, which I prepared and moved in Private Members' time on behalf of the Labour Party. I am disappointed that we are still left with the fact that it is very important that, first, we are seen to act within such powers as we have in the 1978 and 1987 Acts. When we returned a questionnaire to the Council of...

Middle East Peace Process (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: Given the number of questions involved I am grateful for the Minister of State's comprehensive reply. I take the opportunity to formally convey on behalf of all Members, especially those of us who have frequently visited Israel, Gaza and the occupied territories, our best wishes to John Ging in his new role in the United Nations. He has been one of the most distinguished people representing...

Middle East Peace Process (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: I have condemned the rocket attacks on children in Gaza and Border communities.

Middle East Peace Process (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: Will the Minister of State bring this to the notice of the Secretary General and arrange a visit?

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: The Deputy would be very welcome.

EU Free Trade Agreements (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: Question 2: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the monitoring and implementation measures that will prevail in support of any human rights clauses which may be imposed as conditions in any EU - Colombia Agreement on trade or other matters; if he will further indicate the similarities between this treaty and similar treaties signed by the EU and indicate any such further additional...

EU Free Trade Agreements (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: On a recent visit to Colombia with others, we put some questions directly to the European Union's representative in Bogota, who was not forthcoming on some of the specific matters I have raised in this question. First, how do the clauses contained in the European Union-Colombia agreement differ from, for example, the human rights clauses we have as a conditionality in the agreement with...

EU Free Trade Agreements (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: I raise this because, for example, 2,782 trade unionists have been murdered since 1986. There have been appalling exemplary killings and one can discern the reason for my questions when one considers that 70,000 people were killed in 20 years and a further 30,000 people disappeared, when there are 14,000 to 17,000 people in paramilitary armed gangs and when one has met, as my colleagues and...

Human Rights Issues (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: They were afraid they would get caught.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: Sealed with a loving kiss.

Communications Regulation (Postal Services) Bill 2010 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 Jan 2011)

Michael D Higgins: I wish Deputy O'Rourke every success with her book. I have no doubt there will be an entire chapter that will cover the day on which she hit the bell and announced the privatisation of Eircom and the disastrous consequences which flowed from this.