Results 1,981-2,000 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The ambition of the EU to be able to respond quickly to emerging crises has been, and continues to be, a key objective of the development of the European Security and Defence Policy, ESDP. An important aspect of ESDP is the development of a stand-by military rapid response capacity, in the form of battlegroups. Almost all EU member states have already made a commitment to contribute to a...

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: It is true that we wish to participate in this battlegroup, largely because we have been exhorted to do so by the UN, particularly by the Secretary General, Kofi Annan. He has requested that Ireland does so as one of the countries in the UN infrastructure with the highest proportion of UN peacekeeping forces per head of population currently taking part in operations in difficult and dangerous...

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: No contradiction exists.

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Am I not entitled to reply?

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The only contradiction that exists——

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: It has not led to any pressure on us in respect of our participation in battlegroups. Our position is quite clear. A number of other countries which also require UN authorisation to participate, among them, Finland, and to a certain extent, Austria, have eased this requirement. I agree with the point made by Deputy Michael D. Higgins. We found grave fault with the term "battlegroup". We would...

Foreign Conflicts. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 48, 49, 94, 97, 109 and 112 together. Regarding the general political and security situation in Iraq and the allegations of the misappropriation of funds for reconstruction, I refer the Deputies to my previous replies to two Priority Questions. Despite very real progress in the establishment of democratic political institutions in Iraq, the Government and...

Foreign Conflicts. (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: To the best of my knowledge, there have been no discussions with my officials on the structure, federal or otherwise, of the Iraqi Government. As I said in previous replies, the EU is adamant that the Government's formation is entirely a matter for the Iraqi people and that the Administration to be formed must be as broadly based as possible. All efforts should be made in that area. As the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 52, 83 and 93 together. When the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Blair met at Farmleigh on 26 January last, they said that 2006 would be the decisive year for the peace process. Almost eight years on from the signing of the Good Friday Agreement and more than three years since the suspension of the institutions, it is now time that political power and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Taoiseach raised our concerns regarding Guantanamo Bay at his meeting with President Bush in Washington on 17 March 2006, which I also attended. President Bush said that he fully understood the Taoiseach's concerns and that he would also like to close the detention facility when possible. The President also noted that his Administration was awaiting a ruling by the US Supreme Court on the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46, 95, 144 and 281 together. In its declaration of 24 March the European Council stated: "On a continent of open and democratic societies, Belarus is a sad exception". Ireland and the European Union deplore the long-standing failure of the Belorussian authorities to meet their OSCE commitments to democratic elections. In light of the findings of the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47, 100, 115 and 280 together. I am aware of reports that are circulating on the issues raised. As I stated in response to a written question on this issue on 29 March, I am unable at present to confirm the reliability of these reports. I have asked my Department, in particular through the embassy in Beijing, to look into the situation as a matter of urgency...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I participated at the European Council in Brussels on 23 and 24 March 2006, at which the Irish delegation was led by the Taoiseach. The conclusions of the Council have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and Dáil Éireann had an opportunity to discuss the meeting's outcome on 29 March. The Council's discussions covered matters across the Union's broad economic and social agenda. In...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 67, 70, 136 and 273 together. The international community has adopted a clear and united approach in relation to the outcome of the democratic Palestinian elections on 25 January and the approval of a new Government by the Palestinian Legislative Council on 28 March. The meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, which I attended on 30...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: A total of 113 EU directives are at present awaiting transposition into Irish law, 33 of which are overdue for transposition. However, every effort is being made by the relevant Departments to expedite the implementation of these directives. The Government is strongly committed to meeting the deadlines for transposition. The Interdepartmental Committee on European Union Affairs, chaired by my...

Written Answers — Ukraine Elections: Ukraine Elections (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 288 together. As I made clear in a statement issued on 27 March, I am greatly encouraged by the findings of the OSCE's international election observer mission on the parliamentary elections in Ukraine. The mission found that the elections of 26 March further consolidated the democratic breakthrough that began less than a year and a half ago in Ukraine...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 73 and 143 together. Ireland takes a consistently strong position on Burma in relevant contacts, in the European Union framework and at the United Nations. Together with our EU partners, we avail of all opportunities to condemn the abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Burma and deplore the lack of progress towards democracy. The EU applies a...

Written Answers — International Criminal Court Trial: International Criminal Court Trial (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 118 together. On 29 March 2006, Mr. Charles Taylor, former President of Liberia, was arrested in Nigeria, having violated the terms of his exile there, and moved via Liberia to the custody of the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Irish members of the United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, provided an air escort for Mr. Taylor from Liberia to Sierra...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply of 22 February 2006 on this subject. The convention on the fight against corruption involving officials of the European Communities or officials of member states of the European Union entered into force on 28 September 2005, 90 days after the last of the 15 pre-enlargement member states deposited the required instrument of notification. In the case of Ireland,...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The strong commitment of the Government to support our community abroad is reflected in the unprecedented level of funding secured for emigrant services. This year, €12 million is available for this purpose which represents an increase of 45% on 2005. The needs of our Irish community in Britain are a particular priority for the Government. In 2005, groups in Britain received grants from my...