Results 2,001-2,020 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 76, 82, 125, and 282 together. The Minister for Transport represented the Government at an extensive programme of events in New York over the St. Patrick's Day period. The 69th infantry battalion, the Fighting 69th, is the US army unit with the closest ties to Irish America and has led the St. Patrick's Day Parade on Fifth Avenue for more than 150 years....

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 86 together. While the resolution establishing the Human Rights Council did not contain all that Ireland or Amnesty International had hoped for, it represents a clear improvement on the Commission on Human Rights and was the best compromise possible. The resolution was supported by 170 states, including Ireland and our EU partners, with only four states...

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

Dermot Ahern: As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I attend the monthly meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. Meetings are scheduled for April, May, June, July and September. No meeting is scheduled for August. The Presidency has indicated its intention to convene a special meeting of Foreign Ministers in late May to discuss the future of Europe. There is also an informal meeting of...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 84 and 116 together. There are three categories of specialists employed by Irish Aid — principal development specialists, senior development specialists and development specialists. All specialist positions will be transferring to Limerick. There are also three principal development specialists in Irish Aid headquarters in Dublin. None of the three has...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 88 together. While the resolution establishing the Human Rights Council did not include all that Ireland and the EU had hoped for, I believe this body will represent an improvement on the Commission on Human Rights. The resolution was supported by 170 states, with only four states opposed and three abstaining. It was also endorsed by the...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 98 and 131 together. I welcome the announcement by ETA of a permanent ceasefire from 24 March 2006. This is a very positive development. Any move to a permanent ceasefire and the acceptance of purely democratic means is to be welcomed. The next steps in the process are for the Spanish Government and elected representatives to consider. ETA has been...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71, 91, 104, 105, 108, 291 and 292 together. The Government attaches the highest priority to the welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States and takes every opportunity in contacts with US political leaders to emphasise the importance of addressing the matter in a constructive and sympathetic manner. As Deputies will be aware, the debate in the US...

Written Answers — Nuclear Disarmament: Nuclear Disarmament (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The next scheduled review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, NPT, will not take place until 2010. It will be preceded by a series of preparatory meetings beginning in 2007. Ireland will in the meantime continue to work with like-minded countries in identifying areas where implementation of the treaty can be strengthened. At the last NPT review in May 2005,...

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

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to a question on this matter on 22 February 2006. The Government, and its partners in the EU, remain very seriously concerned at Israeli activities in the occupied territories, including the building of settlements, house demolitions and continuing construction of the separation barrier on occupied land. These activities are contrary to international law, and to...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, Kosovo has been under UN administration since the end of the conflict in 1999, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244. On 24 October 2005 the Security Council welcomed the report by the Secretary General's envoy, Ambassador Kai Eide of Norway, on the implementation of standards as well as the overall situation in Kosovo. As recommended by...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Government continues to encourage all sections of the community and all political parties to give their support to the new policing arrangements in Northern Ireland. The Taoiseach and I have repeatedly reiterated that there should be no further delay by Sinn Féin in endorsing these new arrangements including by joining the Policing Board and participating fully in the work of the...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80, 122 and 289 together. It is important to recognise that Afghanistan's transition to democracy and representative government over the past four years is a considerable achievement. Afghanistan now has a democratic constitution, a representative national Parliament and a legitimate elected Government. Efforts are ongoing to consolidate the progress that has...

Written Answers — Montenegrin Referendum: Montenegrin Referendum (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The State Union of Serbia and Montenegro formally succeeded the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on 4 February 2003. The Constitutional Charter of the State Union provided for referendums on independence to be held in either or both of the republics, subject to a three year moratorium. The Montenegrin Government has declared its intention to hold a referendum on Montenegrin independence and...

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

Dermot Ahern: There are three investigations currently under way into allegations regarding the existence of secret detention centres. The first is an investigation by Senator Dick Marty, a rapporteur appointed by the Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The Department of Foreign Affairs has not been contacted by Senator Marty. However, in his...

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

Dermot Ahern: Article 49 of the Treaty on European Union provides that any European state that respects the principles on which the EU is founded may apply to become a member. The treaty sets no numerical limit to the membership of the Union. It is true, however, that the existing institutional arrangements were created for a considerably smaller Union than the one that exists today. The Government's view...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 99 and 274 together. The period of reflection on the European constitution, which was initiated following the "No" votes in France and the Netherlands, is due for review at the June European Council. Foreign Ministers will prepare this review over the coming months and Ireland will be contributing actively to this work. Most member states remain firmly...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 106 together. Ireland has raised the issue of the detainees in Guantanamo Bay with the US authorities on numerous occasions. Most recently, the Taoiseach raised 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...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 124 together. Accession negotiations were opened with both Croatia and Turkey on 3 October 2005. According to the negotiating frameworks agreed with both countries, the shared objective of the negotiations — an open-ended process whose outcome cannot be guaranteed beforehand — is accession. Both countries will be expected to maintain their...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: On 23 March 2006, the General Affairs and External Relations Council approved the crisis management concept for an EU military crisis management mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC. The Council's decision follows a request from the United Nations that an EU force be deployed to support MONUC, the UN mission in the DRC, during the period of elections in that country. While...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (4 Apr 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply of 22 February 2006 on the matter of avian influenza. Avian flu has not recently been on the agenda of the General Affairs and External Relations Council but will be addressed as the situation requires. It is discussed regularly at the Agriculture and Fisheries Council, which has primary responsibility in this regard and which met most recently on 20 March. The...