Results 2,301-2,320 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Democratisation Initiatives: Democratisation Initiatives (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The EU will be deploying a 250-strong Electoral Observation Mission (EOM) to the forthcoming presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled to take place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) on 30 July 2006. These will be the first multi-party elections in the DRC in over forty years and their successful conduct is absolutely critical to the consolidation of peace and security in...

Written Answers — Departmental Recruitment: Departmental Recruitment (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I presume that the main part of the Deputy's question relates to recruitment to the diplomatic service. Third Secretary is the recruitment grade for the service, and is the first step towards more senior posts in the Department. Competitions for Third Secretary posts are conducted on the Department's behalf by the Public Appointments Service (PAS). The minimum educational requirement is a...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 113 together. The European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) is an integral part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and serves the Union's general objectives of peace and stability. These objectives and the provisions governing ESDP are set out in the Treaties of Amsterdam and of Nice, which were approved by referendum. In this context,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: On 23 February 2006, the trial began of a group of 129 people, including members of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), journalists and civil society activists. Several of the CUD members on trial were elected to public office in May 2005. The Ethiopian authorities claim that the group was responsible for launching and organising the June and November 2005 riots, as part of an agenda...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I understand that the report, referred to by the Deputy, was only released on 11 June 2006. It is still being studied by my Department. While I could not, therefore, have raised the Report with my Chinese counterpart, Minister Li, when we met on 12 May in Beijing, I did discuss the broader question of the internal conflict in Sudan. Minister Li emphasised China's support for the Darfur Peace...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: On 21 May, the Iraqi Parliament approved the new national unity Government presented by Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki. The formation of the Government was completed when the crucial positions of Defence, Interior and National Security Ministers were filled on 8 June. The new Cabinet is very broadly based, and it includes the main parties representing the Sunni community. This is a welcome and...

Written Answers — Human Trafficking: Human Trafficking (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 96 together. Human trafficking is an important issue for the European Union. It was mentioned in the conclusions of this month's European Council, having previously been discussed at the Justice and Home Affairs Council. The matter came before the General Affairs and External Relations Council, which examined the draft conclusions of the European...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: On the outbreak of the war in Iraq, the Taoiseach moved a motion which was adopted by the Dáil on 20 March 2003, which reaffirmed Ireland's commitment to the United Nations as the guarantor of collective global security and the appropriate forum for the resolution of disputes threatening international peace and security. In his statement to the House, the Taoiseach acknowledged that there...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 160 together. The significant progress achieved in Afghanistan over the past four years should be acknowledged, although clearly considerable challenges still remain. The Afghan people have elected a President and Parliament and have a legitimate elected Government which is working to consolidate the progress that has been made. For the first time,...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 105 together. As I outlined in my reply of 24 May 2006 to a parliamentary question on this issue, consular assistance is provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs in a wide variety of circumstances, with each situation being assessed on a case-by-case basis, having regard to all the factors involved. Since 1997, an advancement of the funds by the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The EU's policy on Cuba is as set out in the Common Position agreed on 2 December 1996, during the then Irish Presidency. The General Affairs and External Relations Council reaffirmed the Common Position's validity on 12 June 2006. The Council's Conclusions on Cuba, which were also adopted on 12 June 2006, reiterated that constructive engagement remains the basis of the EU's policy with the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 114 together. I would refer the Deputy to my statement in Dáil Éireann of 13 June 2006, where I gave the House a detailed account of the matter to which the Deputies' questions refer, and to my reply to today's priority question on the same matter. On the basis of discussions which my officials and I have had with the US authorities, I have no reason...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has consistently been a strong supporter of the right to self-determination of the Saharawi people. Ireland played a prominent role in seeking a solution to the Western Sahara dispute during its term on the UN Security Council. The Government has remained closely engaged with the issue, particularly in discussions at EU level and at the United Nations. Although there has been...

Written Answers — International Criminal Court: International Criminal Court (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court entered into force on 1 July 2002 and to date has been ratified or acceded to by 100 states. An additional 43 states have signed the Statute, subject to ratification. The Rome Statute has been ratified by all but one of the EU Member States. Together with our partners in the European Union, Ireland has been a consistent and strong supporter...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware that Leonard Peltier is a US citizen who was convicted in 1977 of the murders of two FBI Agents and was sentenced to two consecutive terms of life imprisonment. I also understand that a campaign has been mounted over the years seeking to overturn this conviction. I do not propose to make representations on this case.

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Government attaches the highest priority to the welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States. We emphasise our strong support for measures that would enable the undocumented to regularise their status and have open to them a path to permanent residency in all of our dealings with contacts in the US Administration and Legislature. The Taoiseach and I raised this issue with...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 153 together. Ireland has a small diplomatic service and any expansion of its network of resident Missions abroad must be approached on a phased basis, having regard to clear priorities. While there are no plans at present to establish new Embassies, the question of opening further resident Missions abroad is considered by the Government on an ongoing...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: There has been no recent discussion on the sales of arms to Africa at the General Affairs and External Relations Council but the European Council, at its meeting on 15-16 December 2005, adopted an EU Strategy to combat the illicit accumulation and trafficking of small arms and light weapons and their ammunition. While this Strategy has a global geographic scope, it identifies Africa as the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: In recent months the Government has had discussions with various parties to the Parades issue, including the leadership of the Loyal Orders, the political parties, residents groups and the relevant British authorities. Our meetings have focused in particular on the small number of areas where there are continuing tensions, including West Belfast, Ardoyne, Short Strand, Dunloy and Portadown....

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (29 Jun 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Criminal Justice Review, established pursuant to the Good Friday Agreement, considered the question of community restorative justice schemes in the context of strengthening support for the criminal justice system. It concluded that, in certain circumstances, such schemes had a useful role to play, but emphasised the need to operate within certain well-defined criteria. As part of the...