Results 2,361-2,380 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (6 Jul 2006)

Dermot Ahern: As I believe the Deputy will appreciate, this is primarily a legal issue and the person's legal advisers are best placed to advise him on the options open to him in the US justice system. However, officials in my Department recently met with the person to discuss his case and to offer him every possible consular assistance. The person, who previously resided in the United States, has stated...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs has raised the Loughinisland murders, including recent media reports concerning new evidence in the case, with the British Government through the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat. The British side responded that the case remains under active investigation and that further lines of inquiry are being followed up. The Department is also in ongoing...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 890 and 891 together. Under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Acts, 1956 to 2004, a person born outside Ireland with a parent who was born in Ireland is automatically an Irish citizen by descent. A person who was born outside Ireland with parents who were also born outside Ireland but with a grandparent who was born in Ireland may become an Irish citizen...

Written Answers — Military Neutrality: Military Neutrality (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. The regulation of the transport of munitions of war by civil aircraft is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Transport, to whom I understand an identical question has been put. The...

Written Answers — Mexican Presidential Election: Mexican Presidential Election (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Given the disputed outcome of the Mexican Presidential election on 2 July, the European Union, and Ireland nationally, expressed no view on the result pending the completion of the relevant processes under Mexican law, although an EU Election Observation Mission concluded that the conduct of the election had been fair. Following the definitive ruling of the Mexican Federal Electoral Tribunal...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has no information on the planning which preceded the Israeli military action in Lebanon, and I do not intend to speculate on the matter. Deputies will be aware that the immediate cause of the conflict was an unprovoked attack by Hizbollah on Israeli territory on 12 July, and the killing and capture of a number of Israeli soldiers. From the beginning, the Government called...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The case to which the Deputy refers relates to five Cuban citizens who were convicted in the US in 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to first degree murder. A panel of three judges from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta overturned the 2001 convictions on 9th August 2005 and ordered a retrial based on new evidence. The Miami District Attorney duly filed an appeal against the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Duty Officer services provided by the Passport Office were extended in June 1999 and the then Minister for Foreign Affairs, David Andrews T.D., wrote to all members of the Oireachtas on 25 June of that year outlining the features of the new scheme. The Department operates two services whereby passport facilities are provided outside of working hours, by the Passport Duty Officer Service...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The situations in the Middle East and in Sudan are at the top of the foreign policy agendas of Ireland nationally and of the EU. The conflict in Lebanon this summer, and the continuing crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, serve to underline that there is no military or unilateral solution to the inter-related problems of the Middle East. It is the strong view of the Government,...

Written Answers — Passport Controls: Passport Controls (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 899 and 901 together. A common travel area exists between Ireland and Britain which means that there is no formal passport requirement for Irish citizens (including, of course, Irish citizens born in the United States and carrying Irish passports) travelling between the two countries. An immigration officer may, however, ask a passenger for evidence in...

Written Answers — Census of Population: Census of Population (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs makes extensive use of CSO statistics, particularly in its efforts to disseminate accurate and up-to-date information about Ireland abroad. The statistical information contained in the Census 2006 Preliminary Report is useful in this respect. It shows, for example, that the population of the State reached its highest recorded census level since 1861 and that...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: In light of the news that a coup was taking place in Bangkok on the evening of 19th September, contact was immediately established between the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Irish Embassy to Thailand (which is based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) and the Honorary Consuls in Bangkok and Phuket. Initial reports to the Department suggested that the situation was calm and that there was no...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Maintaining and strengthening links with Irish communities throughout the world is a key priority of my Department. Officials in our diplomatic missions and in the Irish Abroad Unit are very active in this regard and work closely with Irish community organisations across a wide range of issues. The Government's firm commitment to enhance support for our communities abroad is reflected in the...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland established formal diplomatic relations with the Ukraine in 1992 and our Ambassador to the Czech Republic is accredited there on a non-resident basis. As I believe the Deputy will appreciate, any expansion of our diplomatic network can only be undertaken having regard to clear priorities. In this regard, and while the opening of new Missions is reviewed by the Government on a...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The United Nations has the lead role in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. As a result of the rejection of the Annan Plan by the electorate of the Republic of Cyprus on 26 April 2004, the accession of a united Cyprus to the EU on 1 May 2004 was not possible. Since 1 May 2004 the Republic of Cyprus has been a Member State of the EU but, in the absence of a...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (27 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Within the EU and in the relevant international and regional organisations, Ireland actively promotes respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms worldwide. In this context, we monitor reports of abuses of religious freedom wherever they occur. The UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Freedom or Belief, Ms Asma Jahangir, engages actively with a wide range of countries on incidents and...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Sep 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The 2006 Estimate for the Department of Foreign Affairs consists of two Votes: €204.346 million for Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and €600.479 million for Vote 29 (International Co-operation). Vote 28 includes an allocation to provide for the biometric passport project. This project is on schedule and is expected to be completed within budget. Apart from savings made on this project, it is...

Disclosures relating to the Mahon Tribunal: Statements (3 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: No, he did not.

Disclosures relating to the Mahon Tribunal: Statements (3 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Ó Caoláin of all people.

Disclosures relating to the Mahon Tribunal: Statements (3 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Ó Caoláin has a very short memory.