Results 221-240 of 939 for speaker:Noel Treacy

European Constitution. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: There is a serious situation in Europe and I am confident that the leadership the Taoiseach gave during his period as President of the European Union and the leadership the Government gave while we held the Presidency will be carried through into the European Council meeting on 16 and 17 June. After that we can go forward in the knowledge that we are all committed to achieving what is in the...

European Constitution. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: The Deputy may be assured we will lead on this issue, that we want the European constitution ratified, that the Taoiseach will make his position clear at the European Council meeting on 16 and 17 June and that we will proceed with the Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill which we published last week. If we were not committed to it, would we have published it? There is no doubt...

European Constitution. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: We published the legislation to enable us to have a referendum. One does not publish legislation unless one is committed to achieving a conclusion. That is the purpose of the legislation. We look forward to the Deputy's support and that of all our colleagues in the House in ensuring that we achieve the required goal on behalf of the people.

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality, as followed by successive Governments, is fully respected and protected. The central and defining characteristics of policy in this area are our non-participation in military alliances and our commitment to the United Nations as the guarantor of international peace and security. Ireland's approach, embodied by this non-membership of...

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: There is no reason for this widespread concern as there is no proposal to have a military superstate in the European Union. With regard to the nuclear situation, we are no closer to any nuclear power in Europe today than we were in 1972 when our people ratified our membership of the European Union, which included the EURATOM Treaty. That treaty has not been amended since. It is part of the...

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: As I said in response to Question No. 2, Ireland's position has been absolutely clear since the Government clarified this country's position on neutrality during the campaign that preceded the second referendum on the Nice treaty. Ireland cannot become involved in any military activity without meeting the terms of the triple lock system — a request for such participation has to be received...

Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 9 together. Since the tragic events of 11 September 2001, immigration has become a highly sensitive and divisive issue in the United States. The Bill recently published by Senators Kennedy and McCain and their colleagues, represents an important, timely and positive contribution to advancing the debate on this sensitive issue and it is warmly welcomed by...

Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: It is not easy to arrive at an exact figure because travel options mean people can come and go from the US to Ireland and elsewhere. The UNHCR has praised Ireland's immigration policies.

Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: It is important that this issue should be approached in a consistent and uniform way, irrespective of whether that is in Ireland or the US. The Deputy referred to the legislation known as REAL ID, which was signed into law in the US on 11 May. States have three years to introduce its provisions. Since the tragedy of 11 September, immigration has been a sensitive issue in the US. This Act,...

Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: It was made clear to our representatives at the conference in the United States that the word "amnesty" is not one that should be used in this context. There are up to 10 million undocumented people in the United States, presenting a great difficulty for that country's Administration. Officials at our consulates and embassies around the US are maintaining close contacts with various figures...

Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: I do not understand why the Deputy would ask a question pertaining to whether I support this US Bill. I support it, as do our diplomats, ambassadors, consulates, Government and Irish Americans. We are working through all of those avenues to achieve a positive conclusion to the matter. We will leave no stone unturned in assisting the Bill's development, taking into account that this must be an...

Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: We are speaking about a distinct situation that is unique to the US and clearly identifiable from our perspective in terms of Irish immigrants. If one were to speak with any member of the immigration staff of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform who are dealing with this matter here, one would learn about the difficulties they experience in identifying people and getting...

Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: All of this must be taken into account. The important critical point at the end of the day is that we must deal with this matter in a systematic, consistent administrative way to ensure that fair treatment is given to each individual on the basis of meeting the required criteria.

Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: Deputy Gormley's conclusion is correct. We have examined this issue in great detail. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern, had a positive discussion on immigration reform with President Bush on Saint Patrick's Day and prior to that in Dromoland Castle. Following this, the Minister asked his officials to again consider ways of getting a more precise sense of...

Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: I do not have a de facto figure. From our consultations with the United States, there are at least 3,000 Irish immigrants there. From other estimates made, the figure could be 20,000 and is certainly not more than 50,000. We are not sure, which is a serious difficulty. We know there has been much mobility of Irish immigrants into and out of the US through other countries, sometimes to return...

Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: Many people said that.

Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: Yes, but many people criticised the Government for that decision.

Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: I appreciate the support that existed. I am not referring to people in this House.

Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: The Government was criticised for that decision. It was consistent, open and accommodating and there has not been a crisis in that area since. When it comes to the situation pertaining to citizens of our country and citizens of the European Union, we are all one. We have that commonality, there are equal rights in that situation and we have a fundamental responsibility to ensure that where we...

Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)

Noel Treacy: To what question is the Deputy referring?