Results 2,401-2,420 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: While I am not aware of any specific very recent report on religious persecution in Laos, concerns about freedom of expression have been raised by the EU in the past with the authorities in Laos, most recently by the local EU Presidency last October. In addition, Amnesty International's 2005 Report referred to numerous incidents of religious repression of evangelical Christians having been...

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

Dermot Ahern: I understand that the new laws to which the Deputy refers relate to changes to existing laws passed by State legislatures in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh States. I am not aware of any proposal for anti-conversion laws at the federal level. Indeed federal law in India provides for freedom of religious expression. Ireland is committed to religious freedom and condemns all forms of...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (4 Oct 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. Together with our EU partners, we remain very concerned about the general human rights situation in Belarus, though religious freedom has not...

Written Answers — Undocumented Irish Emigrants: Undocumented Irish Emigrants (4 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States is a matter of the highest priority for the Government. I raise our concerns in all of my dealings with contacts on Capitol Hill and in the US Administration. In particular, I 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....

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (4 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The fees to be charged for passports are laid down by a Statutory Instrument [Diplomatic and Consular Fees (Amendment) Regulations 2005]. A person must be aged 65 years or above to be eligible to apply for a free passport. There is no provision in this Statutory Instrument to permit the Passport Office to waive the fee for persons aged less than 65 years. Apart from the legal dimension,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Department has recruited Temporary Clerical Officers in the Passport Offices in Dublin, Cork and Balbriggan over many years in order to meet the additional demand for passports in the period leading up to the busy summer season. In recent years the number of passports issued by the Department has reached record levels. This, in turn, has increased the Department's reliance on temporary...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (11 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: As I indicated to the House, most recently on 29 June 2006, the case for ratification of this Convention has been examined by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which has lead responsibility on the issue. As previously indicated, the rights of migrant workers and their families are already protected under existing national legislation and...

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (11 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The only such inquiry for which my Department had responsibility during the period in question was the investigation by Mr. Justice Peter Cory, a retired judge of the Canadian Supreme Court, of allegations of collusion in the murders of Chief Superintendent Harry Breen and Superintendent Bob Buchanan, Patrick Finucane, Lord Justice and Lady Gibson, Robert Hamill, Rosemary Nelson, and Billy...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (17 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Since 1987 there has been no instance of a civil servant in my Department being forced to obtain an Order from the Courts enforcing, or associated with enforcing, his/her contractual rights and entitlements.

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (17 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The conflict in Lebanon during the summer and the continuing crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories serve to emphasise that there can be no military or unilateral solution to the interlinked problems of the Middle East. It is the strong view of the Government, together with our partners in the European Union, that an underlying cause of the terrible violence of recent months is the...

Written Answers — Emigrant Services: Emigrant Services (17 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States remains an issue of the highest priority for the Government. I raise our concerns in all of my dealings with key figures in the US Administration and Legislature. In particular, I 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....

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (17 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Embassy in London has raised this case as a matter of urgency with the British authorities and is currently awaiting a reply. I will write immediately to the Deputy as soon as the Embassy receives a response from the British authorities.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: We do not need a lecture from Deputy Seán Ryan.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Taoiseach did not say that.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: He is bluffing.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Rabbitte is bluffing.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Come off it.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: We more than survived it.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Shut up. Where is the protest and he can go off and follow it.

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: People were also being transported when Deputy Michael D. Higgins was in government; many were forced to leave the country.