Results 2,481-2,500 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — EU Accession Negotiations: EU Accession Negotiations (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 118 and 209 together. Negotiations regarding Turkish accession to the European Union commenced on 3 October 2005. An extensive screening process is currently ongoing which closely scrutinises the compatibility of Turkish legislation with that of the EU. In all, there are 35 negotiating chapters in the accession process. After a Chapter has been screened,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 127 and 152 together. The Government shares the widespread concern at the extremely difficult situation in Iraq. We and our partners in the EU remain firmly committed to supporting the Iraqi people as they work to restore security and prosperity to their country. On 21 May, the Iraqi Parliament approved the appointment of the national unity Government...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is the Headquarters of Irish Aid and currently based in Dublin, will decentralise to Limerick. The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the provision of office accommodation for the Directorate in Limerick. The OPW has identified a suitable...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 129, 215 and 216 together. The first round of voting in presidential and parliamentary elections in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) took place on 30 July, with an estimated turnout of just over 70%. These were the first multi-party elections in the DRC in over forty years and took place in a generally peaceful environment. International...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: At St. Andrews, the two Governments agreed proposals in relation to the few issues which remained outstanding from previous negotiations, including the restoration of power-sharing institutions and support for policing and the rule of law. We believe that the St Andrews Agreement sets out clearly how these issues can be resolved with the necessary political will among the parties. In the St....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 126 together. The Taoiseach stated on 30 July that he was shocked and appalled at the heavy loss of life in the Israeli airstrike on the village of Qana. He noted that this terrible event served to underline the Government's clear message that an immediate ceasefire was urgently needed in Lebanon and that military actions only made a solution more...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, I took a very serious view of this incident and I invited the US Ambassador to meet with me at the Department of Foreign Affairs as soon as I was informed of it. I received the US Government's report of the incident at the beginning of July. While the report is subject to the normal rules of confidentiality that apply to communications between Diplomatic...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 145 and 208 together. As Deputies will be aware, the Government decided yesterday that Ireland would avail of the transitional arrangements with regard to labour market access which are provided for in the EU's Accession Treaty with Bulgaria and Romania. This means that citizens of Bulgaria and Romania will continue to require work permits in order to...

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I discussed the issue of nuclear energy with Secretary of State Hain at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference on 25 July of this year. We reaffirmed the commitment of the two Governments to the effect that nuclear power stations will not be built on the island of Ireland. In this context, we agreed to work together to maximise the contribution of renewable and sustainable energy to...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The fight against trafficking in human beings is a matter of urgent concern at EU and international level. At the June European Council this year, Heads of State and Government identified this issue as a priority where further action is required. A wide ranging action plan to deal with trafficking in human beings was adopted at the December 2005 European Council. Implementation of this plan,...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The European Commission's final monitoring report on the state of Romania's preparedness for EU membership was released on 26 September. The report gives the European Commission's assessment on Romania's progress since May 2006. It confirms that they have made further progress with their preparations for membership and that they will be ready to join the European Union on 1 January 2007....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 137 together. The Government remains deeply concerned at the continuing crisis in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The situation in Gaza in particular is unsustainable. The events of recent months have confirmed again that there are no military or unilateral solutions to the interlinked problems of the Middle East. The Government and our partners...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Given the disputed outcome of the Mexican Presidential election on 2 July, the European Union, and Ireland nationally, expressed no immediate 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...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The situation to which the Deputy refers concerns an ongoing state of unrest in Oaxaca in southern Mexico. In May 2006, an initially peaceful teachers' pay-related strike developed into an increasingly violent and politicised protest, with protesters forming the Asamblea Popular de los Pueblos de Oaxaca (APPO, or the Popular Assembly of the Peoples of Oaxaca). APPO took control of the centre...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The relationship between Cyprus and Turkey is fraught with a number of problems stemming from the division of the island between the internationally-recognised Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish controlled northern part. EU membership conferred a range of economic benefits on the Republic of Cyprus. Finding a solution to Cyprus's political problem would allow these benefits to be extended to...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Chinese Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan paid an official visit to Ireland from 24-26 September. The Vice-Premier held official talks with the Tánaiste and paid courtesy calls on the President and the Taoiseach. The Minister for Education and Science, Ms. Mary Hanafin T.D., hosted an official dinner for the Vice-Premier and a business breakfast was hosted for him by the Minister for Enterprise...

Written Answers — EU Accession Negotiations: EU Accession Negotiations (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The European Commission's final monitoring report on the state of preparedness for EU membership of Bulgaria and Romania was released on 26 September. The report gives the European Commission's assessment of their progress since May 2006. It confirms that they will be ready to join the European Union on 1 January 2007. However, the Commission's report also identifies a number of areas of...

Written Answers — EU Accession Negotiations: EU Accession Negotiations (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The European Commission's final monitoring report on Bulgaria's state of preparedness for EU membership was released on 26 September. The report gives the European Commission's assessment on Bulgaria's progress since May 2006. It confirms that their preparations for membership have advanced further and that Bulgaria will be ready to join the European Union on 1 January 2007. However, the...

Written Answers — Convention Ratification: Convention Ratification (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my previous replies to similar questions concerning the United Nations Convention against Corruption, most recently on 29 June 2006. The Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in October 2003 and was signed on behalf of Ireland, when it opened for signature, in December 2003. The Convention entered into force on 14 December 2005. To date, eight Member...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Applications for the transit of munitions of war are considered on a case-by-case basis. During the recent crisis in Lebanon, I made clear that permission would not be granted to any such application for the transport of munitions of war to Israel. The Government has since welcomed the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon and the ongoing implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701....