Results 2,501-2,520 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I very much welcome the opportunity presented by my recent visit to New York on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly to also meet with representatives of the Irish community. As the Deputy will be aware, the welfare of the undocumented Irish in the US is a matter of deep concern to the Government and one which I raise in all of my dealings with key figures there. On 27th...

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

Dermot Ahern: To date, fifteen Member States have ratified the Constitutional Treaty. Luxembourg and Spain have done so by referendum while thirteen Member States have ratified by parliamentary means. Finland is expected to complete its ratification procedures in the coming months. As the House is aware, the Constitutional Treaty was rejected in referendums held in France and the Netherlands last year....

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Government is of the view that all the remaining Border crossings closed by the British authorities on grounds of security should be reopened as part of the wider process of security normalisation in Northern Ireland, and in order to facilitate regional economic development. We have raised the status of the crossing in question with the British authorities through the British Irish...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I have actively pursued co-operation on the economic development of the North West in my discussions with Secretary of State, Peter Hain. Earlier this year we launched the North West Gateway Initiative. This Initiative covers cross-Border co-operation in a wide range of sectors from enterprise development to health and educational services in the region. The Initiative also included a...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (25 Oct 2006)

Dermot Ahern: While there are no plans at present to open further passport offices, it is the policy to keep the operation of the passport service under on-going review. As background, I should say that the majority of passports are now issued through the Passport Express service which is operated jointly by my Department and An Post. This service is available in over 1,000 post offices throughout the...

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

Dermot Ahern: The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council, at its meeting on 30-31 January, adopted conclusions which welcomed the proposed launch of the Afghanistan Compact and reaffirmed the EU's commitment to long-term support for the Government and people of Afghanistan through Afghan-led reconstruction efforts. The Afghanistan Compact was launched at the International Conference on...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: No expenditure under this heading was incurred by my Department in 2004 and 2005. To date this year, €1,548.13 was incurred in respect of photography for three official events in my constituency relating to official visits. Meeting with United States Congressman Jim Walsh, Congressman Brian Higgins and Congressman Tim Murphy in Carlingford, Co Louth, to discuss developments in the Northern...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (1 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I am actively pursuing co-operation on the economic development of the North West in my discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain. The two Governments are committed to working together to maximise the potential of the North West region and in May 2006 we launched the North West Gateway Initiative to take forward cross-border co-operation in this area. Both...

White Paper on Irish Aid: Statements (2 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I am grateful for the opportunity to address the House on Ireland's first ever White Paper on overseas aid policy. The White Paper was launched by the Taoiseach on 18 September. It has been widely welcomed by the Irish development community and our partners in the developing world. In recent weeks, it has been discussed in the Seanad and at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (2 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 166 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy in Slovenia, which is also accredited to Bosnia and Herzegovina, has provided active consular assistance and support to the family of the person in question. In this regard, the Embassy in Slovenia has been in on-going contact with the relevant authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina,...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (2 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs is strongly committed to positive action designed to enhance employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) is responsible for recruitment across the Civil Service, including the recruitment of people with disabilities. My Department works with other Government Departments, the PAS and the National Disability...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (2 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: An application for an Irish passport was submitted by the person's parents to the Passport Office at Balbriggan on 20 April, 2006. This application was made under the terms of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 2004. Under this Act, persons born in the State after 1 January 2005, where neither parent is an Irish or British citizen or otherwise entitled to reside without restriction in...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I am very aware of the issues raised by the Deputy. The Government has followed the situation, including the case of the person in question, through the Embassy in Tel Aviv and the Representative Office in Ramallah, and in consultation with Palestinian, Israeli and Irish human rights groups and NGOs. The Government and our EU partners have consistently called on the Israeli Government to end...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (2 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: A passport is normally issued for ten years, and the fees to be charged are laid down by a Statutory Instrument. 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, the reality also is that, if this generous concessionary scheme is to work satisfactorily, there has to be a fixed...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Since my reply of 6 December 2005, the protections afforded by the Civil Service anti-harassment, sexual harassment and bullying policy, A Positive Working Environment, have been extended to all unestablished employees at diplomatic missions abroad. A Departmental circular to this effect was issued in late December 2005. It provides for: formal and informal procedures for the handling of...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (7 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: This issue has recently been raised in a letter to me, which also spoke in very warm terms indeed of Ireland's advocacy on behalf of the people of Darfur, from the founder of the Sudan Divestment Campaign-Ireland. My colleague, the Minister of State Conor Lenihan T.D., will meet with representatives of the Campaign on Thursday next, 9 November, and further meetings can be arranged with the...

Written Answers — Irish Prisoners Abroad: Irish Prisoners Abroad (7 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: In October 2005, I appointed the former Minister of State, Chris Flood, to undertake a study into Irish prisoners serving sentences abroad. The terms of reference of the study are: To identify the numbers of Irish people in prison overseas and the countries in which they are being held; To examine the needs of Irish overseas prisoners; and Based on this identification and estimate, to make...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (7 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: On 21 September 2006 I received an invitation from Carlos Coelho, Chairman of the European Parliament's Temporary Committee on the alleged use of European countries by the CIA for the transport and illegal detention of prisoners, inviting me to attend one of the Temporary Committee's meetings. In keeping with the Government's policy of full co-operation with the European Parliament in its...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (7 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Following his receipt and analysis of the Member States' responses to his Article 52 questionnaire, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Terry Davis, has submitted a number of proposals to Member States on ways in which they should reinforce the protection of human rights. The Secretary General's proposed measures include drawing up minimum standards to prevent human rights...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (7 Nov 2006)

Dermot Ahern: There are no vacant buildings currently under my Department's control or ownership and no security costs in respect of the protection of such properties have arisen in the period specified.