Results 2,741-2,760 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

European Council: Statements. (7 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Regarding Ministers' cars, a number of my colleagues have moved towards the hybrid car to show an example to others.

European Council: Statements. (7 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: It is a gesture. I have moved from a large car to a small car, in my personal life, to show an example. There is no domestic bin collection from my house. I recycle everything. In my home town and in Drogheda in my constituency we have an excellent recycling facility, provided through Government funds on a public private partnership basis. The Deputy should have a look at it some day.

European Council: Statements. (7 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy did not acknowledge that it was funded by the Government. I have applied for and am awaiting a grant for a wood-burning stove, which is currently in my house. I have even taken advice on solar panels from the Deputy's deputy leader, who was a little equivocal on their long-term benefits, and I hope to receive a substantial grant from the Government to install one. The Green Party...

European Council: Statements. (7 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: ——whether the Deputy, like me, is implementing his own policies.

European Council: Statements. (7 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I cannot say off the top of my head how many other countries require a referendum. Two have already had them and they were obviously successful. There are no plans at present for us to have a referendum on this matter because the discussions at EU level are not finished. As I stated, I hope there will be progress under the German Presidency but the issue may become relevant to its...

European Council: Statements. (7 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy has local knowledge.

European Council: Statements. (7 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has been very active in this area and there is no doubt that it is significant from a European point of view given the high level of migration, particularly in the Mediterranean area. This is a significant issue and we are very strong supporters of the FRONTEX proposals in that respect. I have had discussions with some of my colleagues and...

Written Answers — Responsible Investment: Responsible Investment (7 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: My Department has been approached by the Sudan Divestment Campaign Ireland, which is urging that the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF) should immediately divest from five international companies, whose investments in Sudan the Campaign asserts provide revenue to the Khartoum Government and, in the Campaign's view, thereby contribute to human rights violations. While responsibility for...

Written Answers — Airport Security: Airport Security (7 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: There is no information in my Department on the matter raised by the Deputy; files from this period have been transferred to the National Archives, where they are available for public viewing.

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (7 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Irish passport application forms are currently available at over 70 Post Offices in the North. In addition, many elected public officials also provide them at their constituency offices. It is the policy of the Government to ensure the widest availability of application forms to all sections of the community in Northern Ireland. The Passport Office is reviewing the situation and, in that...

Order of Business (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Bray was never renowned for its soccer.

Middle East Peace Process. (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 5 together. A comprehensive settlement in the Middle East is more urgently needed now than at any time over the past 60 years. During my visit last week, I held discussions with political leaders in Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Lebanon. I outlined the role which the Government is playing, directly and in co-operation with our EU partners, to promote a...

Middle East Peace Process. (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The general feeling in the area is that the situation is extremely difficult but that there is a window of opportunity between now and at least the end of this year. I was in the region when the Quartet was meeting last Friday in Washington. It gave strong support to the efforts to have tripartite talks which President Abbas informed me are due to be held on 20 February when Condoleezza...

Middle East Peace Process. (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The suggestion of a secretariat for the road map is an interesting idea. I am not certain if those people who have been involved in the Quartet would be interested in putting that together. Those of us in the EU and in Ireland are underwhelmed by the progress of the Quartet with regard to this. We have exhorted our EU colleagues to be extremely vigilant from now on with regard to a...

International Agreements. (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 4 together. In July 2005, President Bush and Prime Minister Singh agreed to establish a new strategic partnership between their two countries. One element of this partnership was a proposed agreement on civil nuclear co-operation. In March 2006, the two leaders announced that agreement had been reached. On 9 December 2006 the US Congress adopted the...

International Agreements. (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: While I empathise with much of what the Deputy said, the strong advice I have received indicates that there is no sense in taking a position on this matter until all elements are known and on the table. A great deal of water must flow under the bridge. No other country has taken a position opposing the deal, although a number of countries have spoken in its favour.

International Agreements. (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Several members of the new agenda alliance which hold similar views to Ireland on non-proliferation and disarmament have given soundings that they are in favour of the deal.

International Agreements. (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Obviously, we have to see why and that is one of the reasons we are having discussions with them. Much remains to be done concerning this matter. Even people such as Dr. ElBaradei, the director general of the IAEA and Hans Blix have signalled they believe that while there may be negative aspects there are also positive ones. I am relating what they have said, although I am not saying so.

International Agreements. (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Last September, when Dr. Blix appeared before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, he indicated his view that there did not seem to be an obstacle in the NPT to this particular deal. I am fully conscious of what the House feels about this matter but at the end of the day I must go along with the strong advice from experts in my Department who are centrally involved on a day-to-day basis. To a...

International Agreements. (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I can go no further than what I said earlier to Deputy Michael D. Higgins. I await the response from my officials concerning their discussions at the various meetings of the NSG. They have indicated strongly to me that there is no sense in coming to an informed view as to where we stand on this matter until we have all the information and all the elements are on the table. A number of...