Results 2,781-2,800 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Foreign Conflicts. (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I entirely agree with the Deputy about the international presence. That is a reason the UN assessment mission is going on the ground in the next few days, following on from visits by Jan Eliasson. Much progress was made at the recent African Union meeting in Addis Ababa. I exhorted our colleagues at the EU table, long before it was first mooted, that it was perhaps incongruous that...

Foreign Conflicts. (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As usual, Deputy Gormley must be a little divisive. Concrete action is €16 million in humanitarian aid. Every time there is a request, whether to help AMIS or people on the ground in need of humanitarian assistance, the Government has been forthcoming. That is concrete action, apart from any political involvement. I would safely say there has been no Foreign Minister as vigilant and busy...

Foreign Conflicts. (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: We passed legislation which gave them the authority, independent of Government, to control and manage the fund of investment. The fund is a founder signatory to the principles of responsible investment launched by the UN Secretary General in April last. It is committed to a process of change that would enable it to take account of ethical questions in its investment decisions. The fund is...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Police Ombudsman's report into the circumstances surrounding the killing of Raymond McCord junior is a shocking catalogue of murder, serious crime and collusion: events which should never have been allowed to happen. Its findings are damning, particularly on the failings of RUC Special Branch in the 1990s. The Ombudsman has found that RUC officers colluded in crimes by their failure to...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 95 together. My Department initially became aware of the case the Deputy is referring to through reports in the media, but the priest referred to has written to me in recent days, and I have instructed the Department to pursue the issues involved. Our Ambassador in Singapore, who is also accredited to the Philippines, has now raised the matter...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware that legislative changes in relation to homosexuality have been proposed in Nigeria. A Bill entitled 'Prohibition of Relationship between Persons of the Same Sex, Celebration of Marriage by them and other matters connected therewith' had its Second Reading on 17 May 2006 and was referred to the Nigerian Parliament's Joint Committees on Women Affairs and Youth Development, Human...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose taking Questions Nos. 13, 30 and 81 together. In regard to the nuclear agreement between India and the United States, I would refer the Deputies to the priority questions today on this issue. In July 2005, President Bush and Prime Minister Singh agreed to establish a new strategic partnership between their two countries. One element of that partnership was a proposed agreement on...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 65 together. While significant progress has been achieved in Afghanistan, considerable challenges still remain. The reform process in the country is continuing with the assistance of the international community, and it is vitally important that the progress made since 2002 is consolidated. The security situation in Afghanistan remains a cause of...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The situation to which the Deputy refers concerns a state of civil unrest in Oaxaca in southern Mexico, which began with a strike by teachers in May 2006. This strike subsequently developed into a prolonged and increasingly violent and politicised protest whose objectives included removing the elected State Governor. The immediate consequence was the occupation by the protesters of the main...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States is an issue of the highest priority for the Government. In all of my dealings about comprehensive immigration reform, I stress our strong support for measures that would enable the undocumented to regularise their status and have open to them a path to permanent residency. Immigration reform is one of the most contentious and high...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 53 and 88 together. I view very seriously the allegations relating to the harvesting of live organs from Falun Gong practitioners. Enquiries on this issue have been made by the Department of Foreign Affairs within the EU and UN frameworks, as well as through our Embassy in Beijing. A senior official from the Department met with Mr David Kilgour during his...

Written Answers — Rockall Island: Rockall Island (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: During the 1960s and 1970s the issue of Rockall was a source of legal and political controversy in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. Much of that controversy lay in fears at the time that jurisdiction over Rockall and similar rocks and skerries was thought to be central to the mineral rights in the adjacent sea-bed and to fishing rights in the surrounding seas. However, during the course...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 31 together. I can confirm categorically that no steps will be taken to develop diplomatic relations with Burma until Aung San Suu Kyi is released from house arrest. I remain deeply concerned that Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained continuously for more than three years without charge and would, once again, urge the Burmese government to restore fully...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The peace process in Nepal has made significant progress since the restoration of Parliament and accountable Government, following a decision by King Gyanendra of Nepal, in response to public protests, to restore executive power last April. This was followed by the signature of a Comprehensive Peace Accord between the Seven Party Alliance (SPA) and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) on 21...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs provides consular assistance to thousands of Irish citizens who travel or reside abroad each year. The consular services provided by our Embassies and Consulates abroad include the following: issuing passports including emergency travel documents assistance to victims of serious accidents, illnesses or crime assisting people detained, arrested or imprisoned...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Passport Office estimates that there are approximately 4.2 million holders of current Irish Passports. In 2006 there were 677,000 applications processed, this is in line with the 2005 figure of 680,675. The actual figure for passports produced was approximately 630,000 in both years. In 2006 a total of 86,970 passports were issued on behalf of consulate and embassies abroad and approx...

Written Answers — Embassy Security: Embassy Security (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 102 together. The Embassy in London is located at the corner of Grosvenor Place and Chapel Street. At approximately 12 noon on 30 January, a man climbed from the street onto the Embassy's first-floor balcony on Grosvenor Place. He then unfurled and tied to the balcony railings a banner protesting against the Shell company's plans for bringing natural...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs does not own any properties in the State. Its headquarters, Iveagh House, is a heritage building and is vested in the ownership of the Office of Public Works. In addition to Iveagh House, the Department's staff is accommodated in a number of leased buildings in the State. With one exception, these are leased by the Office of Public Works on behalf of the...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I am pleased to confirm that, as from March of this year, a range of consular services will be provided in the Department's Offices on the South Mall in Cork. This will be in addition to the existing passport services. The additional services will include: the authentication of official seals and signatures on public documents executed in Ireland for use abroad and attaching Apostilles under...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 38, 39, 68, 85 and 198 together. The Government remains very actively engaged, directly with the parties, in cooperation with our EU partners and at the UN in the promotion of a negotiated two-State solution to the Israeli — Palestinian conflict. This must be at the heart of a comprehensive settlement to the interlinked problems of the Middle East....