Results 2,801-2,820 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: Since the beginning of last year, significant progress has been made towards securing the Government's overriding priority — the restoration of power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement. The St. Andrews Agreement, published by the two Governments on 13 October 2006, sets out a clear way forward for all parties to commit to the full...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 103 together. European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) is an integral part of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy, the principles and objectives of which are set out in the Maastricht, Amsterdam and Nice Treaties, approved by the people at successive referenda. There are nine ESDP missions currently under way, both civilian and...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 116 together. The 50th anniversary of the signing of the Treaties of Rome on 25 March, 1957 is a milestone in the history of the Union. As I indicated in the House at the end of last year, it is entirely appropriate that citizens throughout the Union should have the opportunity of commemorating the peace and prosperity achieved by Europe over the past...

Written Answers — EU Accession Negotiations: EU Accession Negotiations (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Accession negotiations were opened with Croatia on 3 October 2005. The screening process, which scrutinises the compatibility of Croatian legislation with EU legislation has continued since then, although progress has been slow in comparison with previous enlargement rounds. After each chapter has been screened, the EU can decide, on the basis of a proposal from the Commission, whether the...

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

Dermot Ahern: Passport fees during 2005 amounted to €32.6 million, with total expenditure at €31 million, giving a surplus of over €1 million. This figure is arrived at using cash-based accounting methods. Using accrual-based accounting methods, involving a depreciation charge for capital investment on the new passport project, there may well be a slight deficit. Overall, however fees and...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 73, 118 and 196 together. I have outlined the main elements of my visit last week to the Middle East in my reply to Questions No. 1 and 5 answered earlier. I held discussions with political leaders in Israel, Palestine, Egypt and Lebanon, which focused on the urgent need to revive a credible political process in the region. There is broad agreement that,...

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

Dermot Ahern: Extraordinary rendition was last discussed by EU Foreign Ministers in September. In my view it would be appropriate for the various issues involved to be considered further in the framework of the Council following the vote next week by the European Parliament on the Report of its Temporary Committee on this issue and my officials are exploring how best this might be carried forward. ...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 82 together. Somalia has not had an effective government since 1991. A Transitional Federal Government (TFG) representing a range of clans was established in Nairobi with UN approval and EU support in 2004, but it was unable to make a significant impact on the ground. Discontent with a decade of anarchy led to increased support for the United Islamic...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 61 together. The Government has consistently stated that the 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 economic development in border areas. To date, 102 crossings have been reopened since 1994, with...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Government gave a commitment in the Good Friday Agreement to actively promote and develop respect, reconciliation and mutual understanding between the different traditions on the island of Ireland and between Ireland and Britain. Following this, the Department of Foreign Affairs has provided assistance and grant aid to groups involved in cross-community and cross-border reconciliation and...

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

Dermot Ahern: Ireland signed and ratified the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) on 23 December, 1985. Ireland is strongly committed to the implementation of the Convention. States Parties to the Convention must submit periodic reports to the Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women on progress in implementing the Convention....

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

Dermot Ahern: In the recent White Paper on Irish Aid, the Government committed to undertaking a major review of the management of the Aid programme in the light of the very substantial increase in the funding available to it. The review will embrace the financial and administrative systems, approval, monitoring, audit and evaluation mechanisms, management information systems and the management and...

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

Dermot Ahern: I met with an SDLP delegation on 24th January last to discuss the Police Ombudsman's report into the circumstances surrounding the killing of Raymond McCord junior and to consider the report's implementation and follow-up. Our discussions also focussed on the broader issues surrounding collusion. I stressed that the Government would press the British Government to ensure that the...

Written Answers — EU Constitution: EU Constitution (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 58 and 193 together. To date, eighteen Member States have ratified the Constitutional Treaty. Luxembourg and Spain have done so by referendum, while sixteen Member States have ratified by parliamentary means. As the House is aware, the Constitutional Treaty was rejected in referendums held in France and the Netherlands in 2005. Following the outcome to...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 96 and 110 together. The Government shares the widespread concern at the deterioration of the situation in Iraq. Developments have been dominated by the appalling security situation, with daily bomb attacks aimed specifically at the civilian population and a continuing spiral of vicious sectarian violence. The violence is effectively blocking the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The building costs for the decentralised Irish Aid staff in Limerick will be borne, in the normal way, by the Office of Public Works. Accordingly, they will not impact on the funds allocation to my Department in 2007, i.e. Votes 28 (Foreign Affairs) and 29 (Irish Aid).

Written Answers — Nuclear Disarmament Initiative: Nuclear Disarmament Initiative (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 115 together. There are currently no negotiations under way between the EU3 and Iran. The last discussions to take place were between High Representative Solana, on behalf of the EU3, with lead Iranian negotiator Ali Larijani. They met on a number of occasions in September 2006 but failed to agree an acceptable formula for commencing negotiations on...

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

Dermot Ahern: The 13th Report of the Independent Monitoring Commission was requested by the two Governments as part of the St Andrews Agreement. The Report finds unambiguously that "terrorism and violence have been abandoned" by the Provisional IRA leadership. The decision of the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis to endorse policing, as well as the significant efforts made in securing that endorsement, are recognised...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Taoiseach visited Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates from 14 to 18 January 2007. I was not part of the delegation. The Taoiseach was accompanied by the Ministers for Agriculture and Food, Enterprise Trade and Employment and Education and Science. A business delegation of 114 people, organised by Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland, also travelled. While the primary...

Written Answers — Visa Requirements: Visa Requirements (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Embassy in Mexico, has made representations over the last number of years to the Colombian authorities on the need for Irish citizens to obtain a visa to travel to that country. I am now pleased to be in a position to inform the Deputy that our representations have been successful and, with effect from 1 January 2007, Irish citizens wishing to...