Results 2,821-2,840 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Ethics in Public Office: Ethics in Public Office (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: In terms of reporting requirements, I follow those set out for Members of the Oireachtas and office holders in the Ethics in Public Office Acts 1995 and 2001, the associated government guidelines, and the guidelines to the Acts provided by the Standards in Public Office Commission. The requirements include an annual statement of my registrable interests to the Standards in Public Office...

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

Dermot Ahern: In the context of suspension of the Northern Ireland Assembly in 2002, the two Governments, in order to protect and maintain the achievements of the Good Friday Agreement, entered into an Agreement to ensure the continuation of the necessary public function performed by the North/South Implementation Bodies. At the same time, the two Governments agreed that no new functions would be...

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

Dermot Ahern: At present, thirty-three Mission properties abroad, including Chanceries and official Residences, are owned by the State. The estimated valuation of all these properties comes to €123,791,000. On the other hand, ninety-nine of our Mission properties abroad are leased. The annual rents of these ninety-nine properties amount to €13,245,550. It is the policy of my Department to purchase...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The draft Passport Bill is currently being finalised, and it is expected that the Bill will be circulated to Government Departments for observations within the next two weeks. Following consideration of the views of Departments, a Memorandum for Government will be submitted seeking approval for the text of the Bill as drafted.

Written Answers — Cluster Munitions: Cluster Munitions (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 74 and 94 together. I would like to set out the present context for the efforts to develop an international instrument to address the humanitarian concerns related to the use of cluster munitions. But let me make my position clear at the outset. I call for a total ban on cluster munitions. The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) is the...

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

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to previous replies to similar questions concerning the United Nations Convention against Corruption, most recently on 23 November 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. My colleague, the Tánaiste...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 111 together. The Spanish and Luxembourg Governments convened an informal meeting of Ministers for European Affairs to discuss the European Constitution in Madrid on Friday, 26 January. The meeting, entitled "Friends of the European Constitution, for a better Europe," was held with a view to bolstering support for the Constitution and to assisting the...

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

Dermot Ahern: United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 25 October 1971 recognised the Government of the People's Republic of China as the sole representative of China. Although Taiwan continues to exercise autonomy and to term itself 'The Republic of China', this is not recognised in international law. Taiwan's official status is that of a Province of China. In common with most Member States of...

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

Dermot Ahern: I understand that the individuals in question have refused solid foods for about two months in protest at the conditions of their detention. Mr. Stockwell Day, the Canadian Minister of Public Safety, visited the Kingston Immigration Holding Centre on 25 January 2007 but subsequently stated that he was not in a position to discuss these cases due to privacy protection rules and a pending...

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

Dermot Ahern: Neither the office of the UN Commission on Human Rights' Special Rapporteur on trafficking in persons, nor AFRI, the organisers of the event in Ireland at which the Special Rapporteur spoke, have as yet been able to provide a copy of the Special Rapporteur's speech, or an outline of the comments to which the Deputy refers. I have made clear on numerous occasions, however, that the Government,...

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

Dermot Ahern: The UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy, former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, visited Belgrade and Pristina on 2 February to present his Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo status settlement. President Ahtisaari has indicated his intention to hold further consultations with the two parties on the Proposal during the coming weeks. My understanding is that he plans to deliver his final...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: My legislative priorities for the present Dáil session are included in the Government's legislative programme as announced by the Chief Whip on 30 January. The European Communities (Amendment ) (No. 2) Bill 2006 seeks to address issues raised by the Supreme Court in two recent judgements. It has been passed by the Seanad and the Second Stage is due to be taken in the Dáil during the present...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 113 together. As Deputies will be aware, I was one of only two Ministers for Foreign Affairs to attend a meeting 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 (the TDIP Committee). There is absolutely no suggestion in the TDIP Committee's Report...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Government's recently launched National Development Plan for the period 2007-2013 includes a comprehensive statement of Government policy on North/South co-operation. All-island collaboration is a key horizontal theme of the Plan. For the first time, the Plan contains proposals for significant Irish Government investment in North/South projects and initiatives for mutual benefit. The...

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

Dermot Ahern: I welcome the decision taken by the Sinn Féin Ard Fheis on 28 January last to support policing and the criminal justice system in Northern Ireland. As the Taoiseach stated in this House last week, this was a landmark step. I also welcome the clarity offered by the leadership of Sinn Féin since the Ard Fheis in calling on everyone to cooperate with the police, including specifically on the...

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

Dermot Ahern: In 2006 there were 677,000 applications processed and this is very much in line with the 2005 figure of 680,675. The actual figure for passports produced was approximately 630,000 in both years. Within the above figure, a total of 86,970 passports were issued in 2006 by our Embassies and Consulates abroad while some 40,000 were issued to Irish citizens in Northern Ireland.

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

Dermot Ahern: On 9 January last, I officially opened the Department's Crisis Centre which is located in Hainault House, 69-70 St Stephen's Green. The Crisis Centre is located in the same building as the existing Consular Assistance Section of the Department. In the event of a crisis abroad affecting Irish Citizens, the Crisis Centre can be activated within minutes during normal work times and within an...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As is customary, Heads of State and of Government and Ministers for Foreign Affairs attend the opening plenary session of the UN General Assembly in September each year. In addition to addressing the Assembly, they have the opportunity to meet bilaterally and with key office holders in the United Nations itself, including with the Secretary General and the President of the General Assembly. I...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The World Economic Forum took place in Davos, Switzerland, from 24-28 January 2007. The Taoiseach participated in a number of meetings at the Forum on 24-25 January. A number of Trade Ministers who were present at the Forum met informally on 27 January for an exchange of views on the situation in the now suspended current round of WTO negotiations, the Doha Development Agenda. As this was an...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (8 Feb 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The following table sets out the number of personnel in my constituency office, their grades and remuneration: Constituency Office Grade / Position Number Remuneration Personal Assistant (non-established; based in Constituency) 1 Higher Executive Officer Standard Scale €43,445–€55, 147 Executive Officer 1 Executive Officer Standard Scale — PPC €30,027–€47,641 Clerical...