Results 281-300 of 881 for speaker:Peter Power

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (18 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: I look forward to representing the Government at the Doha International Conference on Financing for Development, which takes place from 29 November to 2 December 2008. The Conference will review the implementation of commitments made at the UN Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey in 2002. Under the Monterrey Consensus, developing countries agreed to introduce sound economic...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Assistance: Overseas Development Assistance (18 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: I believe that the fight against HIV and AIDS in Africa and beyond is fundamental to poverty reduction. We spend over €100 million annually on combating HIV and other diseases of poverty. Our assistance is targeted at those countries most affected by the pandemic including Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Lesotho, Zambia and Malawi. The Government is investing in programmes that are...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: I thank all Senators who welcomed me to the House. I join Senators Burke, Ormonde and others in sending our compliments and praise to all those involved in the production of this international agreement, in particular officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs who were involved in the drafting, redrafting and detailed negotiation of this international agreement, which is a victory for...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: The Government takes the view that we cannot renegotiate the conventions after negotiations have been concluded. Senator Hannigan made the point that in the coming months all 107 countries will be engaged in the same process as we are engaged in here and will introduce the convention's provisions into their domestic law in a uniform way. We chaired these negotiations and have an obligation...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: That would certainly be the intention. The people may have different views on the definitions reached. However, those definitions have been reached by consensus as I indicated before Senator Norris came in. That was the product of much negotiation and the use of great diplomatic skills by our officials. That is what we need to deal with and that is why we are implementing it in this way.

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: Agreement on definitions in both cases was very difficult to secure. If individual countries then go back home and legislate for different types of weapon systems, it inevitably raises the question of why we sought international agreement in the first place. Different countries implementing different standards in their domestic laws will frustrate the implementation of the international...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: It would be extremely harmful to efforts to assemble international peacekeeping forces under UN mandate. It would certainly affect the participation of Ireland's Defence Forces in such operations.

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: These are the practical effects of such amendments.

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: We will certainly deal with those amendments and will be able to deal with them in greater detail. We welcome amendments on Committee Stage. I take this opportunity to reject the idea that the Convention on Cluster Munitions contains loopholes, as some would seem to suggest. The definition of a cluster munition agreed in the negotiations is a comprehensive one that meets the objective set...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Second Stage (25 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: These exclusions are replicated in the Bill before us. The definition in the convention, which is the definition in the Bill, enables us effectively to prohibit all cluster munitions that have ever been used in armed conflict. I draw the attention of the House to a statement made earlier this month in Geneva by Dr. Philip Spoerri, director for international law and co-operation within the...

Seanad: Human Rights Issues (25 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: I thank Senator Norris for raising this disturbing case on the Adjournment. I share his horror about the horrific effects of lead poisoning, especially on children, which I witnessed. As the Senator may be aware, the Roma, Ashkali and Egyptian communities in the former Yugoslavia had a total population of approximately 8,000. Following the outbreak of conflict in the early 1990s, the Roma...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: I accept the points made by Senator Norris. The amendment is not contentious but a point of principle needs to be made that the effect of the proposed amendment is for the Bill to come into operation immediately upon enactment. However, it has long been the legislative convention for a Bill to be commenced by means of a ministerial order. This practice has arisen for important practical...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: We would all be delighted if it could be in force by 3 December, but that date is merely the opening date for countries who are signatories to the convention to ratify it. There is a distinction between signing it and ratifying it. Ratification can take place only when a country has the authority under its own constitutional and governance systems to effect ratification. Ratification will...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: That is correct. We must go through our legislative provisions. There is a further distinction between ratification and the convention coming into practical force and effect itself. The provisions of the convention are clear on this, namely, that it will take place six months from the date upon which the 30th country has ratified the treaty. There are more than 30 countries party to the...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: Before dealing with the specific amendment I would like to make a general point with regard to the definitions aspect of the proposed legislation. Section 2 provides for the interpretation of key terms as defined in the Convention on Cluster Munitions and the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and other relevant terms. Many of the terms defined for the purposes of the Bill are agreed terms...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: Yes.

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: The Senator may remember that one Minister for Foreign Affairs came from this House.

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: Whether that will be repeated in the Senator's case——

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: Hope springs eternal.

Seanad: Cluster Munitions and Anti-Personnel Mines Bill 2008: Committee and Remaining Stages (27 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: Our door is always open.