Results 3,021-3,040 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Leaders' Questions (27 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: He jumped over the fence.

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (27 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: In accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 253 of 1968, which imposed mandatory sanctions on the illegal regime in what was then Southern Rhodesia, new passports, or the renewal of existing ones, were not processed in the period 29 May 1968 to 21 December 1979 to Irish citizens for emigration to Southern Rhodesia nor to those of our citizens residing in Southern Rhodesia...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Contacts: Diplomatic Contacts (27 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has from the outset of this case given very firm support to the Bulgarian Government in its efforts to resolve this issue. I issued a statement condemning the decision in the retrial by the Libyan Court on 19 December 2006. We have pressed the issue at EU level on many occasions. I discussed this case with my EU colleagues at the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 22...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Decisions on Development Education grants are made on the basis of recommendations from the Development Education Grants Committee in accordance with certain rules and guidelines. The Committee is meeting this week and a decision will be communicated to the centre in question by the end of the week.

Written Answers — Undocumented Irish: Undocumented Irish (27 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Government gives the highest priority to the welfare of the undocumented Irish in the United States, and takes every opportunity to convey to US political leaders the urgent need to address the issues involved. The St. Patrick's Day period provided the Taoiseach and myself with a particularly valuable and timely opportunity to convey our views on this issue to key figures in the US...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (27 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 437 and 438 together. The political, economic and human rights situation in Zimbabwe is a matter of the most serious concern. There is currently no indication that the Zimbabwean government is willing to alter the malign policies which have destroyed the country's economy. Nor is there any sign of an intention to introduce real and necessary democratic...

Leaders' Questions (28 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Let him answer.

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (28 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department published its Scheme under Section 11 of the Official Languages Act 2003 in November 2006. It details the services the Department will provide through the medium of Irish, through the medium of English and through the medium of Irish and English for the next three years. The Scheme commits the Department to work towards ensuring that all prerecorded oral announcements to our...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (28 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, the authorities in Bulgaria launched an investigation into the case mentioned by him in June 2005 but it appears that, as a result of administrative and personnel problems at the Regional Police Directorate in Sofia, there have been delays in the processing of cases. The Irish Embassy has been assured by the Bulgarian authorities that a decision will soon be made...

Written Answers — Criminal Prosecutions: Criminal Prosecutions (28 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I would like to inform the Deputy, that on my instructions, the Irish Embassy in Madrid has made contact with the court authorities to ascertain when the case he referred to will be heard. I will communicate directly with the Deputy as soon as there is further information.

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (28 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I envisage making several appointments or nominations in the relevant period. The term of office of one member of the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission) will come up for renewal in May 2007. The terms of office of the Administrative Council and Board of Management of the Fondation Irlandaise (the Irish Cultural Centre) in Paris expire in May...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (28 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: In recognition of the Ukrainian people's choice of democracy and reform in the Presidential elections of late 2004, Ireland took steps to strengthen bilateral links through increased contact at political level with Ukraine. My visit to Kiev in July 2005 and then Foreign Minister Tarasyuk's return visit to Dublin in February 2006 were the first official bilateral visits at Foreign Minister...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (28 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The White Paper, published in September 2006, sets out the direction that the Irish Aid programme will take over the coming years and reiterates the key principles that underlie our development efforts. It builds on the experience gained over our 32-year history and charts the path for Ireland's contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Many of the initiatives...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (28 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The United Nations has the lead role in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. The Government fully supports the leadership of the UN Secretary General in this important work, and we welcome the efforts of the Secretary-General's Special Representative to Cyprus, Mr. Michael Moeller, to bring both sides together to seek progress toward a political settlement. The...

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I thank Senator Mooney for moving the amendment and for allowing me to intervene at this point. I apologise because I have an engagement later and must leave the debate early. I welcome the opportunity to set out the principles that underlie our foreign policy. I have no grave objection to the motion as set out, but when I discussed the issue with my officials I and they felt that, as set...

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Senator knows that.

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Senator was the very person who went to gardaí and when they asked him to produce evidence, he did not produce a scintilla.

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: They went back to the Senator who still could not produce a scintilla of evidence.

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Despite all the exhortations, the Senator has not been able to produce one scintilla of evidence.

Seanad: Ethical Foreign Policy: Motion (28 Mar 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I am as good at shouting as the Senator is.