Results 3,101-3,120 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Which party is that?

Written Answers — Interpretation Act 2005: Interpretation Act 2005 (27 Jun 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The purpose of the Interpretation Act 2005 is to assist in the proper interpretation of statutes, regulations and other subordinate legislation. Section 22 of the Act clarifies that a power to make a statutory instrument includes the power to repeal, amend, or replace it. The Interpretation Act 2005 came into operation on 1 January 2006. Since that date, the only Order I have made which...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (28 Jun 2007)

Dermot Ahern: There has been no change in our policy towards Cuba. The European Union's 1996 Common Position on Cuba remains the basis of both the European Union's and Ireland's approach to relations with that country. The overriding objective of Ireland and our European Union partners in our relations with Cuba is to encourage, but not to enforce by external coercion, a process of transition to pluralist...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Jun 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I deeply regret the decision of the Burmese regime to renew the detention order on Aung San Suu Kyi for a further year on 26 May. I would again urgently call on the Burmese government to immediately rescind this order and to release all political detainees. This would be an important and significant step towards the regime's professed gaol of a return to civilian democratic government in...

Written Answers — Democratisation Process: Democratisation Process (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Together with our EU partners, Ireland has consistently expressed strong support for the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy, the former Finnish President, Martti Ahtisaari, and his team since they commenced work over a year ago on the challenging and complex issue of Kosovo's final status. Ireland believes that the comprehensive proposal of Special Envoy Ahtisaari provides the most...

Written Answers — Nuclear Disarmament Initiative: Nuclear Disarmament Initiative (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 147 together. The recent statements from Russia that it may aim missiles at targets in Europe were part of its reaction to the news that the US intends to deploy elements of a missile defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic. The European Union does not have an agreed position on missile defence, a matter on which it has no competence. This is a...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representations: Diplomatic Representations (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Minister deeply regrets the decision of the Burmese regime to renew the detention order on Aung San Suu Kyi for a further year on 26 May. The Government would again call on the Burmese government to rescind this order immediately. Not only would this be a humanitarian gesture to a woman who has spent almost 12 of the last 18 years in detention without charge, it would provide real...

Written Answers — International Criminal Court: International Criminal Court (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The United States maintains what it regards as fundamental concerns in relation to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. Although the US signed the Rome Statute in December 2000, in May 2002, it informed the Secretary General of the United Nations that it did not intend to become a party to the Statute, and that accordingly it had no obligations arising from its signature. The...

Written Answers — EU Treaty: EU Treaty (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96, 100, 120, 158, 274 and 294 together. Ratification proceedings with regard to the new Reform Treaty are a matter for individual Member States in every case. As far as Ireland is concerned, we will as always in such matters examine in detail the constitutional implications for us of the Reform Treaty. The Government will proceed by consulting the Attorney...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: On 18 December 2002, the Third Committee of the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Draft Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment. Ireland, along with other EU partners, fully supported the draft Optional Protocol and worked for its adoption at the UN General Assembly and the Commission on Human Rights. The Optional Protocol...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 166 together. I know that the House will join with me today in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the BBC journalist, Alan Johnston, who was kidnapped by an armed group in Gaza on 12 March 2007. The EU has condemned the kidnapping and has called for Mr. Johnston's release, as have the International Quartet, the United Nations, the...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: My Department regularly reviews the security of Irish missions abroad from the point of view of the safety and protection of both staff and visitors, as well as the security of all official premises and their contents. In addition, as part of the risk management process within the Department, each of our Missions abroad has a crisis response plan for dealing with emergencies that would...

Written Answers — Democratisation Process: Democratisation Process (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has consistently supported, and remains fully committed to, the right to self-determination of the people of the Western Sahara. Ireland continues to be active on the issue in discussions at EU level and at the United Nations. The Government strongly supports the continuing engagement of the UN in the search for a political solution in the Western Sahara based on the principle...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 109 and 145 together. The Government remains gravely concerned by the horrific violence in Iraq. The violence has effectively stalled the political process and continues to threaten the stability of the region. There are no simple solutions to the chaos across large areas of Iraq. The situation is now extremely complex, involving many different groups,...

Written Answers — Nuclear Disarmament Initiative: Nuclear Disarmament Initiative (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The seventeenth Plenary Meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) took place in Cape Town on 19-20 April 2007. The Plenary was preceded by a number of other meetings that week, including the NSG Consultative Group, an information exchange meeting and a meeting of licensing officers. The deliberations of the NSG are confidential. In general terms, however, these meetings focused on issues...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 132, 159, 165 and 284 together. As Deputies will be aware, efforts in the US Senate to achieve comprehensive immigration reform were not successful in attracting the level of support necessary to ensure its progress at this time. This is undoubtedly a setback for the Irish undocumented and their families here in Ireland. I can assure the House of the...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 139 together. On Monday 25 June, I had the honour to meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town. Archbishop Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his efforts in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. He paid a warm tribute to Ireland's support in those years, and also to our continued support to South...

Written Answers — Landing Rights: Landing Rights (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 141 and 174 together. The arrangements for the overflight and landing in Ireland of US military aircraft, and civilian aircraft used to transport troops, have been in place under successive Governments for some fifty years, and there has been no change in policy. Overflight and landing arrangements for US forces in respect of the Iraq conflict were...

Written Answers — Democratisation Process: Democratisation Process (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: There has not yet been a discussion of developments in Kazakhstan at political level in the EU but developments there are being followed closely. On 18 May the Parliament of Kazakhstan approved a series of constitutional changes, among them a provision that the President can be elected for more than two successive terms of five years. This would allow President Nazarbayev, who was re-elected...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As indicated to the House, most recently on 8 February 2007, the case for ratification of this Convention has been examined by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which has lead responsibility on the issue. As previously indicated, the rights of migrant workers and their families are already protected under existing national legislation and...