Results 3,121-3,140 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The EU's position regarding the arms embargo on China was most recently set out in Council Conclusions of 11 December 2006, in which the Council reaffirmed its willingness to carry forward work towards lifting the arms embargo on the basis of the European Council Conclusions of December 2004. The 2004 Conclusions make clear that any decision should not lead to an increase in arms exports,...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 122 together. Negotiations on EU accession opened with Croatia and Turkey in October 2005. Since then an extensive screening process has been underway. This involves close scrutiny of the compatibility of Turkish and Croatian legislation with that of the EU. In all, there are 35 negotiating chapters which deal with a range of policy areas. After a...

Written Answers — Migration Studies: Migration Studies (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: This is an idea which would impact upon a wide range of interested parties, including my Department. In the first instance, however, the funding of academic disciplines in Irish universities, broadly speaking, is a matter for the Higher Education Authority and the Department of Education and Science. In April, I called for a national debate on Ireland's attitude to our Diaspora at a...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121, 123, 144 and 289 together. The Government are pleased with the outline of the Reform Treaty that was agreed at last month's European Council meeting. The Reform Treaty will amend the existing Treaties in various ways so as to create a more efficient and effective Union that can better serve Europe's future needs. Our principal objective going in to these...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs has recruited a total of 246 staff in the past three years. The following table sets outs the number of staff recruited by the Department over this period. A significant number of the staff were recruited to fill new posts sanctioned by the Department of Finance for the three Passport Offices and for Irish Aid. In addition, vacancies needed to be filled as a...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Task Force on Policy regarding Emigrants produced a major report which has provided us with a very valuable framework for our current and future activities in this area. The Report, as the Deputy is aware, contains wide-ranging and detailed recommendations which require sustained and phased implementation. Activities currently in operation are giving effect to well over two thirds of the...

Written Answers — UN Reform: UN Reform (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: A key objective of our foreign policy in the years ahead is to enhance Ireland's role as a model UN partner. That reflects the value we place on the UN as the primary multilateral framework through which we give expression to the values and principles that underlie our foreign policy. The value we accord the United Nations is also reflected in our strong support for the UN reform agenda. We...

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

Dermot Ahern: Following the events in Karachi on 12 May, which resulted in the loss of life of over 40 Pakistanis, the political and security situation in Pakistan is calmer but the situation is likely to remain tense in the lead up to Presidential and legislative elections later this year. As the Deputy will be aware, the recent outbreak of violence in Karachi occurred when supporters of the suspended...

Written Answers — Extradition Proceedings: Extradition Proceedings (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish citizen referred to was arrested by the Police Service of Northern Ireland on 20 May 2007 on foot of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by the Federal Republic of Germany. Following initial hearings on 5 June and 27 June last, the extradition hearing has been adjourned until 22 August. The adjournments are to give the defence time to prepare their case. The person in question is...

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

Dermot Ahern: Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which came into force in 1970, Review Conferences are held every five years and afford an opportunity to review the implementation of the Treaty in all its aspects. The last such Conference was in 2005 and the next will take place in 2010. As part of each review cycle, a series of preparatory meetings are also held and there will be a...

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

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to previous replies to similar questions concerning the United Nations Convention against Corruption, most recently on 21 March 2007. The Convention was signed on 9 December 2003 and is awaiting ratification by Ireland. My colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, has lead responsibility in this area. His officials have had extensive consultations with...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: During the next six months I will have a number of EU-related engagements including meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), the Informal Meeting of EU Ministers for Foreign Affairs in September and the European Council meeting in December. I will continue to meet with representatives of the British Government and with all of the parties associated with the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Questions relating to the treatment of the Falun Gong — including specific cases — are raised regularly, within the context of the wider situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in China, in the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, as well as in our own bilateral contacts with the Government of China. Discussions in this regard have also taken place at official level in Dublin and in...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: It is customary for Foreign Ministers to attend the opening plenary session of the UN General Assembly in September each year. I attended the General Assembly last year, and, in addition to delivering the national statement on behalf of Ireland, I met with the outgoing Secretary-General and the new President of the Assembly. I also held a number of bilateral meetings with Ministerial...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the provision of office accommodation for the decentralised staff of Irish Aid in Limerick. An advance party of fifty Irish Aid staff members transferred to temporary accommodation in O'Connell Street, Limerick in May of this year. My Department has been advised by OPW that the permanent accommodation, at present under construction in Henry...

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

Dermot Ahern: Accession negotiations were opened with Croatia on 3 October 2005. Since then an extensive screening process has been underway. This involves examining the compatibility of Croatian legislation with EU law. In all, there are 35 negotiating chapters which deal with a range of policy areas. After a chapter has been screened, the EU decides, on the basis of a proposal from the Commission,...

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

Dermot Ahern: Much has been achieved in Liberia in both the political and humanitarian spheres since the 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement brought an end to 14 years of civil war. In particular, since the inauguration of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as Africa's first female President at the start of 2006, the Government has made significant progress in driving forward reforms and promoting economic...

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

Dermot Ahern: The issue of denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula remains an important issue for the security and stability in the East Asia region, as well as for the wider international community. The DPRK's (North Korea) nuclear test last October was a direct contravention of the international objectives of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Ireland continues to support the efforts of the...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Battlegroup concept is designed to provide the European Union with the capacity to respond rapidly to emerging crisis situations, within the overall context of the European Union's security and defence policy. Battlegroups are designed to participate in time-limited missions of 30 days, extendable to a maximum of 120 days, by which time the operation would have concluded, or the...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 275 together. On 27 June, following detailed consultation between High Representative Solana and the Foreign Minister of Germany, representing the European Union, the US Secretary of State, the Foreign Minister of Russia and the UN Secretary General, the members of the Middle East Quartet announced the appointment of Tony Blair as Quartet...