Results 3,141-3,160 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 172 together. The political, economic and human rights situation in Zimbabwe is a matter of very serious concern. Inflation is currently estimated at over 3700%, the highest in the world. Unemployment has risen to 80%. Life expectancy has virtually been halved in the past two decades, from 60 years to 33 years. Opposition activists, including Morgan...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 170 together. The Government and our EU partners share the widespread international concern that Iran has still not complied with its international obligations in respect of its nuclear programme. On 23 May, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported for the third time that Iran had ignored the demands of the UN Security Council to suspend...

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

Dermot Ahern: Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991. A Transitional Federal Government (TFG) representing a range of clans was established in Nairobi in 2004 with UN and EU support, but was unable to make a significant impact on the ground. Public discontent with over a decade of anarchy led to increased support for the United Islamic Courts (UIC) movement, which enforced sharia law...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 176 together. Some significant progress has been achieved in democratic reforms in Afghanistan, as well as in the administrative and justice systems, since 2001. With international assistance, the reform process is continuing across all sectors. The goal of the international community, in cooperation with the Afghan government, remains to extend...

Written Answers — Economic and Monetary Union: Economic and Monetary Union (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 281 together. The most recent European Council agreed the accession of Cyprus and Malta to the euro area from January 2008. This will bring to 15 the number of countries having the euro as their currency. It means that from next year a majority of EU Member States will belong to the euro area. This agreement at the European Council followed a positive...

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

Dermot Ahern: Mr David Miliband M.P. was appointed Foreign Secretary last Thursday by the new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. I have written to the new Foreign Secretary congratulating him on his appointment and I look forward to working closely with him on the many challenging issues facing our two countries in Europe and in the wider world. I expect to meet the Foreign Secretary in the near future.

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

Dermot Ahern: I am very concerned by the case the Deputy refers to, including reports of his mistreatment in custody. Ireland, together with EU partners, continues to follow this case closely. It has been repeatedly raised with the Chinese authorities through the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, including at the most recent round in Berlin on 15 May. The EU made clear its deep concern over actions...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The issue to which the Deputy refers is one of considerable concern within the EU. The harrowing scenes we have witnessed recently clearly demonstrate the need to make rapid progress in developing a comprehensive European migration policy. This policy must take into account development issues, legal migration, integration, border control, readmission and the fight against illegal migration....

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

Dermot Ahern: There has been no change in Ireland's 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...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia recognized the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a sovereign independent State as part of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina concluded on December 14, 1995. As a successor state to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia continues to recognise the full independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the EU-Western Balkans...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 283 together. No appointments have been made to State boards, bodies, committees or other like entities under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs in the period 24 May to date. Vacancies are due to arise in the following bodies over the next six months: The terms of office of the current Development Education Advisory Committee (DEAC) expired...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: It is disappointing that the Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland found that there is insufficient evidence at this time for further prosecutions arising out of the third Stevens report into alleged collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and the security forces. The announcement that there will be no further prosecutions does not address the serious underlying issues arising from...

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

Dermot Ahern: EU- Russia relations have entered a difficult period. There are disputes between Russia and a number of EU Member States, specifically the UK, Poland and the Baltic States. A series of incidents, most notably the murders of journalist Anna Politkovskaya in Moscow and former FSB officer Alexander Litvinenko in London, have raised concerns about developments in Russia. In a number of important...

Written Answers — European Security and Defence Policy: European Security and Defence Policy (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland continues to play an active role in the development and implementation of European Security and Defence Policy. Along with our EU partners, we undertake regular reviews of ESDP missions and capabilities, including at the European Council last month, and at the joint meeting of Foreign and Defence Ministers in May. Members of the Defence Forces are currently participating in ESDP...

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

Dermot Ahern: Unfortunately, no part of the world is totally free from human rights abuses. As has been made clear on previous occasions, it is not the policy of the government to draw up any kind of "league table" of countries deemed guilty of the worst human rights abuses. Ireland closely monitors developments in the human rights situation throughout the world and where the situation warrants, we make...

Written Answers — Coastal Zone Management: Coastal Zone Management (4 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea provides that a coastal state exercises sovereignty over its territorial sea, which is the belt of water located immediately adjacent to its land territory. Every state has the right to establish the breadth of its territorial sea up to a limit not exceeding 12 nautical miles. Sovereignty extends to the bed and subsoil of the...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (4 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs has advised that given the constitutional status of Irish as the national language and first official language of the State, the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages of the Council of Europe is not considered to be a suitable mechanism for its promotion and protection. Consequently, there are no plans to sign or ratify...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (5 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The European Union's 1996 Common Position on Cuba and all subsequent Council Conclusions reviewing the Common Position have been adopted by consensus, including those at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 18 June 2007, at which I participated. In these Council Conclusions, we deplored the fact that the human rights situation in Cuba has not fundamentally changed,...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is Irish Aid's Headquarters, will decentralise to Limerick. This is scheduled to be completed in early 2008, when the new premises will be ready for occupation. It will involve the relocation to Limerick of 124 Dublin-based posts. Good progress has been...

Leaders' Questions (26 Sep 2007)

Dermot Ahern: There was the Workers Party and——