Results 3,301-3,320 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: "Criminal Politics: Violence, 'Godfathers' and Corruption in Nigeria", Human Right Watch's report of 11 October 2007, addresses a number of genuine challenges faced in Nigeria. More needs to be done to address corruption and human rights standards in Nigeria and the conduct of Nigeria's April 2007 elections was a disappointment. These elections, as noted in the report of the EU Election...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I am deeply concerned by the situation of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal, as well as the wider issue of the situation of ethnic Nepalese in Bhutan itself. Of particular concern is the situation of tens of thousands of ethnic Nepalese children expelled from Bhutan who have been left stateless and condemned to grow up in limbo in refugee camps in the region. In this context, I greatly welcome the...

Written Answers — UN Conventions: UN Conventions (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The United Nations Convention against Corruption was adopted by the UN General Assembly in October 2003 and was signed on behalf of Ireland, when it opened for signature in December 2003. The Convention entered into force on 14 December 2005. The Convention is a very broad and comprehensive treaty which provides internationally-recognised measures to prevent and combat corruption. It also...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: A key purpose of the new Reform Treaty is to enhance the democratic legitimacy of the Union. With this aim in mind, the Treaty provides for a stronger role for the European Parliament by extending the number of areas of EU legislation to be decided by co-decision between the Parliament and the Council of Ministers. The Houses of the Oireachtas and other national Parliaments throughout the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Since 2003, gender based violence targeted at women and girls has been a consistent feature of the conflict in Darfur. I have noted with concern the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights' (UNHCHR) recent report on the human rights situation in the Sudan which has helped to highlight further this terrible abuse and to identify means by which it may be addressed. The report...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland, along with our EU partners, considers that the death penalty, by whatever means it is carried out, constitutes cruel and inhuman punishment and a violation of the right to life. We are committed to its abolition throughout the world. To this end, the EU is currently drafting a resolution on a moratorium on the use of the death penalty, with a view to its abolition, to be tabled at...

Written Answers — UN Conventions: UN Conventions (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: During the 1960s and 1970s the issue of Rockall was a source of some legal and political controversy in both Ireland and the United Kingdom. Much of that controversy arose from fears at the time that jurisdiction over Rockall and similar rocks and skerries was thought to be central in supporting claims to the mineral rights in the adjacent seabed and to fishing rights in the surrounding seas....

Written Answers — Conflict Resolution: Conflict Resolution (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As is set out in the Programme for Government, the Government are committed to making increased Irish engagement in international conflict resolution an important new dimension of Irish foreign policy, building on our experience of the Northern Ireland peace process, the Irish Aid programme, which already includes support for a range of conflict-related activities, and our strong tradition of...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of Kosovo's final status remains high on the EU's foreign policy agenda and is the subject of regular discussions at Foreign Minister level, most recently at the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 15 October last. It is my intention to visit Pristina and Belgrade next month to discuss the situation with key political figures there, and assess the situation further....

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has diplomatic relations with Zimbabwe on a non-resident basis. The Irish Ambassador in Pretoria is accredited to Zimbabwe, and the Zimbabwean Ambassador in London is accredited to Ireland. Our bilateral ties reflect the friendship which Ireland holds for the Zimbabwean people, and our shared historical experience. These ties also give us an opportunity to discuss issues of concern as...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department's Annual Output Statement 2007 was placed in the public domain by being formally presented to the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs on 27 March 2007. The Committee warmly welcomed the presentation of this first Output Statement and stated that it was a "detailed and comprehensive statement that will be a useful reference for members". In the light of the interest reflected in...

Written Answers — Departmental Travel: Departmental Travel (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The policy of my Department, on the issue of frequent flyer points, is in line with the guidelines set out in the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour (Circular 26 of 2004) which provide that: ". . . benefits under frequent flier schemes may be retained by individual civil servants in recognition of the fact that official travel is disruptive to personal and family life" (Paragraph...

Written Answers — Departmental Statistics: Departmental Statistics (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: All Irish citizens, whether resident in Ireland or abroad, are entitled to seek consular assistance from my Department. As a result, statistics on deaths abroad of Irish citizens are not broken down on a residency in Ireland or overseas basis. Moreover, the assistance of the Department is on many occasions not sought by the next of kin when a death occurs abroad, particularly in the case of...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: In common with most Member States of the UN, and all EU partners, Ireland adheres to a 'one-China policy', recognising the government of the People's Republic of China as the sole legitimate government of China. The joint communiqué issued in 1979 on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the People's Republic of China reaffirmed the 'one-China policy'. Ireland does...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Over the past decade, the number of Irish citizens travelling abroad has increased dramatically. Irish citizens are now to be found in a wider range of locations than ever before and the number of visits abroad by Irish residents in 2006 was almost 7 million. Since becoming Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have attached a high priority to the consular service we provide to our citizens who...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: A total amount of €226,977.33 was spent by the Department on paper and stationery from 1 January 2007 to date: this includes €153,477.33 on paper and paper-based stationery items, of which an amount of €84,309 was spent on recycled paper.

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Government is committed to ensuring that all border crossings closed by the British authorities on grounds of security in the 1970s are reopened as part of the wider process of security normalisation in Northern Ireland, and in order to facilitate regional economic development. Of the 104 closed cross-border roads in 1994, only the crossings at Annaghroe and Knockaginney have yet to be...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 330 together. The Government continues to be gravely concerned about the crisis in Darfur and its broader ramifications for Sudan as a whole and the region. We are pursuing all avenues to support international efforts to address the grave humanitarian, political and security challenges confronting Sudan. Recent weeks have seen an upsurge in violence...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The reform process in Afghanistan is continuing. The goal of the international community, in cooperation with the Afghan government, remains to extend legitimate government, the rule of law and the benefits of government to all parts of Afghanistan though addressing issues such as infrastructure, counter narcotics programmes and training for the army and police forces. It is important that...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (23 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Negotiations on EU accession opened with Croatia and Turkey in October 2005. This launched a complex and lengthy negotiation process, the outcome of which cannot be guaranteed beforehand. An extensive analytical examination has been underway which involves close scrutiny of the compatibility of Turkish and Croatian legislation with that of the EU. In all, there are thirty five negotiating...