Results 3,321-3,340 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: As has been made clear in reply to previous questions, it is not the policy of the Government to draw up any kind of "league table" of countries in relation to human rights abuses. Ireland closely monitors developments in the human rights situation throughout the world and where the situation warrants, we make known our concerns to the Governments in question, either bilaterally, through the...

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

Dermot Ahern: Dialogue between Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union is based on the shared agenda agreed at the EU-Western Balkans Summit in Thessaloniki in June 2003. In this context, the EU is committed to support Bosnia in its efforts to overcome the legacy of violence and division from the 1990s, and to assist it in working towards the goal of eventual integration into EU structures, initially...

Leaders' Questions (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: We have a record on old age pensions, the Labour Party does not. Our record stands for itself.

Estimates for Public Services 2007: Leave to Introduce (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I move: That leave be given by the Dáil to introduce the following Supplementary Estimate for the service of the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2007:— Vote 6 — Office of the Minister for Finance (Supplementary Estimate).

Estimates for Public Services 2007: Referral to Select Committee (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I move: That, subject to leave being given to introduce the following Supplementary Estimate for the service of the year ending 31st December, 2007, the Supplementary Estimate be referred to the Select Committee on Finance and the Public Service pursuant to Standing Order 154(3) and paragraph (1)(a)(ii) of the Committee's Orders of Reference, which shall report back to the Dáil by no later...

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: In regard to the review I thank all speakers for the points they have made. I will respond to some of them, particularly the request by the Labour Party for an easily read text. It is the Government's view that we should have a text that would be available to the general public which would explain it in as simple a language as possible. Obviously the reform treaty is a complex set of...

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: ——in effect did away with the logistical customs and excise difficulties that those of us who live in the Border area — not Dublin — were required to put up with for years. The review will take place in three years' time. However, the matter will be under constant review in the interim because we will be making decisions on a case by case basis as JHA issues arise. The other issue...

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: That issue was agreed. It is logical in that it provides for continuity in the Troika.

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: It has already been determined — Lithuania and Greece.

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy asked whether all parties in government were in favour. All parties represented at the Cabinet table — the Green Party, the Progressive Democrats and ourselves — are in favour of the reform treaty as agreed last week. Obviously, the broader church of each individual party might have members with different views on the treaty from the view expressed by the Taoiseach or me in...

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As always is the case in my party, they would have the supreme intelligence to know that it is good for the country. On legal advice, the Taoiseach is being careful in that the reform treaty was only finally agreed last week. From the point of view of tying up some loose ends, he needs final confirmation from the Attorney General that his legal advice that it needs to be put to a referendum...

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy knows, the treaty is required to be ratified by all 27 countries. A total of 18 countries ratified the constitutional treaty and they must return to their respective parliaments with the reform treaty for ratification. With regard to our process, as the Taoiseach stated, the strong advice of the Attorney General is that the issue must be put before the people, which I welcome....

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The charter has full legal effect. There is a cross reference from one to the other and the issue involved was presentational rather than anything else. I welcome that all parties are in favour of the charter's implementation. With regard to the opt out clause, having examined it, we will be in a stronger position to determine these issues if we can opt out and then make decisions on a case...

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Ultimately, this could affect the constitutional rights of our citizens and we have a duty to protect those rights as much as possible. The strong legal advice of the Attorney General is we would be in a much stronger position to deal with issues on a case by case basis using an opt in, opt out clause while making clear our desire is to be part of European changes to deal with all the...

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: It is not the case that Britain has made a unilateral decision to eliminate the common travel area. The British Government is considering introducing enhanced security in terms of people entering and leaving its jurisdiction. In the context of the common travel area that we have been lucky to enjoy for many decades, we are discussing these issues with the British Government in such a way...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The failure of efforts by the United States Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation earlier this year was a major disappointment and a setback for the thousands of undocumented Irish people in the United States and for their families in Ireland. Given the present very difficult and divided environment in Congress on immigration, it is now widely considered that such...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As I informed the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question Number 517 on 26 September 2007, relations between Ireland and Cuba have developed in recent years, particularly since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1999. Our Ambassador in Mexico City is accredited to Cuba. In 2001, Cuba established a resident Embassy in Dublin, which has been headed by a resident Ambassador...

Order of Business (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The answer is "No" anyway.

Order of Business (Resumed) (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Like the Deputy's party it is marginal.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has been clear and consistent on the need for all paramilitary groups, including the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), to move away definitively from violence and criminality and engage with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) with a view to putting arms beyond use. I believe that many of the leaders of the UDA, and their political advisors in...