Results 3,341-3,360 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland and Pakistan established diplomatic relations in 1962. Pakistan opened an Embassy in Dublin in 2001, headed by a resident Ambassador, with whom senior officials of the Department are in regular contact. Our Ambassador in Tehran is accredited to Pakistan on a non-resident basis. He pays regular visits to Pakistan and keeps in regular contact with the authorities there, with the...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I have not received an invitation to events to mark the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel on 14 May 1948. At the invitation of the Speaker of the Knesset and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, our Ambassador in Tel Aviv will attend a special session of the Knesset on 29 November to mark the 60th anniversary of the adoption by the UN General...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I am not aware of any proposal to reduce funding for the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, which was established by the UN General Assembly in 1975. Cyprus and Malta are the only EU Member States which participate in the Committee. The other 25 Member States, including Ireland, have abstained in the annual vote in the UN General Assembly on the...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories was established by the UN Commission on Human Rights in 1993. Professor John Dugard is the fourth person to hold the mandate. He was appointed by the Commission on Human Rights in 2001. The Human Rights Council, which succeeded the Commission on Human Rights in 2006 is now reviewing...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I have no objection on foreign policy grounds to Palestinian participation in any international event, and would in fact see considerable merit in such involvement. However, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have no role in relation to the Eurovision Song Contest, which is organised by the European Broadcasting Union.

Written Answers — Referendum Commission: Referendum Commission (31 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Government will shortly be seeking legal advice from the Attorney General on whether ratification of the EU Reform Treaty requires an amendment to the Constitution. If it is the view of the Attorney General that a referendum is required, in accordance with established procedures a Referendum Commission will be created to inform the public about the Treaty and to encourage citizens to...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (31 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The next of kin of a deceased person may request that the person's remains be exhumed. However, as the Deputy will appreciate, a number of legal and logistical issues arise in such situations, particularly where the death occurred many years ago. I asked our Embassy in London to make some preliminary enquiries regarding the request referred to by the Deputy. The Embassy has been informed...

Written Answers — Military Neutrality: Military Neutrality (31 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Nothing in the Reform Treaty will affect Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality, nor our capacity to pursue our foreign policy. Under the Treaty, as under previous Treaties, Ireland will continue to participate actively in the formulation of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Unanimity will remain the rule for substantive decisions in the area of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (31 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: In the past 12 months, costs of €757,417 were accrued by my Department in respect of official hospitality provided in Ireland. The purpose of this hospitality is to promote bilateral relations with other states in the context of visits by Heads of State, Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers and other high-level guests.

Written Answers — Departmental Facilities: Departmental Facilities (31 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: While all buildings used by my Department in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Balbriggan have kitchen facilities, none of them provide a hot food service for staff.

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (1 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: A passport is an identity document issued by the State to facilitate foreign travel. It is issued in the official name of the holder of the passport which is normally the name in which the person's birth was registered, or in his or her married name when so requested. The long form of the birth certificate and, as the case may be, the marriage certificate, are required as supporting...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (1 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The scheme of performance-related awards in the Civil Service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. It does not apply to Secretaries General. Details of awards to individual officers under the performance related scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidential to the officer concerned. Details of the operation of the scheme are available in the...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (1 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland and our European Union partners believe that the United States' foreign policy toward Cuba is fundamentally a bilateral issue. Nonetheless, the European Union has clearly expressed the opposition of its Member States to all unilateral measures against Cuba which are contrary to commonly accepted rules of international trade. Ireland, in common with our partners in the European Union,...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (6 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Passport Office database records and collates data on applicants by place of birth rather than place of residence. It is therefore possible only to give estimated figures in response to this question. While it is not possible to provide details on passport holders resident in Northern Ireland it is estimated that approximately 320,000 persons who were born in Northern Ireland currently...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (6 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 to 235, inclusive, together. The following tables set out the grades, numbers and remuneration of the personnel in my private and constituency offices and those of the two Ministers of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern, T.D. Private Office Grade/Position Number Salary Scale Special Adviser...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (6 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: My Department, which has an overall coordinating role in relation to EU matters, does not as a rule have responsibility for transposing EU measures into Irish law. Currently, there are no EU Directives awaiting incorporation into Irish law in my Department. The Government remains firmly committed to the effective and timely transposition of EU Directives into Irish law. My colleague Mr Dick...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Total expenditure on travel and subsistence in my Department for the period January to September 2007 amounted to €7,147,619. This figure includes expenditure incurred by our 75 Missions overseas. This compares with €7,774,954 for the same period in 2006. The reduction of 8% in 2007 is primarily due to an ongoing effort to achieve better value from air travel.

Written Answers — Economic Sanctions: Economic Sanctions (7 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As I informed the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question Number 95 of 1 November, 2007, Ireland and our European Union partners believe that the United States' foreign policy toward Cuba is fundamentally a bilateral issue. Nonetheless, the European Union has clearly expressed the opposition of its Member States to all unilateral measures against Cuba which are contrary to commonly...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (8 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together. On 5 November, I issued a statement expressing deep concern about the declaration of a State of Emergency in Pakistan by President Musharraf, the suspension of Pakistan's Constitution and the imposition of wide-ranging restrictions on the media and the Supreme Court. I also stated that it was essential that every effort be made to...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (13 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: This seems essentially to be a private law matter. It would be for the person concerned, therefore, to seek legal advice on what options may be open to them at this time. On the question of dissatisfaction with a financial institution, again, the person referred to may wish to seek independent advice. I note that the institution referred to is regulated by the British Financial Services...