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

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: Suspension of the Euro-Mediterranean Association Agreement with Israel is not on the agenda. Consensus within the European Union would be required for such a step. This would not be forthcoming. The argument has also been made that that such action could have undesirable consequences such as undercutting the role of the EU in the peace process and creating difficulties in implementing our...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: A complaint was received by the carriage office of the Garda Síochána concerning the use of certain vehicles during the course of the Irish Presidency. I understand that the investigation is ongoing and it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter until the investigation has been completed, and the complainant notified of the outcome.

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The Government's position on the Israel-Palestine conflict has been one of consistent support for a peaceful solution. Together with our EU partners, we are working for a negotiated end to the conflict leading to two states, Israel and Palestine, living at peace within secure and recognised borders. The General Affairs and External Relations Council considered this issue once again on 11...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: In June 2004, an individual who had been working on contract in the Department of Foreign Affairs received a four year suspended sentence for the theft of eight laptop computers from the Department. The individual had been contracted from a specialist information technology company to work as part of a team of contractors, to provide IT help desk support for the Department in the lead up to...

Written Answers — EU-US Relations: EU-US Relations (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The trans-Atlantic relationship has been crucial to the stability and prosperity of both Europe and the US over the past 50 years. We share the same belief in democracy, the rule of law, fundamental rights and open trade between nations. These are values that have forged an enduring partnership, which continues to be a stabilising and positive force in the world. During Ireland's recent...

Written Answers — UN General Assembly: UN General Assembly (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 353 together. My predecessor, Deputy Cowen, delivered Ireland's national statement in the general debate at the start of the 59th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations on 23 September 2004. The statement reflected the Government's view that the session just commenced will be one of the most important in the history of the United...

Written Answers — International Atomic Energy Agency: International Atomic Energy Agency (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: On 19 December 2003, Libya announced its intention to eliminate all "materials, equipment and programmes which lead to the production of internationally proscribed weapons". In the months since, the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, has been working closely with the Libyan authorities to gain a complete picture of its nuclear programme. On 10 March 2004, the board of governors of the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland is obligated, as a state party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, ICC, to co-operate with the ICC in its investigation and prosecution of crimes under its jurisdiction. Legislation to allow the State to implement these obligations, the International Criminal Court Bill 2003, has been prepared by the Department of Justice, Equality and...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The European Union's objective, as stated in the European Council Conclusions of 17-18 June, is that both Bulgaria and Romania should conclude negotiations in 2004, sign the accession treaty in 2005 and accede in January 2007, if they are ready. Negotiations will be concluded on the same basis and principles which applied to the ten new member states which acceded on 1 May 2004. On 6 October...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland is a long-standing supporter of the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination. The Government played a prominent role in seeking a solution to the Western Sahara dispute during its term on the Security Council. The conflict in the Western Sahara ended with the brokering by the UN in 1991 of a ceasefire which has been maintained under the monitoring of the United Nations...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: In 2001, the Government decided to open new embassies in a number of EU candidate countries on a phased basis, subject to the availability of the necessary resources. New embassies have since been established in Estonia, Slovenia, Slovakia and Cyprus and also in Brazil. Presidency offices were opened in Bulgaria and Romania in the run up to and during the Irish Presidency of the European...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: Since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have not had the opportunity to meet the Secretary of State Mr. Colin Powell. I have, however, spoken to him briefly when he telephoned to congratulate me on my appointment and he also has written to me expressing his desire to work with me to strengthen the excellent bilateral ties between Ireland and the United States. The Secretary of...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: On 30 September, together with the Taoiseach, I met a DUP delegation at Government Buildings. The delegation was headed by the leader of the party, Dr. Ian Paisley. This meeting was the first with the DUP leadership to be held in Dublin and it provided a welcome opportunity to discuss further the outstanding issues from the Leeds Castle talks. As we outlined in the joint statement after those...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238, 239 and 350 together. The House will share the deep sense of shock and sadness felt by the Government and by all the people of Ireland following the cruel and barbaric murder of Kenneth Bigley. All Members would join with the Government in expressing their most sincere condolences to his mother and his family, whose courage and fortitude we came to know...

Written Answers — Children's Passports: Children's Passports (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: With effect from 1 October last, the passport office ceased the practice of allowing children to be included on their parents' passports. Henceforth, all children, regardless of age, must obtain an individual passport in their own name for travel abroad. This change was designed to improve the security of international travel for children and brings us into line with international best...

Written Answers — Imprisonment of Irish Person: Imprisonment of Irish Person (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: My Department, through the Irish honorary consul in Quito, has been monitoring developments in the case to which the Deputy refers, and has been active in providing consular assistance to the person in question and her family since we became aware of the case in February 2002. As the Deputy may be aware, the person was convicted on 28 April 2003 of the possession of cocaine and sentenced to...

Written Answers — Children's Passports: Children's Passports (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: With effect from 1 October last, the passport office ceased the practice of allowing children to be included on their parents' passports. Henceforth, all children, regardless of age, must obtain an individual passport in their own name for travel abroad. This change was made on foot of a recommendation from the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which sets international standards for...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The person to whom the Deputy refers submitted a visa application to the Irish Embassy in Ankara on 25 August 2004. This application was refused. This decision is now the subject of an appeal to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. I understand that the applicant should receive a response from that Department within three weeks.

Written Answers — Colombia Three: Colombia Three (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, following the decision in the case by Judge Acosta on 26 April 2004, the Office of the Prosecutor-General in Colombia lodged an appeal against the verdict which acquitted the three men on the principal charge of providing training for terrorists. That appeal is being considered by a panel of judges and their decision is awaited. Pending the outcome of the appeal,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (19 Oct 2004)

Dermot Ahern: The demand of the Chagossian natives to return to the Chagossian archipelago is a complex issue which also involves competing sovereignty claims. At present, the matter of the Chagos islanders' right of return and claim for compensation is the subject of legal proceedings in both the UK and US. In a November 2000 ruling, the high court in England ruled that the "wholesale removal" of the...