Results 3,421-3,440 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy may be aware that my Department recently launched an upgraded website (www.dfa.ie) to replace its previous site. This initiative includes upgrading the websites of all our Missions throughout the world based on a standard template consistent with the Department's site. Nine such Mission sites are currently operational. These include our Embassies in Paris (www.embassyofireland.fr)...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: At present, there is only one organisation which operates under the aegis of my Department which was established on a statutory basis. The Ireland — United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission) finances study, research, teaching and other educational activities between Ireland and the United States of America. It was established in 1957 by means of the...

Written Answers — EU Membership: EU Membership (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: At the EU-Western Balkans Summit at Thessaloniki in 2003, European Union leaders reiterated the European perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans, and affirmed that the future of these countries lies within the EU, once they have fulfilled all of the requirements necessary for membership. Croatia is engaged in accession negotiations with the EU. The former Yugoslav Republic of...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The United Nations has the lead role in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. The Government fully supports the leadership of the UN Secretary General in this important work, and we welcome the ongoing efforts of the Secretary General's Special Representative to Cyprus, Mr. Michael Moeller, to bring the two sides together to seek progress toward a political...

Written Answers — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Michéal Martin T.D., has overall responsibility for negotiations on the current global trade round taking place in the framework of the World Trade Organization. My Department works closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in developing and implementing policy...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together. Negotiations between the Government of Sudan and the Darfur rebel factions began on 27 October in Libya under joint AU/UN mediation. However, the start of this process was overshadowed by the absence of many of the principal rebel groups, which boycotted the talks. The UN and AU have sent representatives to Darfur and Juba to find and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the deputy to my reply to Question No. 328 of 23rd October 2007, (below), which deals with all the issues raised in the question. 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...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: All officials of my Department are bound by the provisions of the Official Secrets Act. In addition, on the day of their appointment, all officials of my Department are made aware of their responsibilities under the Data Protection Act. All data held in my Department, including personal data, is protected by both physical and technical safeguards. The provisions of the Data Protection Act...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As I have said many times before in this House, the Government are completely opposed to the practice of so-called extraordinary rendition. Our concerns in relation to this matter have been made clear to the highest levels of the US Government, including by the Taoiseach to President Bush. The Government received specific assurances from the US authorities, confirmed by Secretary of State...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (28 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Taoiseach and I will sign the EU Reform Treaty on 13 December on behalf of Ireland. The Treaty is expected to be ratified by each Member State before 1 January 2009. Member States will proceed with ratification under their respective constitutional provisions and in accordance with their own timetables. At this stage, Member States are focussing on the signing of the Treaty next month. It...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (28 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes: Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables. I am very conscious of the need to achieve value for money on consultancy expenditure. The Department commissions consultancies only where specialised knowledge and/or skills are not...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Government shares the widespread concern about the case referred to. I regard any punishment by flogging as abhorrent, no matter where it takes place. I am shocked by the sentences in this case in Saudi Arabia and by the context in which they have been imposed. As soon as I became aware of the case, I asked our Embassy in Riyadh to ascertain the facts and to consult with our EU partners...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The human rights situation in Uganda has shown gradual improvement over the last two decades. The first multi-party elections following the return to a democratic system took place in 2006, and were described by the EU Election Observation Mission as "generally well administered, transparent, competitive ... demonstrating some significant improvements...". Encouragingly also, a ceasefire...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (29 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The case to which the Deputy refers was discussed in general terms in the course of my recent visit to Kosovo. My officials subsequently raised it with the UNMIK mission in Kosovo, which retains responsibility for justice and policing competences, and sought a report from them on the case. In response, UNMIK have informed us that the individual in question has been indicted on charges...

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (29 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The difficult and sensitive issue of Kosovo's future status is the legacy of the Balkan wars of the 1990s. The framework for post-conflict Kosovo was set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999, which established an interim United Nations civilian administration (UNMIK), and authorised an international security presence (KFOR). The Resolution also provided for a gradual transfer...

Written Answers — Whale Conservation: Whale Conservation (29 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has consistently opposed Japan's scientific whaling programme both at meetings of the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and through direct diplomatic contact. This matter was debated at the most recent annual meeting of the IWC in Alaska in May 2007. At the meeting, a resolution was passed calling on Japan, inter alia, to suspend the lethal aspects of its scientific whaling...

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy should leave it to the tribunal.

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: We know where the Deputy is coming from, too.

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: He answered it.

Leaders' Questions (4 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Quinn does not have a good record.