Results 3,461-3,480 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (4 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 324 and 326 together. I am aware of the seriousness of the current situation in Somalia. Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991, and the situation there has worsened in recent months following initial stability after the December 2006 Ethiopian invasion. An upsurge in violence was triggered at the end of October by the killings of...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (4 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The renewed conflict in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and the major humanitarian emergency to which it has given rise, poses a serious threat to the transition process in that country and needs to be addressed urgently. A number of armed militias are preying on the population in North and South Kivu provinces, and attempts by government troops to resolve the situation...

Written Answers — British-Ireland Interparliamentary Body: British-Ireland Interparliamentary Body (4 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body met most recently in Plenary on 25-27 November. The British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body has played an important role in developing mutual understanding and strengthening relations among the people of these islands. As a former co-chair of the BIIPB I have long been an admirer of its work. I have no doubt that the changed context arising from the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (4 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: This was a particularly brutal and shocking murder, which has been widely and rightly condemned. My thoughts and sympathies are with the family of the deceased young man. A very active investigation by An Garda Síochána is ongoing, with excellent and continuing co-operation and assistance from the PSNI. I would urge anyone who has any information on this killing to pass it on to the two...

Passports Bill 2007: Financial Resolution (5 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I move: That provision be made in the Act giving effect to this Resolution for the charging in accordance with the Act of certain fees, being fees for the issuing of passports; consular services, or services relating to passports, visas or other travel documents, when rendered by a person to whom section 2 of the Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Provision of Services) Act 1993 applies; and...

Budget Statement 2008 (5 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Mostly Fianna Fáilers. The Deputy need not claim credit.

Written Answers — Video Conferencing Facilities: Video Conferencing Facilities (5 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: My Department uses video conferencing technology, on a regular basis, to reduce the amount of time and travel required to attend meetings. The necessary equipment to facilitate video conference sessions is currently available at each of the Department's buildings in Dublin, the decentralised office in Limerick, the Passport Offices and at a number of Missions abroad. The Department will...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: A total of 155 officers at the Department of Foreign Affairs availed of Tax Saver Commuter tickets in 2007.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (5 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 166 and 167 together. My Department uses various waste disposal contractors to recycle a significant proportion of its waste, including cardboard boxes, paper materials and toner cartridges. To facilitate this, recycle bins are located in the offices and corridors of the buildings occupied by the Department and staff are encouraged to use them to dispose of...

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I agree with the Deputy and he knows what I am getting at in that regard.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: That was always the way.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: It was always the way.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: It became necessary as a result of the inordinate increases——

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: ——in the level of the old age pension.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: A press conference should be for the press. If politicians want to engage with each other, they should come in here and do so.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I apologise to the Acting Chairman for intervening, but I find it very hard to contain myself when I hear Deputy Reilly accusing us of not wanting to give people medical cards.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Reilly was the leader of an organisation which fought the Government decision tooth and nail to give medical cards for over 70 year olds.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: It is very hard to take. It is a scandal that in a five or six year period, the cost of the medical card system has gone from €300 million to €1.5 billion. The average payment to a GP on the medical card system is €220,000.

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: If the Government had the opportunity to spend that money on the people who deserve it——

Financial Resolution No. 5: General (Resumed) (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is looking after his vested interests now.