Results 3,541-3,560 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

European Council: Statements (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: A date has not been set for the referendum. The Government will establish a referendum commission shortly after the legislation is published. The Government approved the drafting of the legislation at yesterday's Cabinet meeting. It has not yet been decided whether to hold the referendum on the same day as the referendum on the constitutional amendment on children. The Taoiseach has...

European Council: Statements (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Deputy for his questions. The horizon of the reflection group is from 2020 to 2030. It is not designed to examine the institutional framework of the European Union or the financial perspectives but to examine what type of challenges face the European Union as a whole. These include issues such as sustainable development, climate change, energy security and how to address some...

European Council: Statements (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The total cost is €2.3 billion. Ireland's contribution is about €50 million.

European Council: Statements (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Deputy. In regard to the referendum — Deputy Ó Snodaigh said there should be an EU wide referendum — to be honest, my party and the Government would be very much against a Europe wide referendum because, in effect, that would mean that a small country like Ireland might have one view and the wider view would prevail. In effect, it would be detrimental to the interests of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together. The number of posts filled in my Department in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 were 124, 66, 88, 125 and 218 respectively. These figures include those recruited to work in the Headquarters of the Department, including Irish Aid, the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries and the Passport offices in Dublin,...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Leagann Aguisín B le Comhaontú Chill Rímhinn amach gealltanais Rialtas na Breataine i leith cearta daonna, comhionannais, íobartaigh, agus ábhair eile. I measc na hábhair seo, tá gealltanas ar leith tugtha go dtabharfaí isteach Acht Teanga do Thuaisceart na hÉireann, agus go ndéanfaí comh-oibriú leis an bhFeidhmiúchán nua le forbairt na Gaeilge a chosaint agus a chur chun cinn....

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Of the ten Member States that joined the European Union on 1 May 2004, nine held a referendum prior to their accession. Cyprus did not hold a referendum. The Cypriot House of Representatives unanimously approved the Accession Treaty. In Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, the Accession Treaty was approved by parliamentary process in both countries. Each of...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As I informed the Deputy in my responses to Parliamentary Questions Number 517 on 26 September 2007 and Number 197 on 24 October 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...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The person in question was issued with their first Irish passport on 9 August 1994.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I shared the strong public concern about this appalling case. I was shocked by the sentences and by the context in which they were imposed. I regard any punishment by flogging as abhorrent, no matter where it takes place. Our overriding objective in making our views clearly heard on the issue was to ensure that the sentence was not carried out. I therefore very much welcome the announcement...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: In my reply to the Deputy's previous Question No. 101 on 22 November 2007, I outlined details of the new boards, agencies, bodies, commissions and offices which were established in the past ten years and the number which were abolished in the same period operating under the remit of my Department. I have outlined below further details in relation to these bodies, including their budgets and...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). I have set out in the tables below details of external advisory services engaged in connection with policy and administrative matters relating to the operation of the Department under both Votes and the amounts paid on such services since 1 January 2007. I am...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Programme for Government states that "This Government will campaign for a complete ban on the use of cluster munitions. In the absence of a full ban we will seek agreement on an immediate freeze on the use of cluster munitions pending the establishment of effective international instruments to address humanitarian concerns regarding their use." In my speech to the United Nations General...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As I said in response to Question No. 328 of 4 December 2007, this was a particularly brutal and shocking murder, widely and rightly condemned. Since then, on 17 December, I met with the parents of the deceased young man, in Dundalk. I conveyed to them the sympathy of the Government on their terrible loss and our determination to see justice done in this matter. A very active criminal...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is Irish Aid's Headquarters, will decentralise to Limerick. This is scheduled to take place in early 2008 on completion and fit-out of the permanent premises in Henry Street. Good progress has been made and personnel have either been assigned to, or identified...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 576, 577 and 590 together. Following its signature in Lisbon on 13 December 2007, Member States are expected to ratify the Reform Treaty by 1 January 2009. The Attorney General has advised that the legal effects of the Reform Treaty require amendment of the Constitution to enable ratification by Ireland. The Government has authorised the drafting, on a...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Benazir Bhutto's assassination on 27 December, and the subsequent widespread violence, made clear the continuing fragile political and security situation in Pakistan. In condemning her killing, on 27 December, I exhorted the authorities to continue to ensure that Pakistan continues on the road back to democracy. Parliamentary elections in Pakistan have now been rescheduled for 18 February....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I remain deeply concerned by recent developments in Kenya, where up to 700 people have been killed and up to 250,000 displaced from their homes in the aftermath of the elections of 27 December. The situation had stabilised slightly since the initial unrest, but regrettably there have been further large-scale fatalities in recent days. The original violence was sparked by protests against the...

Written Answers — Judicial Reviews: Judicial Reviews (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 583 and 584 together. There have been nine judicial reviews relating to my Department in the past ten years. Year Case Costs to the Department Comment € 2007 Individual -v- the Minister for Foreign Affairs(eligibility for citizenship) Nil Minister for Foreign Affairs was co-respondent with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. A...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: There have been five Acts passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas sponsored by my Department since 2003. Diplomatic Relations and Immunities (Amendment) Act 2006 The Act was not wholly or partly required as a result of EU obligations and contains no significant reference to EU legislation. British-Irish Agreement (Amendment) Act 2006 The British-Irish Agreement Amendment Act 2006 is a short...