Results 3,561-3,580 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The case to which the Deputy refers was discussed in general terms in the course of my visit to Kosovo in November, 2007. My officials have since raised the case a number of times with the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), which retains responsibility for justice and policing matters. In response, UNMIK informed us that the individual in question was indicted on charges relating to...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Government of Colombia has repeatedly stated its commitment to bringing to an end all terrorism in Colombia within the framework of the Justice and Peace Law. This Law, passed in 2005, provides an overall legal framework for the demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of illegal armed groups into Colombian society. The Justice and Peace Law, which was adopted through a lengthy...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Government carefully monitors paramilitary and sectarian crime across Northern Ireland, including incidents of intimidation and harassment. All such activity, including so-called "punishment beatings", are cowardly criminal acts that have no place in a normal democratic society. The Government raises incidents of concern, including those arising in south Armagh, on an ongoing basis in our...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs has had two incidents of lost, missing or stolen computer equipment in the period 2002 to 2007. In July 2003, 25 new computers were stolen from temporary offices in Brussels. 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. None...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will appreciate, requirements for permission to enter the United States are solely a matter for the United States authorities. The person referred to by the Deputy should contact the Visa Section of the United States Embassy, telephone 01 6688777, or website, www.usembassy.ie for guidance on whether she will require a visa to visit the US or will be able to avail of the visa...

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

Dermot Ahern: The situation in Zimbabwe remains grave. In addition to the economic hardships, there are continuing reports of brutal repression of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and other civil society groups perceived to be challenging the Zanu PF ruling party. There is a pervasive atmosphere of intimidation and violence towards those who seek change in the country. As economic...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs implements a range of security measures, including multi-layered firewalls, to secure its internal ICT network from the Internet. Furthermore, the design and implementation of the Department's network ensures that vulnerability to attacks from the Internet is minimised to the greatest extent possible. This infrastructure is reviewed on a regular basis taking...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Government attributes the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. I have also made it a personal priority as Minister, and will continue to do so. The passage of the agreed Motion by the Dáil on 7 November sent an important and timely message of solidarity from all parties of the House to our undocumented community. Following the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Media monitoring in my Department is primarily aimed at keeping our Embassies and Consulates abroad informed of all major news stories in the Irish Media and of stories of Irish interest in the international media. The figures below show the yearly cost to the Department of Foreign Affairs from 2002 to 2007 of providing a daily summary of the major Irish news outlets, which is circulated...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Government of Colombia has repeatedly stated its commitment to bringing to an end all terrorism in Colombia within the framework of the Justice and Peace Law. This Law, passed in 2005, provides an overall legal framework for the demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of illegal armed groups into Colombian society. The Justice and Peace Law, which was adopted through a lengthy...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: There have been no instances of personal data held by my Department being compromised during the period in question. The review of procedures is underway and will be delivered to the Department of Finance by the 1st February 2008.

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The body of the person mentioned by the Deputy was found on 29 August 2006 in Mallorca, lying in shallow water close to the shoreline. The local autopsy report stated that she had committed suicide by drowning. The report also indicated that there had been extensive injuries to her body, but suggested that these had occurred after her death. Her family strongly rejected any possibility of...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Ambassadorial appointments are made by the President on the advice of the Government. The consistent and long-standing practice which has served successive Governments very well, is to appoint serving senior Civil Servants with significant experience of international relations to Ambassadorial positions.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In the consular case referred to by the Deputy, the court judgment permitted the Irish citizens concerned to be released from prison under "conditional freedom", on payment of a bond. My Department, at the request of the defence team and given the consular concerns of the Department at the time about the safety of the persons concerned, advanced the funds to facilitate the payment of this...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department has not provided any funds for bail for Irish citizens facing prosecution or criminal investigation overseas during the past three years.

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

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 — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am very committed to the well being of Irish supporters travelling abroad to major sporting events. I intend therefore, and as is usual, to have additional resources allocated to our Embassy in Beijing so as to ensure that the best possible service is provided to Irish athletes and supporters for the duration of the Olympic period. Our Embassy is currently finalising its preparations to...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The application for the passport issued on 9 August 1994 was received in the Passport Office, Molesworth Street on 5 August 1994. The application file indicates that the passport was to be returned through the office of Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D. This is the normal procedure for applications forwarded by the offices of Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. For instance, in 2007, 6,200 such...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department is fully committed to the employment of persons with disabilities where possible and is fully aware of the requirements of the Disability Act of 2005 in this regard. The Deputy will appreciate, however, that the compilation of compliance statistics in this area is a sensitive issue. It depends to a large extent on the voluntary self-disclosure of a disability by a member of...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 609 and 611 together. 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. In November 2004, following recommendations from the Government's Implementation Committee, the Department was included in the first phase of...