Results 3,581-3,600 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

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. Good progress has been made and personnel have either been assigned to, or identified for, 103 posts or approximately 83% of the 124 posts scheduled to be decentralised. An advance party involving 56...

Order of Business (31 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Unless Deputy Bernard Durkan comes in.

Barron Reports: Statements (Resumed) (31 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I thank Members for their contributions to this important debate which the Taoiseach agreed to hold after the Christmas recess. I wish to note my appreciation for one of the unsung heroes of the transformation that has occurred on this island, Deputy Mansergh, and for the work he has done over several decades in this regard. Politics in Ireland and Northern Ireland has been transformed with...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (31 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In the year 2000, Ireland and the United Kingdom were granted the right to participate in some proposals that build upon the Schengen acquis. In February and May 2004, the United Kingdom signalled its intention to take part in the adoption of Regulation 2007/2004 (EC) on the establishment of FRONTEX, and Regulation 2252/2004 (EC) on biometric passports. Both measures were intended to build on...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (31 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In Budget 2008, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance announced that the Government agreed to an efficiency review of all administrative spending across the public service. As part of this process all Government Departments are required to examine their administrative spending and to provide specific proposals for administrative savings to the Department of Finance, by 1 March 2008. These...

Leaders' Questions (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Fine Gael is patchy throughout Ireland

Written Answers — EU Reform Treaty: EU Reform Treaty (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: 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 timing of the referendum is currently under consideration by the Government. A number of points will have to...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 378 together. 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). The Fulbright Commission finances study, research, teaching and other educational activities between Ireland and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the arrest of 8 people, including 5 lawyers and the Malaysian citizen under reference, on 9 December 2007 during a protest to mark International Human Rights Day. I understand these individuals were charged under Malaysia's Police Act, and were released shortly thereafter. A date has not yet been set for their trial. I have asked that the Embassy in Kuala Lumpur continue to...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 to 382, inclusive, together. There is currently one task force operating in my Department. This is the Hunger Task Force which is serviced by the Development Co-operation Directorate of my Department. This is the only task force which has been established under the auspices of my Department in the past five years. The establishment of a Hunger Task Force...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 383 and 384 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. Good progress has been made and personnel have either been assigned to, or identified for, 103 posts or approximately 83% of the 124 posts...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Passports are generally issued in the name of the applicant as it appears in his or her certificate of birth. On request, a passport may also be issued to a person in a new name following marriage. Such applications require the provision of a civil marriage certificate and either the long form of the applicant's certificate of birth or a previous passport issued in the name that applied...

Written Answers — Reconciliation Fund: Reconciliation Fund (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Applications to the Reconciliation Fund are reviewed on a periodic basis by an Inter-Departmental Advisory Committee. After considering each application on its merits, the Committee forwards its recommendation to me for final decision. The overriding aim is to ensure as widespread and equitable distribution of funding as possible, giving consideration to the strength of the cross-community...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to previous replies to similar questions concerning the United Nations Convention against Corruption, most recently on 27th November 2007. The Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in October 2003 and was signed on behalf of Ireland, when it opened for signature, in December 2003. The Convention entered into force on 14 December 2005. As with all international...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: There are no programmes currently being operated by my Department that are funded, either wholly or partly, by the European Union. In the time available, I am only in a position to provide information in regard to EU support for programmes operated by my Department in the past ten years. My Department had responsibility for two measures under the EU Special Support Programme for Peace and...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: When it is considered by the Department of Foreign Affairs that an appointment as Honorary Consul may be justified, suitable candidates who would be willing to undertake the duties involved are identified by the Irish Ambassador accredited to the country concerned. Such appointments also usually involve consultations with local Irish community representatives and business interests. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: An essential everyday part of the work of staff in my Department is serving the needs of this House. Preparing material related to answering Parliamentary Questions is an essential element of this. Replies to Parliamentary Questions are drafted by the staff in the sections dealing with the particular issues raised. While 941 Parliamentary Questions were answered by my Department in 2007, no...

Human Rights Issues. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 98 together. I remain deeply concerned by recent developments in Kenya, where over 1,000 people have been killed and between 250,000 and 300,000 have been displaced from their homes in the aftermath of the elections on 27 December and the announcement of the re-election of Mr. Kibaki as President. The initial assessment by the EU election observation...

Human Rights Issues. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: On the latter point, that is one of the reasons why it was suggested Ireland should not attend the recent EU-AU Summit. It was one of the reasons we were absent, at least at Head of Government level. Our view, emphatically, was that we should attend, on the basis that we need to have a better relationship with the African Union, which is doing its level best with the difficulties attendant...

Human Rights Issues. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As far as possible we have liaised with all the people with whom we have contact and know are in Kenya. I agree with the Deputy as regards the very strong Irish missionary presence there. At this time we are not aware of anyone who is in grave difficulty. After the initial outbreak of difficulties, however, we aided and assisted a considerable number of people. As regards the logistics of...