Results 3,621-3,640 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 122 together. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to campaign for a complete ban on the use of cluster munitions, Ireland has taken a lead role in international efforts and has been working intensively with a number of like-minded countries to this end. The Government will host a major Diplomatic Conference in Croke Park in May...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 222 and 228 together. The situation in Zimbabwe remains grave. In addition to pervasive and very serious economic hardships, it is reported that political opponents of the Government and civil society activists continue to be beaten and tortured by police. The leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, was one of...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 221 together. 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...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 146 and 223 together. The European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR Tchad/RCA, as authorised by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1778 (2007), was formally launched by the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 28 January. Ireland is expected to be the second largest contributor of troops to the...

Written Answers — EU Treaty: EU Treaty (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 to 118, inclusive, 142, 145 and 235 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 timing of the referendum is...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 121, 141, 152 and 227 together. I refer the Deputies to the answer I have given to Priority Questions Nos. 95 and 98.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Questions relating to the treatment of Falun Gong practitioners, including specific cases, are raised by the Government with the Government of China on a regular basis in the context of bilateral discussions on human rights issues, as well as through the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue. On a bilateral level, human rights issues form part of the standard agenda of meetings between the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 131, 151, 154 and 226 together. Ireland, together with our EU partners, continues to have concerns about human rights issues in Pakistan, including the situation of the Ahmadis. Promoting religious tolerance remains a key EU objective in Pakistan and we have urged the government there to make every effort to promote effectively the rights of minorities...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has a network of 75 resident diplomatic and consular Missions abroad, as well as the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat in Belfast and the North-South Ministerial Council Joint Secretariat in Armagh. While the opening of new Embassies abroad is considered by the Government on an ongoing basis, any expansion of our diplomatic network can only be undertaken having regard to...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Following the failure in December of the talks led by the Contact Group Troika, there is broad acceptance within the international community that no agreement on Kosovo's status is possible between Belgrade and Pristina. The possibility of progress at the UN is also blocked, with deadlock at the Security Council over the proposal by the UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy, Martti Ahtisaari,...

Written Answers — Cultural Events: Cultural Events (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The principal responsibility for promoting Irish cultural events abroad was conferred by the Arts Act of 2003 on the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. Culture Ireland was established by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism to fulfil this responsibility. In addition, Subhead G of the Vote for Foreign Affairs provides for 2008 a sum of €891,000 in respect of Cultural Relations with...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 147 together. I remain very concerned at the situation in Somalia. The country has been without an effective government since 1991, and despite an initial period of stability after Ethiopian troops and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces defeated the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) in December 2006, the situation has worsened in recent months....

Written Answers — Territorial Waters: Territorial Waters (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Under the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, a coastal state is entitled to a continental shelf of 200 nautical miles (approx. 370 km) in breadth regardless of whether its continental shelf physically extends that far, subject only to the similar rights of its coastal neighbours. It may also claim a broader shelf where it can show that the natural prolongation of its land...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, there is a large number of international agreements within the UN framework, covering a very wide range of subjects and falling within the functional responsibility of a number of Departments. Two international agreements within the UN framework for which my Department holds lead responsibility have been signed but not yet ratified by Ireland. These agreements...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 157 together. I refer the Deputies 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...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The European Union's Stabilisation and Association Process for the countries of South-Eastern Europe aims to strengthen political and economic stability in the region. The process involves the negotiation of Stabilisation and Association Agreements (SAAs) with each of the countries concerned. The principal objective of these Agreements is to bring the countries closer to EU standards and...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, C.J. Hambro was a distinguished Norwegian political leader in the earlier part of the last century. Mr. Hambro was a defender of the rights of small nations in an era when these rights were far from being guaranteed. His belief in the rights of small nations led him to defend the cause of Irish independence and gave rise to his admiration for Éamon de Valera....

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Antarctic Treaty opened for signature on 1 December, 1959 in Washington DC and came into force in 1961. The stated aim of the Treaty is to ensure "in the interests of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord." While the Treaty has been in operation since 1961, only 46...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: No machine has been purchased by the Passport Office. For the convenience of citizens applying in person, photo booths were installed in the Passport Office in Dublin and Cork. A booth was first installed in Dublin in May 2005 and was replaced with a newer model in January 2007. A similar model was installed in Cork in March 2007. The Passport Office does not pay a fee to the company...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Bilateral Economic Relations Division is divided into three sections which deal, respectively, with Asia and North America, the Middle East, Africa and South America, and Europe. The section which deals with Asia and North America is staffed by three officials. The Division works closely with the Embassy Washington, the Consulates in New York, Boston, Chicago and San Francisco, other...