Results 3,641-3,660 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The European Union (Scrutiny) Act in 2002 improved the arrangements for scrutiny of EU business by the Dáil and the Seanad. Thanks to the work of the Sub-Committee on European Scrutiny, parliamentary oversight of proposed EU measures has been greatly enhanced. Under the Scrutiny Act, the following measures are subject to scrutiny: regulations or directives; joint actions and common...

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

Dermot Ahern: Recent months have seen a further alarming escalation of violence in Sri Lanka, including increasing military operations, suicide attacks and assassinations, with significant numbers of civilian casualties. I utterly condemn the senseless and callous series of terrorist bombings over the last few days in Sri Lanka that have killed some thirty people and injured scores of others. It is vital...

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

Dermot Ahern: The so-called charity, Zoe's Ark, was originally established in the aftermath of the 2004 Asian tsunami. In April 2007 it announced, via its website, a campaign to evacuate 10,000 orphans from Darfur. Its website stated the charity wanted to place Darfuri children under five in foster care with French families. The French Foreign Ministry issued a warning about the group in August 2007,...

Written Answers — United Nations Reform: United Nations Reform (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The UN World Summit held in September 2005 agreed a package of UN reforms which, while not as complete as might have been hoped, represented an important advance. I was honoured to have contributed to the Summit Outcome in my role as one of the five Envoys appointed by former Secretary-General Annan to support his recommendations for change aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of the UN. Key...

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

Dermot Ahern: I would refer the Deputy to my written answer of 5 February 2008, regarding this case, in which I stated: 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....

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 to 220, inclusive, together. In view of the current international focus on the Iranian nuclear issue, and on developments in Iraq, I believe it is important that we do not lose sight of the human rights situation in Iran, on which we have very serious concerns. After a period in which gradual progress was evident in the overall human rights situation, the...

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

Dermot Ahern: The reduction of poverty, hunger and conflict in Africa is one of the most important tasks of the international community in the 21st century. Conflict has many causes and many manifestations, but poverty, inequality and exclusion have proved to be the most fertile breeding grounds for violence and ethnic hatred. Most wars occur in poor countries, and the causes and effect of conflict are...

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

Dermot Ahern: The generally peaceful and orderly conduct of the 2006 Presidential and Parliamentary elections — the first democratic elections in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in more than forty years — was a tribute to the strong desire of the Congolese people for an end to conflict and a return to democracy. Since then, noticeable progress had been made in many parts of the country. The new...

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

Dermot Ahern: The European Union's extensive relations with Ukraine are conducted within the framework of a number of agreements, the most significant of which are the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the EU-Ukraine Action Plan. The Partnership and Cooperation Agreement entered into force in 1998. It highlights respect for fundamental values as an essential element of the EU-Ukraine relationship,...

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

Dermot Ahern: As has been made clear on previous occasions, it is not the policy of the Government to draw up a 'league table' of countries deemed guilty of the worst human rights abuses. Human rights remain central to our foreign policy. Active participation in the EU, UN and the Council of Europe provides an opportunity for Ireland to voice its concerns regarding human rights abuses. Through these...

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

Dermot Ahern: In previous statements and in responses to Parliamentary Questions, I have made clear my own, and the Government's very deep concern about the situation in Burma. Following the horrific events that occurred in that country in September, I undertook a number of initiatives to highlight the extent of the repression taking place and the importance of the mission of the UN and the Secretary...

Written Answers — Passport Validity: Passport Validity (7 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Immigration requirements differ from country to country. For the majority of destinations, including all EU member states and the United States, Irish passports are valid for travel up until the date of expiry. Some other countries, however, require a passport to have a validity of six months or longer for travel purposes. The long-established practice of the Passport Office to issue...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (7 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The table below represents the amount of electricity used in my Department's headquarters at Iveagh House, St Stephen's Green, as advised by the Electricity Supply Board, for the past three years. 2005 kWh 2006 kWh 2007 kWh Jan/Feb 140,050 January 76,056 January 68,828 February 70,474 February 61,819 March/April 130,700 March 73,147 March 64,859 April 61,563 April 52,592 May/June...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (7 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department advanced funds to facilitate the payment of a bond on behalf of Irish citizens on one occasion during the past five years. The funds were advanced on 25th June 2004 to facilitate the release of three Irish citizens from prison in Colombia in accordance with the ruling of the court. My Department, at the request of the defence team and given the very serious and ongoing consular...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As Deputies will be aware, I have strongly condemned the bomb attacks in two markets in Baghdad on 1 February, which took the lives of some 73 people and wounded as many as 200 others. Iraqi police reports stated that the bombs were carried by two women believed to have been suffering from disabilities. Other reports specified Downs Syndrome, but it is not clear that the specific disability...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The format of Ireland's passport complies fully with all the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Union (EU). The ICAO sets common standards for travel documents as part of its role to facilitate the secure movement of people across international frontiers. ICAO Document 9303 sets out in detail the standards for machine readable travel...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The situation in Darfur remains dire, and the suffering of its people continues unabated. The fracturing of the main rebel groups over the past year makes the pursuit of peace even more difficult. The peace talks on Darfur which the UN and African Union are mediating represent a vital window of opportunity to bring about a lasting peace, and all of the parties bear a responsibility to use...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The restriction concerning payment by cheque was introduced only in respect of cases where a person requests urgent processing of an application and the issuing of a passport within five days. This approach was taken because a number of cheques had "bounced" following the issuing of a passport. The restriction on payment by cheque for urgent applications has since been reviewed and after...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Department is fully committed to the implementation of eGovernment in its services to the public. In this regard, it has recently introduced on line tracking of passport applications. This facility enables an applicant to track the progress of his or her application on line by entering the application number into the Passport Office website. As regards a full on-line application...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested was not recorded on an individual Deputy basis in 1994. However, for 2007, the number of applications recorded by the Department as having been submitted by the Offices of Deputies Hogan and Kenny were, respectively, 0 and 39.