Results 3,761-3,780 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In response to Kosovo's declaration of independence on 17 February, a series of demonstrations took place across the territory of Republika Srpska, the ethnic Serb entity within Bosnia Herzegovina. One demonstration in the town of Banja Luka resulted in violence, leading to injuries and damage to property, including diplomatic missions. On 21 February, the Republika Srpska National Assembly...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am deeply concerned by the situation in Burma, which has forced thousands of people to seek refuge in Thailand and other neighbouring countries. Many of these have faced serious human rights violations by the Burmese military in operations in ethnic minority regions, as well as a deepening humanitarian crisis, with much of the rural population reduced to abject and desperate poverty by...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Passport Office provides a comprehensive range of options for citizens to apply for passports. Applications may be made by express post through some 1,000 post offices across the State and a further 70 in the North. A guaranteed 10 working day service is available for such applications which are complete and in order. Less urgent applications can also be made by ordinary post. Applicants...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My long-held abhorrence of cluster munitions was strengthened by what I saw and heard when I visited Lebanon last year. My personal engagement on this issue led to a commitment in my party's election manifesto, echoed in the Programme for Government, to campaign for a complete ban on the use of cluster munitions. As a major element in its campaign to prohibit cluster munitions, the Government...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Reform Treaty provides for a more effective European Union across a range of areas. The Treaty will allow the Union to continue to develop positively, as it has throughout our thirty-five year membership. A more effective Union will continue to make Ireland an attractive place for foreign direct investment. All Member States remain free to determine their own policies in these areas...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 287 together. The countries of the Western Balkans region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) continue to feature prominently on the agenda of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. On 18 February last, EU Foreign Ministers recalled the Union's long-standing...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I remain deeply concerned about the developing situation in Sri Lanka. I very much regret that the ceasefire agreement concluded between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) in February 2002 has been terminated. Both the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka must recognise that a sustainable solution to the problems Sri Lanka faces cannot be achieved by...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland is accredited to Venezuela and Colombia through our Ambassador to Mexico on a non-residential basis. Our Ambassador presented his credentials to the Colombian President, Mr. Álvaro Uribe, in Bogotá in February 2006 and to the then Venezuelan Vice President, Mr José Vicente Rangel, in Caracas in May 2006. The Ambassadors of Venezuela and Colombia in London are also accredited to...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department promotes energy saving measures on an ongoing basis. It is participating in the recently launched Optimising Power @ Work, Staff Energy Awareness Campaign being led by the Office of Public Works. This campaign, which will begin in the Department this month, aims to achieve a minimum of 15% reduction in total annual carbon dioxide emissions through an intensive staff energy...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The announcement by Dr Ian Paisley that he will step down as First Minister and DUP Party Leader after the International Investment Conference in May marks, as the Taoiseach has said, a watershed in Irish history. Dr Paisley's contribution as First Minister over the last nine months has been significant and positive. I am certain that he will continue to play an active role as First Minister...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Government continues to take concerns about human rights in China very seriously. Our concerns are raised on a regular basis in bilateral contacts with the Government of China. Discussions in this regard take place at official level in Dublin and in Beijing. We continue to stress the importance that Ireland attaches to human rights, fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, including...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The European Commission has not brought forward any draft legislative proposals in respect of a Common Consolidated Corporate Tax Base (CCCTB). Ireland's position on any initiative in this area is very well-known. We do not see how it would advance European competitiveness or, indeed, how it would assist the general development of European economies. Any move in this direction would be...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I attended the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC) in Brussels on 10 March. Minister of State John McGuinness also attended. The Council discussed the agenda and draft conclusions for the Spring European Council which will take place on 13-14 March. Among the main issues for discussion at the European Council will be the Lisbon Strategy; Climate change and Energy; and the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department has recently received a confidential draft of the report of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe, Thomas Hammarberg, on his visit here last November. I anticipate that the final report and the response of the Irish Government will be made public by the Commissioner next month.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am very concerned about the reported circumstances of this incident. Our Embassy in Tel Aviv last week raised the matter with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and asked that they investigate the circumstances. This incident occurred during a recent visit to the West Bank by a group of Irish people who wished to observe the situation on the ground. There have been a number of such...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The new Cypriot President, Demetris Christofias, was elected on 25 February 2008, succeeding President Tassos Papadopoulos. Shortly after his victory, the new President indicated that he had contacted the UN Secretary General's Special Representative for Cyprus, Mr Michael Møller, to seek an exploratory meeting with Mr. Mehmet Ali Talat, representing the Turkish Cypriot community, with a...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In the period 2005 to 2007 a total of 50 officers from my Department attended three lunchtime talks/courses on Stress Awareness/Managing Pressure at Work. Further such talks are planned for 2008. The purpose of the talks/courses is to raise awareness among employees of the effects of work place stress and to highlight ways of avoiding and managing it. All members of staff at my Department...

Written Answers — Constitutional Amendments: Constitutional Amendments (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has not yet decided on the precise date for the referendum. That said, I confidently expect that the referendum will take place in late May or early June. The Referendum Bill was initiated last Thursday, 6 March, and the Referendum Commission was established on the same day. The Houses of the Oireachtas will discuss the Bill after the Easter recess, and the Government looks...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 282 and 283 together. The overall number of undocumented in the United States is estimated at some 12 million and, while it is impossible to be precise on the numbers of undocumented Irish, a figure of around 20,000 to 25,000 probably reflects a reasonable estimate. Official US Government figures estimate the number of undocumented Irish at only 3,000. The...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The EU has not yet had the opportunity to engage with Mr Medvedev, who will be inaugurated as President of the Russian Federation on 7 May. President McAleese has sent a message of congratulations and good wishes to him on his election. On behalf of the European Union, the Presidency has expressed the hope that partnership with Russia will be further strengthened and developed...