Results 3,801-3,820 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Irish Prisoners Abroad: Irish Prisoners Abroad (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 495 and 496 together. The publication of the Report on Irish Prisoners Abroad by Mr Chris Flood in August 2007 provided a welcome opportunity to review the needs of Irish citizens imprisoned overseas and the range of services we provide to these people. I believe that the Report's forward–looking approach provides a very helpful template for future...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The only external committee established by my Department in the past 15 months was the Hunger Task Force. The Hunger Task Force was established in September 2007, in line with the recommendation of the White Paper on Irish Aid, to identify the contributions that Ireland can make to international efforts to reduce hunger. The Task Force has 15 members and had its first meeting in September...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Reform Treaty was signed by European Union Heads of State or Government in Lisbon on 13 December 2007. The Treaty, as with previous EU Treaties, contains a number of Protocols which have the same legal force as the Treaty itself. The Treaty, together with its accompanying Protocols, is an agreed document among the 27 Member States and no further amendment to the Treaty can take place. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Since becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have not used a helicopter in the State, either hired or State provided. I understand that my colleague, the Minister of Defence, will shortly provide details of any travel undertaken by my Department using helicopters engaged by the Irish Defence Forces since 2002. There have been occasions where I, and officials from my Department, have been...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of civilian deaths attributed to the security forces in Colombia is the subject of ongoing action at EU and UN level. Most recently, the February 2008 annual report of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Colombia notes that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Colombia continues to receive...

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department, through the Consular Section in Dublin and our Embassy in Madrid, has been in regular contact with the family of the person concerned since the beginning of this case in January. It is a deeply worrying situation for the family and I understand the acute distress they are under. Extensive physical searches of the area where the person mentioned was last seen have been conducted...

Order of Business (3 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: What was it that the former Minister, Mr. Des O'Malley, said about Deputy Michael D. Higgins?

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (3 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: There are no State boards or bodies operating under the responsibility of my Department. There are currently four advisory committees and one educational commission which operate under the aegis of my Department. Appointments to these committees are not published in Iris Oifigiúil. The Development Education Advisory Committee was established in 2003 following the recommendations of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (3 Apr 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 some 70 post offices in Northern Ireland. 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...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (3 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department, and our Embassy in Beijing, are in close touch with the Olympic Council of Ireland in regard to preparations for the Olympic Games. The Department would be happy to respond to any queries the Council, or individual athletes, may have about human rights in China, or indeed other concerns, including the issue of Tibet. The Government concerns in regard to human rights in China...

Written Answers — Voting Rights: Voting Rights (3 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The British Government commissioned an independent review of citizenship carried out by former British Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, who issued his report on 11 March. The report, which I would point out is a consultative document, refers to the voting rights of Irish citizens in Britain. The British Government have indicated that it is considering the report in the context of its ongoing...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (3 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Article 2 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, incorporated in the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967, states that "The establishment of diplomatic relations between States, and of permanent diplomatic missions, takes place by mutual consent". Ireland currently has diplomatic relations with 115 countries of which 55 have resident missions in Dublin, with the remainder...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (3 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Minister for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche TD, visited three cities in China, Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, to represent the Government in the context of the recent annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations. As is the norm for such St. Patrick's Day visits, the visit was not an official one but rather the primary focus was on reaching out to the growing Irish Diaspora in China, and the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. In 2006, my Department spent a total of €23,458.24 on recruitment advertising in Ireland and in Missions abroad. The corresponding figure in 2007 was € 79,583.80. Expenditure was significantly higher in 2007 due to competitions being held, for the first time under my Department's own recruitment licence, for the positions of Field...

Cluster Munitions Bill 2008: Second Stage (8 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I wish to share time with Charlie McCreevy, I mean Deputy Charlie O'Connor. That was a Freudian slip.

Cluster Munitions Bill 2008: Second Stage (8 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: If Deputy O'Connor appears in the Chamber I will give him ten minutes of my time.

Cluster Munitions Bill 2008: Second Stage (8 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: If he does not appear I will continue for a further ten minutes as this is an issue about which I am passionate. I move amendment No. 1: To delete all words after "That" and substitute the following: Dáil Éireann: welcoming the role being played by the Government in international efforts to secure a total prohibition on the production, stockpiling, transfer and use of cluster munitions that...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (8 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 248 together. I am deeply concerned by the situation in Tibet, and deplore the loss of life there and in other regions of China. I continue to keep colleagues in Government fully informed on developments in Tibet and EU discussions of the situation there. On my instructions, senior officials of my Department have since 17 March been in regular contact...

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (8 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Department's filing system is a paper-based one. However, within this context, the use of electronic media is encouraged, as much as possible, where it is appropriate and secure to do so. The Department's own Intranet and internal email is used for the circulation of material and internal communication. There were limited print-runs of the Department's 2006 Annual Report (20 copies)...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (8 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 to 244, inclusive, together. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) was ratified by Ireland on 8 December 1989. An Optional Protocol to this International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (OP-ICESCR), which has been in discussion since 1990, would set up a mechanism that would make it possible for...