Results 401-420 of 4,092 for speaker:Michael D Higgins

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (8 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: Question 555: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to Ireland's acceptance and implementation of the optional protocol to the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment; when he will be in a position to advise the Government to do so; the reason for Ireland's failure to sign and ratify...

Written Answers — Tax Yield: Tax Yield (9 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: Question 130: To ask the Minister for Finance the amount collected to date by the Revenue Commissioners through special investigations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33049/05]

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (9 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: Question 169: To ask the Minister for Finance the steps he intends to take to deal with the continuing situation whereby millionaires and other very high income earners are able to reduce or eliminate liability for tax on their earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33050/05]

Order of Business. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: When will the promised legislation to establish TG4 on an independent statutory basis be brought before Cabinet?

Human Rights Issues. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: Question 2: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if the Government accepts that its obligations under the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment requires it to establish by way of verification, and beyond simple assurance, that persons are not...

Human Rights Issues. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: Since I first tabled this question, circumstances have changed. As recently as today, the Guardian newspaper carried details of last year's report of the CIA's inspector general. That report suggests that interrogation techniques authorised by the Bush presidency breach commitments given under the UN Convention against Torture. The Minister should regard that as a matter of concern. Various...

Human Rights Issues. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: Yes.

Human Rights Issues. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: It is sometimes necessary to be frank in friendly relations with another country. It is important for the Minister to know that those members of Human Rights Watch who watched the plane landing in Shannon provided information that led to the conclusion drawn in the Swedish case. It is the same plane and its flight plan included destinations such as Morocco, Uzbekistan and Egypt, countries in...

Human Rights Issues. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: There should be random checks in Shannon.

Overseas Development Aid. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: Question 5: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the shortfall on international contributions to the United Nations appeal for Pakistan; the reason for such a shortfall; and the measures he intends to take by way of international pressure to ameliorate this situation as far as the European Union and the international community are concerned. [33558/05]

Overseas Development Aid. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: My question concentrated mostly on the international response and while I appreciate the Minister of State's detailed comments on the Irish response, it is on the international response I would like to ask him some further questions. The reality, which requires little analysis, is that $550 million has been sought, and of that, as the Minister of State noted, $133 million has been pledged. Of...

Overseas Development Aid. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: A proposal has been made for at least €80 million and we await the response of the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament.

Overseas Development Aid. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: Can we fast-track the response to the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament with regard to the €80 million?

Diplomatic Representation. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: I issued a statement some time ago, when the Iranian President's comments were made, which was very similar to that issued by the Minister. I condemned the comments. Question No. 67 refers to the response of the UN Security Council. I suggest that it is significant that the Security Council was unanimous in issuing its statement. With reference to the IAEA, the Non-proliferation Treaty needs...

Departmental Staff. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: I would like to the think that the Minister's Department was supported by a greater intake than is revealed in the table. It is interesting that in 2004 there were 115 consultancies and the total intake through departmental recruitment that year was 65. Given that there was an intake in 2002 of 201 and the fact that we were preparing for the increased role of the Department of Foreign...

Departmental Staff. (10 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: Is the Minister in a position to say whether the advisory committee's commissioned reports on the staffing needs of the Department, such as the Cassidy report and others, will be implemented?

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (10 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: Question 27: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's views on the recent issue of indictments by the International Criminal Court in the case of participants in the conflict in Northern Uganda; the response of the Lord's Resistance Army; the action the European Union and the United Nations proposes to take and the circumstances which have forced the humanitarian aid agency...

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 31. (15 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: I seek the adjournment of the Dáil under Standing Order 31 to discuss the following matter of urgent concern, namely, the deprivation of entertainment and media workers of the right to be represented by a trade union as a result of their being targeted by the Competition Authority, which regards each individual artist as a separate company and the fact that SIPTU has been forced to withdraw...

Trade Union Representation. (15 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: I am pleased to have the opportunity of raising an outrageous abuse of a European directive and competition law for little less than the removal of the right to collective bargaining of some of the most vulnerable workers in the State. I am in a position to know about this for many reasons. I should state immediately that my wife is a member of Irish Equity. She has been for many years and...

Trade Union Representation. (15 Nov 2005)

Michael D Higgins: It is not an association of undertakings. Those concerned are human beings.