Results 401-420 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Deputies will be aware that the epicentre of the earthquake which caused the tsunami was about 155 miles south-southeast of Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh. Accurate figures for the death toll have been difficult to ascertain, but on 25 January 2005, the Indonesian authorities announced they were lowering the confirmed death toll to 96,000 but raising the number of missing and presumed dead...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Aid: Humanitarian Aid (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I wrote to the Foreign Minister of Burma, Major General Nyan Win, on 7 January 2005, to convey the Government's sympathy for the loss of life sustained in Burma as a result of the tsunami. In my letter, I also outlined the efforts we had been making at the EU and UN levels, and with international agencies and non-governmental organisations, to ensure that assistance is provided to those most...

Written Answers — Humanitarian Aid: Humanitarian Aid (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are union territory of India and lie far out in the Bay of Bengal. The islands, which suffered particularly badly from the impact of the tsunami, are populated by a number of indigenous groups, and are difficult to access. According to the latest estimates, the death toll in India is 10,749. The total number of missing persons is reported to be 5,640, of whom...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government maintains regular contact with the Turkish Government on a wide range of issues, including Turkey's progress towards accession negotiations, the political reform process and the Cyprus problem. Last year, during Ireland's EU Presidency, the Turkish Government made a very positive contribution to the efforts of the UN Secretary General to achieve a comprehensive settlement of...

Written Answers — United Nations Reform: United Nations Reform (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: A central element of Ireland's foreign policy has been the promotion of an effective multilateral system and the strengthening of the rules-based international order, with the United Nations at its centre. The Government believes that it is essential that the member states of the United Nations take action to enhance the effectiveness and the legitimacy of the United Nations, and is committed...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government continues to examine this issue with our EU partners in the context of our overall relationship with China, our ongoing commitment to human rights and the broader regional and international context. At the EU-China Summit held on 8 December 2004 the EU confirmed its political will to continue to work towards lifting the embargo. The Chinese side welcomed this positive signal...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The advisory board for Development Cooperation Ireland, the inaugural meeting of which was held on 30 September 2002, is the only body under the aegis of my Department which has not been made subject to the Freedom of Information Act to date. Proposals to extend the scope of the Freedom of Information Act, to include bodies such as the advisory board for Development Cooperation Ireland, are...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Human rights are and have always been a priority of successive Irish Governments and a central part of our foreign policy. The Irish Government has consistently stated its belief that the protection and promotion of international human rights is vital and that, despite the different approaches to human rights which may exist from one culture to another, international human rights standards...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (26 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I recently appointed the following to the board of the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange, Fulbright Commission, for a two-year term Dr. Donal Thornhill, former Chairman of the Higher Education Authority; Professor Joyce O'Connor, President, National College of Ireland, and Ms Una Halligan, Government and Public Affairs Director, Hewlett Packard Ireland. The Fulbright...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: From June 2002 to date, the Department of Foreign Affairs issued 21 official credit cards. A list of office holders issued with these official credit cards and the number of occasions on which the cards were used is set out in annex A. The Department issues official credit cards to Ministers, Ministers of State and a limited number of officers who, because of the nature of their work, need to...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The United States authorities are very well aware of the Government's view, which we have expressed many times, that all military operations where civilians are at risk should be planned and conducted so as to keep the use of force to a minimum and make every possible effort to avoid civilian casualties. This would include the manning of checkpoints by military forces. The Government's...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (27 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am not aware that the US administration has taken the action described by the Deputy. I am aware that Dr. Rice referred to Cuba as an "outpost of tyranny" at her confirmation hearings in the US Senate. The Government has long been concerned about human rights abuses in Cuba. At the same time, we continue to encourage a process of peaceful transition to a pluralist democracy and respect for...

Written Answers — European Union Law: European Union Law (27 Jan 2005)

Dermot Ahern: There is nothing in European Union law which prohibits a member of the European Commission from participating in a political campaign. The Commission has in the past made clear its view that its members are political figures who exercise a political role, within the parameters of which they retain the right to express their personal opinions freely on their own responsibility. It is entirely...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (1 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I have made three appointments to the board of the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange — the Fulbright Commission — since August 2004. My predecessor made five reappointments and three appointments to the DION committee. I will give details of the three people I appointed to the board of the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange for a two-year...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (1 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I understand that Mr. Remzi Kartal was detained in Germany on 22 January on the basis of an international arrest warrant issued by Turkey. Mr. Kartal is detained in Nuremberg and his case is under consideration by the German judicial authorities. I do not intend to make representations to the German authorities about this case.

Written Answers — Election Observers: Election Observers (1 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland did not send observers to the elections in Iraq.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (1 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The views of the United States on Iran are well known. Its concerns about Iran's nuclear programme are shared by the European Union. The EU has been in negotiation with Iran to address the concerns. As a result, Iran has suspended certain aspects of its nuclear programme. Negotiations are proceeding and I hope further progress can be made.

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (1 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: President Bush will meet the European Council during his visit to Brussels on 22 February 2005. Discussions are ongoing about the agenda for the meeting. I welcome the visit as reflecting a desire on the part of the United States and the EU to continue to strengthen the transatlantic relationship. Ireland and its EU partners favour a focused and practical discussion on a number of key issues...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (1 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of a media report that Mr. Zhao Xin was arrested on 21 January 2005. According to the report, Mr. Zhao's application to hold a parade "to protest against the authority's forcefully depriving the citizens of their rights to commemorate Zhao Ziyang, the former General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party" was rejected. While no further information is yet available on the case, I...

European Council Meetings: Statements. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Deputy for his statement. While I think I am answering a question on the matter later, I assure Deputy Allen that we will raise the specific issue to which he referred with the Israeli authorities. President Abbas is coming to the next Council meeting on 21 February and President Bush will come on 22 February. The EU will use the Council strongly to encourage positive developments...