Results 441-460 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Overseas Missions. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Most of the discussions with my Swedish and Finnish counterparts were not about battlegroups, they were about the civilian response in the aftermath of the tsunami. After expressing my sympathy, particularly to the Swedish people, most of the discussion involved trying to examine the need for the EU to be prepared, from a civilian point of view, to deal with this concept and, if necessary, to...

Overseas Missions. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: It is the wish of the Irish people that——

Overseas Missions. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: ——our troops should be involved in humanitarian assistance worldwide. They expect the Army to be used in a positive way in that sense. They also want to be sure that if the Army goes abroad, it is with a UN mandate, the mandate of an organisation to which they adhere. There are issues in regard to our troops going abroad on such missions as battlegroups and rapid response forces. One of...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The contingency fund was intended to cover disasters.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 94, 135, 163, 236 and 239 together. On 4 January, the Taoiseach and I met several aid agencies to discuss the tsunami disaster in south Asia. The meeting provided a valuable opportunity for an exchange of views on the situation in the region and the best way to proceed to ensure maximum effectiveness of Irish assistance. The importance of co-ordination was...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: On the issue of value for money, €540 million of taxpayers' money will be spent this year in various regions, but particularly in Africa. There are mechanisms in place to ensure value for money and accountability. I did not take from what my colleague said that he was in any way critical of the NGOs. In all my discussions with the NGOs, particularly the intensive discussions I had with the...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: That is not an issue to be discussed here.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: My Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, attended a significant conference on the impact of environmental issues on humanitarian situations. He was criticised to a certain extent for attending that conference but it was right for him to attend it because we are part of the group sponsoring the examination of and research into the effect of environmental issues on a deterioration in...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy is somewhat critical of the American response. I can only say from what I saw on the ground, and in Banda Aceh in particular, the people doing the most work was the American military.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: If they had not been there, the people of that area would have been in much greater difficulty.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: We have to make a statement and be fair to nations when they contribute. I do not want to be critical of other people who were there but from what I and the people who were with me saw, and in Sri Lanka also, the Americans were magnificent. Regarding the percentage target, we are fully committed to that and believe other nations should reach the percentage target also. I reiterate what my...

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: They have agreed that they will work in partnership with the Government and in consultation with other NGOs and the general public who would have a view on this to put in place a realistic timetable——

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: ——which people know may or may not be reached depending on the growth rates that are possible.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I assure the Deputy that it is a commitment of this Government to reach the 0.7% target.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: John O'Shea continually states that the percentage is not important and that the overall amount and how it is spent is vital.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In light of the growth rates the country enjoyed in recent years, it has been acknowledged that we are chasing a target,0.7%, which keeps moving away. It is accepted that we should work in partnership to put in place a realistic timetable we know we can achieve. It is important that we reach whatever target we set and maintain it forever and a day.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy should examine his record when he was in government. He made commitments and did not comply with any of them.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: We have the record.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In terms of the previous question, Deputy Michael Higgins referred to some other countries which do not, in reality, match the pledges they make.

Humanitarian Relief. (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I accept that and I am referring to the relief fund. It has been proven, in respect of previous disasters, that countries pledge certain amounts in the initial phases of responses to disasters but when the position is examined following a couple of years it emerges that these pledges are not all honoured. There was one disaster — I do not recall which — when only one third of pledges were...