Results 4,601-4,620 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I agree with the Deputy. I have made my views known to the Road Safety Authority, RSA, that it should prioritise areas that are clearly in a bad position regarding the number of tests that remain to be completed. I hope the resources used will be allocated on a basis that will tackle the worst areas and take into account some of the factors to which the Deputy referred. That is common sense...

Driving Tests. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I agree with the Deputy in that the number of people who are not attending for tests or who are cancelling them is unacceptable and it has a significant impact on the efficiency of the system as it exists. There is no doubt about that. On the system side, we require mechanisms that are far more capable of dealing with cases where people do not attend in the context of obtaining replacements...

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: As my colleagues know, the Minister for Foreign Affairs is in Brussels. With the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's permission, I propose to take the questions together. There is no question of Ireland having colluded with the CIA or with any other body in the matter of extraordinary rendition. Ireland is completely opposed to this practice and has made that emphatically clear on a continual basis,...

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: As already stated, Ireland's position on this issue is crystal clear. This country in no way supports the illegal movement or rendition of prisoners through it. There is no evidence to suggest that this has ever happened. Ireland was one of the first countries to act on this issue and to have discussions with the United States. It is one of the few countries to receive direct, unequivocal and...

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I reject utterly the Deputy's assertion that there is collusion between this State and the United States of America with regard to the rendition of prisoners. The assertion is utterly untrue and has no foundation. I reject out of hand the use of the ill-chosen word "collusion", which was used by Senator Marty. I understand that the Senator's report presents no new evidence, is all old hat and...

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I disagree with the Deputy and with the assertion in the report that there is even passive collusion between this Government and that of the United States. It is utterly untrue and our position is clear. Ireland was one of the first countries to become concerned about the issue and to approach the United States in respect of it. Ireland is one of the few countries that has received, in...

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: We fully rely on the law. That is the strength of our position. I do not accept that the Government, on behalf of the people of this country, is colluding in any way. The Deputy is drawing on assertions made by people who have other agendas in making points to do with the international view of a number of issues relating to the United States of America.

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: As regards the first point, Deputy Allen asked whether I had specific information regarding the number of flights to date. Of course I am aware of the number of CIA flights that enter the country. It must be borne in mind that many of these flights come here at different times and for different reasons.

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Deputy seems to ignore entirely — it is important that I repeat it — that the comprehensive nature of Ireland's investigation of these matters has already been endorsed by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, under whose aegis this report comes, when he adjudged that Ireland's submission, along with only eight others out of a total of 45, did not require further...

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The facts are that no prisoners have been transited through this country.

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The fact is that no prisoners have been transited through this country.

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: That is the position, as confirmed to us by the United States of America, and we accept it.

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I do not doubt the Deputy's passionately held views on this issue. However, I want to be clear. Reliance on diplomatic assurances in cases of extradition and deportation relates to the detail of how a particular individual will be treated. However, the assurances on which the Government relies relate to a categorical factual statement that no individuals are being transferred through Irish...

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Outside of that, the Government has called, quite genuinely, on anybody with evidence to go to the Garda.

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: There is no evidence.

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: The fact is that the Deputy obviously does not choose to believe the United States.

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: From an Irish perspective, the Government, even before this matter grew into the big international issue it was to become and everyone decided to become involved, specifically spoke to the US authorities on the point. Ireland was one of the few countries to obtain an absolutely categorical factual statement from the Americans to the effect that no such practice has taken place in respect of...

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I expect the truth and we are entitled to expect it.

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: Either we trust friendly international countries or we do not. On behalf of the people of this country, the Government set out to reassure itself as regards the factual position. We received a factual statement from the Americans, which satisfies the meeting of our obligations under international law.

Extraordinary Renditions. (7 Jun 2006)

Martin Cullen: I am not.