Results 481-500 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116, 121 and 189 together. Turkey has been a candidate for membership of the EU since the Helsinki European Council in December 1999, which agreed that it was destined to join the Union on the basis of the same criteria applied to the other candidate states. The European Council in Brussels on 16-17 December 2004 decided, on the basis of the Commission's...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The security situation in Iraq has continued to be a source of great concern. After something of a lull following operations in Fallujah, violent attacks in Iraq have increased in intensity again. This was expected in the lead-up to the elections on 30 January. There appeared to be a shift in focus away from attacks on US and international forces, although these continued, and instead...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of whether the free travel scheme can be extended to older Irish people resident outside the State is one with which I am familiar and that has been raised with me, including at a recent conference for emigrant service providers in Dublin and again during my visit to London in December. I refer the Deputy to a reply in the House on 15 December 2004 by my colleague, the Minister for...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has, on a number of occasions, made known its concerns to the US Government regarding the treatment and status of the detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. I reiterated these concerns at a meeting with the US Ambassador to Ireland in December 2004. The United States is well aware of the Government's view that those detained at Guantanamo Bay should be treated in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Shannon Airport Landings: Shannon Airport Landings (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The regulation of matters relating to commercial air carriers, including the statistics for passenger transit numbers, is primarily a matter for the Department of Transport, whose records indicate that the number of US troops transiting the airport in 2004 was 158,549. Permission for foreign military aircraft to overfly, or land in, the State is granted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs,...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 190 together. I travelled to Sweden and Finland last week to meet with the Swedish Foreign Minister, Ms Laila Freivalds, and the Finnish Foreign Minister, Mr. Erkki Tuomioja. The purpose of these visits was to have an exchange of views with my counterparts in these countries on a range of EU and international issues. The discussions in Stockholm...

Written Answers — Nuclear Programmes: Nuclear Programmes (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 155 together. There is widespread international concern about Iran's development of its nuclear programme, in particular its uranium enrichment component and its compliance with its obligations under the non-proliferation treaty. This concern is the subject of regular consultations between the European Union and the United States. Based on these...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 156 together. The task force on policy regarding emigrants contained many detailed recommendations whose implementation can best be brought about on a phased basis. Considerable progress has already been made, with action under way on over two thirds of its recommendations. Overall policy is now, as recommended by the task force, the responsibility of...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the report to which the Deputy refers. The Government, in common with its EU partners, has repeatedly called for all parties to bring an end to the cycle of violence. The Government has consistently condemned all attacks aimed at civilians, including the continuing rocket attacks carried out by Hamas against Israelis. Equally, I have condemned the disproportionate and sometimes...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: On 24 November, the Government tabled a formal proposal in Brussels requesting that official and working status in the EU be accorded to the Irish language. A copy has been forwarded to the Deputies. The proposal outlines a practical way to enhance the standing of Irish in the EU. We are proposing that certain key EU legislation, adopted jointly by the Council and the European Parliament,...

Written Answers — Lisbon Strategy: Lisbon Strategy (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Implementation of the Lisbon strategy is a priority for the Government. As the Deputy is aware, it is a ten year strategy covering a wide range of issues relating to economic, social and environmental renewal which fall within the responsibility of individual Departments. The Department of the Taoiseach has overall responsibility for co-ordinating Ireland's approach to the strategy, including...

Written Answers — Zimbabwean Elections: Zimbabwean Elections (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The parliamentary elections scheduled to take place in Zimbabwe on 31 March will represent an important test in determining the willingness of the Zimbabwean Government to effect genuine political reforms and improve the situation in that country as regards democracy, good governance and respect for human rights. Ireland and our EU partners believe firmly that for the parliamentary elections...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Feb 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 all states must continuously endeavour to better uphold and comply with the human rights obligations which devolve on them. In terms...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representations: Diplomatic Representations (2 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 currently under consideration by the German judicial authorities. It is not my intention to make representations to the German authorities in regard to this case.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the findings of the Amnesty International report on Nepal and would like to make a statement on the matter. A rebellion against the monarchy of Nepal, led by the extreme left-wing Nepal Communist Party, Maoists, has been ongoing since 1996. The insurgency has, to date, claimed approximately 10,000 lives. The rebels are fighting to abolish the constitutional monarchy and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Turkey has made very significant progress over the past three years in the adoption of wide-ranging constitutional and legislative reforms. Prime Minister Erdogan has made it clear that his government's programme of human rights reform is being implemented in the interests of the Turkish people. It is also a central element in the development of Turkey's relations with the European Union. The...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Diplomatic relations between Ireland and Belarus were established on a non-residential basis in 1992, following the break up of the former Soviet Union. Ireland's current ambassador in Moscow, Mr Justin Harman, presented his credentials to President Lukashenko in January 2004. The Belarus Ambassador in London, Dr. Alyaksei Mazhukhou, presented his credentials to President McAleese on 16...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware that Amnesty International has stated that the treatment of prisoners in the Challapalca Maximum Security Prison in the department of Tacna, Peru amounts to cruel, inhuman and degrading ill-treatment and that it has expressed concern about reports that these prisoners have been subjected to physical and psychological violence, as well as enduring harsh climatic conditions. The...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 457 of 26 January 2005, a copy of which can be seen below for information.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Feb 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of and have been closely following the case of Mr. Roy Bennett, the Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, opposition Member of Parliament, who was sentenced by the Zimbabwean Parliament last October to 12 months imprisonment with labour. A number of aspects of the case give rise to concern, including the apparently arbitrary procedures employed in Mr. Bennett's trial and conviction...