Results 481-500 of 939 for speaker:Noel Treacy

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: No, that is presumption. There is still a long lead-in time in this situation.

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: I did not interrupt the Deputy. As I made clear, this is a complex matter which we are still analysing. Many aspects of it demand serious and rigorous analysis and not all the details of what precisely is involved are clear.

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: This is the case, for example, with regard to the safeguards agreement that India has yet to negotiate with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Our final view will depend——

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: ——on our assessment of the potential impact of the US-India agreement on the global non-proliferation regime and on the approach taken by like-minded countries. Deputy Michael D. Higgins is right. We are proud of our contribution to the genesis of the non-proliferation treaty which the late Deputy Frank Aiken, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, championed across the world. It was...

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: The Nuclear Suppliers Group, NSG, normally takes decisions at the group's annual plenary meeting, the next of which will take place in Brazil next week.

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: We have been told next week. This matter was discussed twice within the NSG, in October and March — I understand there is an international meeting on the issue in London today — when delegations raised several questions and concerns. It is clear that in Brazil there will be another discussion of the US proposal to exempt India from the NSG guidelines. Our current sense is that delegations...

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: We are clear on our position. We fully support the non-proliferation treaty and will continue to do so. Our preference is to await the legislative conclusions. If they do not arise, this does not arise. We cannot pre-empt the outcome of the legislative debate.

Nuclear Disarmament Initiative. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: There is also a possibility of seeking an extraordinary plenary meeting in the coming months. The US has indicated that it may wish to do so, but it is too early to speculate on the timing of such a meeting. We are only on a lead-in time. There will be no de facto conclusions as we enter debate.

Northern Ireland Issues. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: The appalling sectarian killing of Michael McIlveen has been condemned wholeheartedly by the Taoiseach and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, as well as by the entire community in Northern Ireland. This incident was a truly shocking demonstration of the evil of sectarianism and a reminder that sectarian hatred and violence still plague communities across Northern Ireland. Our thoughts continue...

Northern Ireland Issues. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: I condemn statements such as that to which the Deputy referred. It is important not to give any credibility or recognition to such outrageous and outlandish statements. It is important not to make provocative statements or organise provocative events or parades that incite tension and lead to violence. On behalf of the people, we constantly appeal to both sides to accept the rights of the...

Northern Ireland Issues. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: At every opportunity and at the various levels of the meetings and strands we attend the Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and I raise these issues. The high levels of criminality and violence on the loyalist side continue to cause genuine concern. In its most recent report, the Independent Monitoring Commission noted that loyalists...

Northern Ireland Issues. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60, 70, 147 and 150 together. The Government has been clear and consistent on the issue of policing in Northern Ireland. Through the progressive implementation of the Patten report, the PSNI has undergone a wide-ranging transformation in recent years, and is now one of the most accountable policing services worldwide. It merits the active support of all...

Northern Ireland Issues. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: The position is clear. The Government has been absolutely even-handed in its dealings in this regard and in all activities in Northern Ireland. It wants inclusiveness, engagement and participation. It wants all those with political mandates to discharge them and to fulfil their obligations to those who elected them by participating in the various structures at every level, including the...

Northern Ireland Issues. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: The Government fully agrees with the assessment of the policing Oversight Commissioner that the policing reform in Northern Ireland has been remarkable. One would be hard pressed to find an equivalent process of root and branch reform of policing in any other democratic country in the world. In such a major undertaking, it is not surprising that a number of recommendations have yet to be...

Northern Ireland Issues. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: The remaining 61 recommendations are in varying degrees of implementation. As I noted earlier, the Oversight Commissioner will report on the outstanding issues in his next report, which is due shortly. The outstanding issues include representativeness, including the PSNI civilian support staff, training and policing college, community policing, the question of the primacy of national security...

Northern Ireland Issues. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: The Taoiseach, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and my other colleagues have made it clear, on behalf of the Government, that it wants the policing issue to be resolved in the context of a restored Executive later in the year. The Government will do everything in its power to advance this issue to the greatest possible extent, bearing in mind the complexities and sensitivities surrounding the...

Northern Ireland Issues. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: I believe that the Minister for Foreign Affairs has been taken out of context in this matter. He has been very consistent on behalf of the Government. He has been critically involved in the mainstream negotiations at the highest level of detail with all the different actors, personalities, parties and groups. At all times the Minister for Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Government wants to...

Northern Ireland Issues. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: There is no division within Government. There is a commonality of commitment in ensuring that all the Ministers discharge their obligations taking into account the different portfolios they have, the serious responsibilities they must discharge and the different responsibilities that are peculiar to those Ministries. Ultimately, there is a unity of purpose to ensure that not alone do we...

Northern Ireland Issues. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: I totally condemn the attack on that office, as any right-minded person or any leader of any type be it at community level or political level would. It is disastrous that these things happen. I am not aware of the programme and did not see it. I have no knowledge of that to which the Deputy has referred. I will do some research as a result of what he has said. I fully respect his point and in...

Human Rights Issues. (24 May 2006)

Noel Treacy: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62, 78 and 165 together. The Government is pleased at the recent positive turn of events in Nepal, with the restoration of parliament and of an accountable government, as well as a truce. The restored parliament has voted for Nepal to become a secular, as opposed to Hindu, state and it has also voted to curtail the powers of the king, including control over...