Results 721-740 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

European Council: Statements. (13 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy does this country a great disservice.

European Council: Statements. (13 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy must be careful about what he says. This country is regarded by most people in Europe as having one of the cleanest environments in Europe. The Deputy does our society a disservice.

European Council: Statements. (13 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy also raised the issue of this country having the lowest social spend in the EU. One of the main reasons we have a low social spend compared with other countries is because we have the youngest population in the EU. The social spend in Italy is high because it has the oldest population in the EU. Ireland has the youngest population, hence we have the lowest social spend in the EU.

European Council: Statements. (13 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am delighted about the issue Deputy Quinn raised because the alternative Government being postulated in some quarters made up of Labour, Fine Gael and the Greens——

European Council: Statements. (13 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The corollary to what the Deputy is saying is that there must be dramatic increases in taxation. I would like to hear the proposals by the proposed alternative Government for increases in taxation to skew matters in the way Deputy Gormley wants.

European Council: Statements. (13 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I can give a simple answer to those questions. These are matters for the Whips to decide. I encourage the Deputy's party Whip to ask the Government Whip. Perhaps the Deputy is the Sinn Féin Whip.

European Council: Statements. (13 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: He could ask the Government Chief Whip about all these substantial issues which have been debated on an ongoing basis in this House. That is one of the reasons we are having this debate. On the matter of a Common Position on UN reform, the House should discuss this issue. My role in this regard is distinct from my ministerial role in that I am in effect the representative of Kofi Annan in...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (13 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government's primary concern is to ensure that the new chief commissioner of the Equality Commission of Northern Ireland, who is expected to take office on 1 August 2005, has the required leadership, strategic and representational skills to chair one of the important institutions of the Good Friday Agreement. The quality and calibre of the prospective appointee will, therefore, be...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (13 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is aware, my Department has provided all appropriate consular assistance to the three men concerned. The position is that they each received sentences and fines as part of the decision made on appeal by the Colombian courts on 16 December 2004. However, I understand the legal process is not yet exhausted and that the defence is entitled to a further appeal to the Colombian...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (13 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is aware, the Government has been actively engaged on the issue of the Inquiries Bill since it was first published and has been in regular contact with the British authorities at both political and official levels. The Government has also stayed in close contact with the Finucane family. I raised the matter most recently with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (13 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In ongoing discussions with the British Government through the framework of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, the Government has consistently argued for the implementation of Patten recommendations 69 and 70 on finding an acceptable, effective and less potentially lethal alternative to plastic baton rounds. The Government will continue to support the search for alternative...

Written Answers — Asylum Applications: Asylum Applications (14 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of media reports that Mr. Luis Posada Carriles has recently entered the United States and that a lawyer acting on his behalf has stated that he is seeking asylum there. Such an asylum application is a matter for the US authorities, and it would not be appropriate for me to raise the matter with either these authorities or with the United Nations.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (19 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I fully appreciate that the closure of the section of Cannings Lane, off Coney Road, which lies in Northern Ireland, continues to be a matter of concern to the people of Muff, County Donegal, as it is to the Deputy. As the Deputy is aware, my Department has raised this matter on numerous occasions with the relevant Northern Ireland authorities, and with the British Government through the...

Written Answers — Immigration Issues: Immigration Issues (19 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The circumstances of undocumented Irish people in the US are raised on an ongoing basis in our bilateral contacts with US political leaders. Most recently, the issue was raised when the Taoiseach and I met President Bush on St. Patrick's Day. During our meeting, the President re-affirmed his commitment to work with Congress on immigration reform. The Taoiseach and I very much welcomed this...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (19 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the recent disturbing reports on the conditions in which Roma families are living in the village of Zitkovac in northern Kosovo, and of concerns about the effect on their health of emissions from a toxic waste dump in the area. The OSCE reports that some 25% of the population of the wider municipality of Zvecan are internally displaced persons from the 1999 conflict. These...

Written Answers — EU Constitution: EU Constitution (20 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 to 199, inclusive, together. The Government has not yet taken a decision on the timing of the referendum on the European constitution. It will be held either later this year or next year, to allow for the completion in good time of the ratification process by the target date of 1 November 2006. The necessary preparations are under way. Specifically, the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (20 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together. The following tables set out the names of contract staff employed by me and by the Ministers of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, their functions and payscale and details of travel and subsistence expenses paid to them in 2004. All staff are contracted under terms and conditions of employment set by the Minister for Finance and...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (20 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The incident to which the Deputy refers has been raised through the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat in Belfast. The British Government has informed us that the incident in question involved a number of youths who climbed through a gap in the fence of Hazelwood school and then threw stones into Old Throne Park. The police came to the scene and noted the details of several...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (20 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government consistently raises its concerns at sectarian attacks through the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat in Belfast, at the regular meetings of the Intergovernmental Conference and at the frequent meetings between senior Ministers on both sides. At official level, we recently discussed incidents in Larne, Belfast and Derry with the authorities in Northern Ireland, with a...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (20 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Czech authorities have confirmed that Irish citizens have only to present a valid travel document when entering the Czech Republic and that there is no restriction regarding the length of validity of the passport. This change has been in place since the 1 May 2004 and is in line with the requirements of other EU states.