Results 781-800 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — International Relations: International Relations (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I have followed with concern the reports of recent tensions between China and Japan. Our embassies in Beijing and Tokyo continue to monitor the political situation in both countries and the wider region. We have made our concerns known to the authorities in Beijing and Tokyo. I therefore welcome the recent bilateral meeting which took place between the Chinese President, Mr. Hu Jintao, and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In a reply in the House on 8 March 2005, I said that Senator Kennedy, joined by Senators John Kerry and Charles Schumer, had written to President Bush to urge a reversal of the decision by the US Department of Homeland Security to terminate the temporary protected status granted to 292 refugees from Montserrat allowing them to reside in the US. This status was granted following the major...

Written Answers — Nuclear Disarmament Initiative: Nuclear Disarmament Initiative (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of the nuclear programme of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, is kept under close and regular scrutiny within the European Union. There are, however, very few sources of reliable and independent information concerning its nature. The DPRK's nuclear programme is being addressed within the framework of the six party talks, SPT, process involving China, the DPRK, Japan,...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 152 of 2 February 2005, 94 of 8 March 2005 and 214 of 22 March 2005 regarding the alleged illegal use of Shannon Airport for the transit of US prisoners. This matter has been raised in discussions with the US authorities. They have confirmed that they do not use Irish airports for this purpose and that they will not seek to use Irish airports...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The political situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to be characterised by slow progress towards completion of the transition process. The major priority remains the holding of national elections later this year, as scheduled under the 2002 Sun City peace accords. A number of major legislative reforms, including drafting of a national constitution, still remain to be...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As stated previously on many occasions, the Government continues to take concerns about human rights in China very seriously. We have an ongoing dialogue with the Chinese authorities at both national and European Union level. Human rights issues are on the agenda of all bilateral meetings with senior Chinese leaders. The EU-China human rights dialogue, established in 1996, is the agreed...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has on numerous occasions set out its policy on the use of Shannon Airport by the US military, a long standing arrangement that has been going on for more than 50 years. In particular, a comprehensive debate on this matter took place in Dáil Éireann on 20 March 2003. During the debate, the Government outlined the various political, diplomatic, legal and other considerations...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As stated previously on many occasions, the Government continues to take concerns about human rights in China very seriously. We have an ongoing dialogue with the Chinese authorities at both the national and the European Union level. Human rights issues are on the agenda of all bilateral meetings with senior Chinese leaders. The EU-China human rights dialogue, HRD, established in 1996, is the...

Written Answers — International Terrorism: International Terrorism (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The EU plan of action on combating terrorism underwent the first of its regular six monthly reviews at the European Council last December. At that time the Council noted that significant progress had been achieved in the short time since the plan's adoption. The plan is structured around seven strategic objectives and advances were made under each heading. In particular, there was closer...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The General Affairs and External Relations Council met in Luxembourg on 25 April. In the general affairs part of the meeting, we discussed the future financial perspectives for the period from 2007 to 2013. We have entered an intensive phase of this very important negotiation. Ministerial conclaves have been scheduled for the eve of the May and June General Affairs and External Relations...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government is in regular and ongoing contact with the Palestinian and Israeli Governments through diplomatic channels. I was fortunate to be able to meet the Palestinian Minister for Communications, Sabri Saidam, at the EuroMed ICT ministerial meeting in Dundalk earlier this month. I hope to travel to the region later this year and to meet my Israeli and Palestinian counterparts and other...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 100 together. The task force on policy regarding emigrants produced a very good report with wide ranging conclusions, covering the full range of emigrant needs. Its recommendations were far reaching and varied and the implementation of some of these will be, by necessity, on a phased basis over a number of years. Considerable progress has already been...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I have not been directly involved in such discussions. However, the Government is aware of the human rights abuses suffered by the indigenous communities in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia. While we do not maintain a resident embassy in Colombia, the embassies of our EU partners in Bogota co-operate closely with the local offices of the UN system in monitoring the situation...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I strongly condemn the level of force used by Turkish police against women and young people demonstrating in Istanbul on 6 March to mark International Women's Day. The violence used by the police was unacceptable and it was immediately condemned by the European Union. At the EU-Turkey Troika ministerial meeting which was held in Ankara the following day, Foreign Minister Asselborn of...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I have made no representations to the Spanish Government on this matter. EU member states unanimously decided on 5 June 2003 to include Batasuna, and its aliases Herri Batasuna andEuskal Herritarrok, on the EU list of terrorist organisations. In taking this decision, the Council was satisfied that Batasuna was a terrorist organisation and that it was an alias of ETA, which itself has been on...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government welcomes the fact that the inquiry into the murder of Rosemary Nelson and the subsequent police investigation into her death opened on 19 April last, in line with the recommendations of Judge Peter Cory. Her case was one of those examined by Judge Cory as a result of the agreement reached at Weston Park in 2001 between the Irish and British Governments. The setting up of the...

Written Answers — International Criminal Court: International Criminal Court (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: A total of 139 states have signed the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. To date, 98 states have become party to the statute. Together with our partners in the European Union, Ireland has been a consistent and strong supporter of the ICC, recognising it as an essential means of combating impunity for the most serious crimes of concern to the international community. This...

Written Answers — United Nations Reform: United Nations Reform (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: It is not the Government's practice to comment publicly on the views of individual members of the United Nations on the aspirations of other members to permanent membership of the Security Council. There is general agreement among the members of the United Nations that the present structure of the Security Council does not accord with the realities of today. Ireland has long held the view...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 96 and 101 together. I refer the Deputies to the reply given to the priority question on this matter today. The Government's position on the lifting of the EU arms embargo on arms sales to China is clear. We support the lifting of the embargo but we do not wish to see any increase in the quantity or quality of arms exports to China. The arms embargo was...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In December 2004, the Government approved the opening of resident missions in Bulgaria, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Vietnam. It is intended that these new missions will be opened in the second half of this year. The opening of new Irish missions is considered by the Government on an ongoing basis. As the Deputy will appreciate, however, constraints on Government expenditure and the...