Results 801-820 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — EU Drugs Strategy: EU Drugs Strategy (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The European drugs strategy for the period 2005 to 2012 was adopted by the European Council in December 2004. It is an integral element of The Hague programme for an area of freedom, justice and security and was adopted as part of the programme at the Council. Each EU member state tackles its drug problem through a national drug strategy. However, the drug problem in the European Union is...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Government has been active in making known to the Zimbabwean authorities its serious concerns regarding the imprisonment and treatment of the former MDC, Movement for Democratic Change, member of the Zimbabwean Parliament, Mr. Roy Bennett. The Irish ambassador to South Africa, who is also accredited to Zimbabwe, conveyed the Government's very serious concerns at a meeting with the acting...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I travelled to the United States from 11 to 18 March to represent the Government at St. Patrick's Day events in Boston before accompanying the Taoiseach to Washington. In Boston, I attended a number of promotional events hosted by Irish and Irish-American organisations and State agencies. In addition, I addressed the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government and European Studies Centre...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 143, 144 and 145 together. The Government has participated actively and positively in negotiations on the enlargement process and will continue to do so. Ireland will maintain its constructive support of the enlargement process on the basis that the European Union should continue to be open to all European states which respect its fundamental values....

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: At the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 13 December, I outlined to my colleagues Ireland's proposal that official and working status in the EU be accorded to the Irish language. Since then, we have been working to move discussions to a successful conclusion. The EU's language regime is governed by Regulation 1 of 1958. The unanimous approval of member states is required to...

Written Answers — Lisbon Agenda: Lisbon Agenda (28 Apr 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 102 together. As the Deputies will be aware, the Taoiseach and I reported to the Dáil on 13 April 2005 on the outcome of the spring European Council held on 22-23 March 2005, at which the mid-term review of the Lisbon Agenda was the main item on the agenda. The European Council committed itself to re-launching the Lisbon Agenda as a "partnership for...

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

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the advice of the UNHCR on the return of Iraqi asylum seekers. As the Deputy knows, asylum applications in Ireland are assessed within an independent statutory framework. The advice of the UNHCR on returns forms an important part of the assessment of cases. In the circumstances, I have not felt it necessary to discuss this matter with the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law...

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

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my response to the Priority Question on the same matter, given today.

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

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy is aware, the British Government has proposed establishing an inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane under the new Inquiries Act. Since the Inquiries Bill was first published, the Government has had concerns that the legislation would not allow an inquiry established under it to meet the necessary standards of independence and openness, in line with the commitment made by the...

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

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the Luton Irish Forum and the valuable work it does in providing advice, information and support services to Irish people in the Luton area. Officials of the embassy in London and the Irish abroad unit met with the management of Luton Irish Forum in January this year and an official of the embassy attended its St. Patrick's Day festivities. I know that the Luton Irish Forum has...

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

Dermot Ahern: As has been made clear on previous occasions, it is not the policy of the Government to draw up any kind of league table of countries deemed guilty of the worst human rights abuses. Together with our EU partners, the Government monitors the human rights situations in many countries throughout the world, on the basis of information obtained from a variety of sources, including non-governmental...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 to 148, inclusive, together. Since the inauguration of President Yuschenko on 23 January at which the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, represented Ireland, I have ensured that Ireland took a consistent position of strong support for Ukraine in discussions in the relevant Council bodies. The EU had played a positive role during the unfolding of the...

Written Answers — Colombia Three: Colombia Three (4 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: My Department has provided all appropriate consular assistance to the three men in this case, as well as to their families and representatives. The particular judgment, to which the Deputy refers, acquitted the three men on the more serious charge of providing training for terrorists and convicted them on the lesser charge of travelling on false documents. The latter part of this judgment was...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (4 May 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. It shares the view of the European Parliament that these detainees should be treated in accordance with the requirements of international human rights and humanitarian law. The Government also recognises the danger posed by...

Written Answers — Emigrant Services: Emigrant Services (4 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: 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 made, with action under way on over two thirds of its...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (4 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The visa application referred to by the Deputy, reference No. 1022430, was made in Riga on 21 March 2005 and forwarded to the Department of Foreign Affairs visa office in Dublin on 23 March 2005. Visas of this kind are not covered by the Department of Foreign Affairs' delegated sanction to issue visas and the application was, therefore, referred to the Department of Justice, Equality and Law...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (5 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland, and the EU as a whole, have a number of long-standing concerns in relation to Iran. These include concerns about aspects of Iran's nuclear programme, human rights issues, Iran's responsibilities in the fight against terrorism, and Iran's attitude to the Middle East peace process. These concerns were reiterated most recently by the European Council in December 2004. In seeking to...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (5 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to the reply to Questions Nos. 7, 24, 29, 67 and 74 of 28 April 2005, a copy of which is set out below: The Government has consistently condemned the lack of progress towards democracy in Burma and the continuing abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms in that country. Together with our EU partners, we remain gravely concerned about the continuing house arrest of Daw...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (5 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The disappearance of Mr. Victor Gonchar, formerly deputy speaker of the Belarus Parliament, is one of a group of four disappearances dating back to 1999-2000 which have never been satisfactorily investigated by the Belarus authorities despite sustained international pressure. In my reply to an oral question about the political situation in Belarus on 28 April, I mentioned that the latest...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (5 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Mr. Sylvestre Mfayokurera, a member of the then Burundian Parliament, was assassinated in August 1994 while Mr. Innocent Ndikumana, also a member of Parliament, was attacked and killed by a group of Tutsi militia on 16 December 1995. Both men had been elected to parliament as members of the Hutu FRODEBU party in 1993. To date, no persons have been charged or convicted in connection with...