Results 821-840 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: Mr. Norbert Ndihokubwayo, currently assistant secretary general of the Hutu FRODEBU parliamentary group in the Burundian transitional national assembly, was the subject of two unsuccessful assassination attempts in September 1994 and December 1995. He was a member of the Burundian parliament at that time. Following these events, Mr. Ndihokubwayo fled into exile, though he returned to Burundi...

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

Dermot Ahern: I am aware that the governing council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, adopted a resolution on 8 April 2005 concerning the dismissal of Mr. Chang Song, Mr. Siphan Phay and Mr. Savath Phou from the Cambodian Senate in 2001. I understand that their dismissal from Parliament followed on their expulsion from the Cambodian People's Party. In this regard, Ireland and its EU partners continue...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 to 213, inclusive, together. Ireland monitors the human rights situation in Colombia along with its partners in the European Union. The General Affairs and External Relations Council at its meeting on 13 December 2004 reiterated the EU's concern over the grave human rights and international humanitarian law situation in Colombia. In regard to the cases...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: There are no directives awaiting implementation in the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Vetting Procedures: Vetting Procedures (5 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The advisory board for Development Co-operation Ireland was established in 2002 to provide general oversight and advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the strategic direction of the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries. All members serve in a voluntary capacity for a term of three years. They are appointed on the basis of their individual expertise and ability...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (5 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, of course, recognises the danger...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Government is committed to supporting front-line organisations which provide advice, counselling and support services to Irish people in need in Britain, including of course members of the Traveller community. The Government funds such agencies in Britain through the Díon fund. More than €22 million has been distributed since it was established in 1984. Officials of the Irish Embassy...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed). (10 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Deputy Sargent did not object to roads development in Balbriggan.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Sharia, the law of the land in Saudi Arabia, permits corporal and capital punishment, and prohibits many activities which we would regard as matters of personal and private conduct. The Saudi Arabian authorities interpret the universal concept of human rights through the principles of Islam. Public criticism of Islam, including the Sharia law, is strictly prohibited. In our ongoing contacts...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government, and our partners in the European Union, have followed closely the cases of the Kurdish political representatives referred to by the Deputy. I am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter Parliamentary Union adopted a resolution on these cases at its meeting in Manila on 8 April 2005. Of the 15 former members of the Turkish Parliament mentioned, perhaps the most prominent...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Ms Merve Safa Kavakci was elected to the Turkish Grand National Assembly in the general election held on 18 April 1999. She represented a constituency in Istanbul, as a member of the main Islamist political group at the time, the Fazilet (Virtue) Party. At the first meeting of the new parliament, Ms Kavakci was prevented from taking the oath when other representatives protested that she was...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The 33 Zimbabwean parliamentarians referred to have all reportedly been subject to various forms of harassment, arbitrary arrest and imprisonment by the Zimbabwean authorities. Regrettably, this is a pattern of intimidation of opposition politicians which has obtained in Zimbabwe for several years now where the overall human rights situation continues to deteriorate. Ireland and its EU...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, adopted a resolution on 8 April 2005 concerning 23 parliamentarians in Burma, 15 of whom are reportedly in detention, six of whom are reported to have died in custody and two of whom are reported to have been assassinated. Together with our EU partners, the Government has consistently condemned the lack of progress...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together. I am aware of the cases to which the Deputy refers. The Government shares the concerns expressed about the conduct of the cases against these persons and the conditions under which they have been detained. We continue to monitor these cases. The Government, both bilaterally and together with our partners in the European Union, has...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: On 7 April 2003, Dr. Leonard Hitimana, a member of the Transitional National Assembly of Rwanda representing the opposition Mouvement Démocratique Républican, MDR, party, disappeared after having left the home of another MDR Deputy in Kigali. It appears that Mr. Hitimana's disappearance may be linked to his activity in the MDR political party which was subsequently banned by the Rwandan...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, adopted a resolution on 8 April 2005 concerning the imprisonment of the persons referred to, who were members of the People's Council of the Syrian Arab Republic. The presidency and the EU missions in Syria are following closely developments in relation to these cases, and have made known our concerns to the Syrian...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, adopted a resolution on 8 April 2005 concerning the case of Mr. Tengku Nashiruddin Daud. I understand that Mr. Tengku Nashiruddin Daud, an Acehnese member of parliament in Indonesia, was killed in January 2000 and that an investigation into this case is still ongoing. Ireland and our EU partners continue to monitor...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, adopted a resolution on 8 April 2005 concerning the former Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mr. Anwar Ibrahim. Mr. Anwar was dismissed from office in 1998 and subsequently imprisoned for alleged offences of sodomy and corruption and sentenced to serve nine and six year sentences respectively. Following a number of...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, adopted a resolution on 8 April 2005 concerning the death of the Mongolian parliamentarian, Mr. Zorig Sanjasuuren, in 1998. I understand that an investigation into his death is still ongoing. Ireland and our EU partners continue to monitor the political situation in Mongolia. A trade and co-operation agreement...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (10 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215 and 216 together. I am aware that the Governing Council of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, adopted resolutions on 8 April 2005 concerning Mr. Asif Ali Zardari and Mr. Makhdoom Javed Hashmi of Pakistan. I understand that Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, leader of the Pakistan People's Party, was released from prison in December 2004. Following his release, he...