Results 841-860 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 217 and 218 together. I am aware that the Inter-Parliamentary Union at its meeting from 3 to 9 April 2005 in Manila considered the cases of the kidnappings of Mr. Oscar Lizcano, Mr. Jorge Eduardo Gechen Turbay, Mr. Luis Eladio Pêrez Bonilla, Mr. Orlando Beltrán Cuéllar, Ms Gloria Polanco de Lozada and Ms Consuelo González de Perdomo as well as death...

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

Dermot Ahern: I am aware that the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, at its meeting from 3 to 9 April 2005, in Manila, adopted a resolution regarding the murders of Jaime Ricaurte Hurtado González and Pablo Vicente Tapia Farinango. I share the view of the IPU that due process is essential in such cases. In a statement on recent political developments in Ecuador issued on 21 April 2005, the Luxembourg...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Government remains deeply concerned at the treatment of the eleven parliamentarians arrested on grounds of treason in September 2001, after they had issued a statement critical of the human rights record of the Eritrean Government and calling for a greater level of democracy and political space in Eritrea. None of the eleven parliamentarians detained have been allowed access to their...

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

Dermot Ahern: I am aware that the Inter-Parliamentary Union, IPU, at its meeting from 3 to 9 April 2005 in Manila, adopted a resolution regarding ongoing court proceedings in the case of the murder of Mr. Miguel Angel Pavón Salazar in Honduras. I share the view of the IPU that due process is essential in such cases and I assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to monitor the situation in...

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

Dermot Ahern: This case continues to be closely monitored by my Department through the Irish Embassy in London. The embassy in London remains in contact with the person himself and with the prison authorities on his behalf. The embassy also met recently with the representatives of the group campaigning for his release. As I have indicated previously in my replies on this case, I understand the person's...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (10 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of appointing a new honorary consul is at present under active consideration and it is hoped to approve a nominee for the position very shortly. However, before an appointment can be confirmed, the agreement of the Ecuadorian authorities must also be obtained. Pending finalisation of the appointment, Irish citizens in Ecuador may seek consular assistance from the embassy of any...

Written Answers — Immigration Policy: Immigration Policy (11 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland is not a signatory to the International Convention on the protection of the rights of all migrant workers and members of their families. The convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 1990, and it entered into force on 1 July 2003, following ratification by the requisite number of states — 20. The convention on migrant workers has been open for signature and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government is aware of the particular human rights issues affecting the indigenous peoples in Colombia. The most recent statement of Irish and European Union policy in this regard is set out in the conclusions of the General Affairs and External Relations Council of 13 December 2004 which stressed the importance of protecting the rights of minorities and indigenous peoples, as reaffirmed...

Written Answers — Fairtrade Products: Fairtrade Products (12 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Fairtrade mark is an independent assurance that producers in developing countries receive a fair price for their products. It provides a vital opportunity for producers in the poorest developing countries to access international markets on fair terms of trade and also for people in Ireland to make a practical contribution to improving the conditions of producers in developing countries. I...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (12 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: There is only one statutory agency under the remit of my Department, namely the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange, known as The Fulbright Commission. There is one vacancy on the board of the commission at present and possible nominees for appointment are under consideration at this time.

Written Answers — Departmental Charges: Departmental Charges (17 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Diplomatic and Consular Fees (Amendment) Regulations, 2004, SI 82 of 2004, lists the passport and consular fees charged by the Department of Foreign Affairs in Ireland and at our diplomatic and consular missions abroad. These fees include charges for passports, visas, work and working holiday authorisations, letters of freedom for Irish citizens wishing to marry abroad as well as for...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (17 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: 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 Aung San Suu Kyi, other opposition activists and a number of MPs elected in 1990. Regarding the outcome of the National...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (17 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together. My Department has disposed of only one asset, a property, in the period of time specified. The ambassador's official residence in Lagos, Nigeria, was sold in February 2002 for the equivalent of €1,446,315. The buyer was a Mr. Tein George of the company Dominion Capital Trust Limited. The proceeds of the sale were transferred to the...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (18 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government, bilaterally and within the framework of the EU and UN, is continuing its efforts to encourage progress in the Middle East peace process, leading to two states, Israel and Palestine, living at peace within secure and recognised borders. We are ready, in concert with our EU partners, to assist the parties to the conflict in their efforts to move forward on the basis of the...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (24 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: On 13 December last, I outlined to my counterparts at the General Affairs and External Relations Council the reasons for Ireland's proposal that official and working status in the EU be accorded to the Irish language. This followed the formal tabling of our proposal in Brussels on 24 November. Regulation 1 of 1958 governs the Union's language regime. The unanimous approval of member states is...

Written Answers — Emigrant Services: Emigrant Services (24 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Frontline organisations in Britain that provide critical services to our community there, including Irish centres, are financially supported by the Government through the DÍON fund. Since it was established in 1984, more than €22 million has been distributed from this fund. In 2004, DÍON grants totalled €4.3 million. This represented a 68% increase on the 2003 figure. This year,...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (25 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I support the principle of having legally binding international agreements on the control of arms exports, with as wide a participation as possible. This is particularly important with respect to small arms and light weapons which are responsible for widespread death and injury. Ireland is committed to working with others to ensure that the international community deals with the illicit...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (25 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The United Nations has the lead role in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. However, the EU enlargement process provided the impetus for the most recent efforts towards a settlement, which were undertaken by the UN Secretary General in the first half of 2004, during Ireland's EU Presidency. As a result of the referendums in Cyprus on 24 April 2004, the accession...

Written Answers — Nuclear Disarmament Initiative: Nuclear Disarmament Initiative (25 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK, announced in February 2005 that it has produced and now possesses nuclear weapons and that it is to suspend its participation in the six party talks for an indefinite period. In May 2005, the DPRK further announced that it has finished extracting 8,000 fuel rods from its reactor at Yongbyon, which it had reportedly shut down a month ago. Given...

Order of Business. (26 May 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Does that mean Deputy Costello will sit on the fence?