Results 1,061-1,080 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (28 Sep 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, ICCPR, and Optional Protocol to the ICCPR with effect from 8 March 1990, thereby allowing communications to the Human Rights Committee from individuals claiming to be the victim of violations of the covenant. Since that time, a total of five complaints have been brought against Ireland under the covenant: 1....

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (28 Sep 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Work on the compilation of Ireland's third periodic report to the UN Human Rights Committee under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights is ongoing as a matter of urgency and should be completed within the coming months. Given the breadth of the covenant, a large number of Departments are involved in the preparatory process. In addition, there will be consultation with civil...

Written Answers — Extradition Treaties: Extradition Treaties (28 Sep 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I had no discussions on this matter with my Colombian counterpart, Ms Carolina Barco, during the period in question.

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (28 Sep 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Passport Office does not issue reminder letters to passport holders to renew their passports. To do so would involve additional expenditure in terms of staff resources and postage in the region of €300,000 per annum. The potential response to such a campaign would also be reduced by virtue of passport holders having moved address and changed family circumstances in the intervening...

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

Dermot Ahern: The privileges and immunities enjoyed by foreign diplomats and embassies are set out in the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967 as amended by the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1976. These Acts incorporate the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations into Irish law.

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

Dermot Ahern: All diplomatic agents of embassies in Ireland, including their spouses and families, are granted diplomatic immunity in accordance with the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967, as amended by the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1976. These Acts incorporate the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963 into Irish law....

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (29 Sep 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Preparations for the establishment of the new mission in Vietnam are currently underway. The embassy will open when the deputy head of mission takes up duty in early October.

Northern Ireland Issues. (4 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: He said that he would.

Written Answers — US Appeal Court Decision: US Appeal Court Decision (4 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As I have previously informed the House, the Government has no standing in this matter, which is a bilateral consular question between the Cuban and US authorities.

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (4 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am happy that the current arrangements, and the proposals for further development which are outlined below, provide for an effective passport issuing service. By the end of September 2005, almost 500,000 passports had been issued by the Passport Office this year. This is over 10% higher than in the same period last year. At the end of the year, I expect that a record 550,000 passports will...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (5 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: A meeting with this delegation was arranged in order to enable me to discuss the sectarian violence which has occurred in north Antrim in recent weeks and to hear its views on how to prevent a recurrence of these attacks.

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

Dermot Ahern: The subject matter of the parliamentary question to which the Deputy refers is the continuing house arrest in Burma of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The Government has consistently highlighted the abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Burma and condemned the lack of progress towards democracy. The continuing house arrest of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, other opposition activists and a number of...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Government takes concerns about the human rights situation in Tibet, and elsewhere in China, very seriously. Human rights issues are a constant point of discussion in our bilateral, and European Union level, dialogue with the Chinese authorities. Ireland established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1979 and has from that time recognised Tibet as an integral part...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (5 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In the 18 months since former President Bertrand Aristide resigned and left Haiti in February 2004, the political situation in the country has remained volatile and insecure. The transitional government led by Prime Minister Gerard Latortue has had very limited success in stabilising the security situation in the country and the Haitian National Police continues to struggle to maintain law...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (5 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: On 27 June last, I attended a summit level meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference co-chaired by the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister, Mr. Blair, at 10 Downing Street. The meeting was also attended by the Minister for Justice, Equality, and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Peter Hain, the Minister of State at the Northern...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (5 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The United Nations has the lead role in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. 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 term of the EU Presidency. As a result of the referendums in Cyprus on 24 April 2004, the...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (5 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: There are no plans, at this time, to change the status of our representation in Lesotho. Ireland has maintained a resident mission in Lesotho since an aid office was opened there in 1974 and is represented by a consul general based in the capital, Maseru. The consulate general oversees and manages the implementation of our aid programme in Lesotho, and does so in a satisfactory and effective...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (5 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government continues to work with its partners in the European Union to advance efforts for a peaceful and lasting resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Consideration of the Middle East peace process has been a central element in my contacts in recent months with political leaders from the region, and in my discussions in the UN context and at meetings of EU Foreign Ministers. In...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (5 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Judicial proceedings in this matter, which have been brought under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, are ongoing. I understand the person referred to by the Deputy has obtained an initial ruling in her favour. However, that decision is now under appeal. Accordingly the matter remains sub judice and a final resolution of the case has not yet been...

Written Answers — EU Constitution: EU Constitution (5 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Following the referendum results in France and the Netherlands, the June European Council meeting decided to initiate a period of reflection with regard to the European constitution. The intention is that member states should avail of this opportunity to hold national debates on European issues, including the European constitution. Next week, as part of this process, the Government will...