Results 1,161-1,180 of 26,225 for speaker:Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Foreign Conflicts (21 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I thank the Tánaiste for his reply and acknowledge the efforts outlined therein. One must be conscious of the fact that 6,000 protesters have died in this awful situation in recent times. In addition, while one must acknowledge the role of the Arab League, one also must express concern that following the withdrawal of its observer force at the end of January, the Arab League may no longer...

Foreign Conflicts (21 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Did the Tánaiste avail of the opportunity to discuss broader human rights issues with the Chinese delegation during its visit to Ireland at the weekend? In light of the sectarian nature of the problems that are developing between Sunni Muslims and Alawite Muslims in Syria, does he envisage that this country might, on a unilateral basis, offer the services of the conflict resolution unit of...

European Union Values (21 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I agree that last year's Europe Day events were a great success. I believe I heard in the Minister of State's response an invitation to Members on all sides of the House to participate in organising this year's events. However, one does not need to engage in polling or avail of the services of focus groups to realise Irish citizens and, one suspects, citizens throughout Europe increasingly...

European Union Values (21 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: If the Minister of State rejects the notion of reconstituting the Forum on Europe, would she consider the prospect of town hall meetings, for example, throughout the country where Oireachtas Members and the Minister of State would engage with the public? That would be useful and it would give members of the public an opportunity to ask the questions bothering them on a day-to-day basis and...

European Union Values (21 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: In 2008, surveys showed that only 8% of the public considered membership of the EU to be a bad thing. The previous Government, therefore, made good use of the money it spent on the communicating Europe initiative.

OSCE Chairmanship (21 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I acknowledge that the preparations for the chairmanship of the OSCE began in 2009 and that much of the groundwork was done by the previous Administration. It is no harm to say this, given the negative things said in the House from time to time about the diplomatic initiatives taken by the previous Administration. Can I take it from what the Tánaiste said that the issue of conflict...

Armenian Elections (21 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Notwithstanding that the OSCE is the agency with responsibility for election monitoring, I am sure the EU has a role in overseeing the situation, commenting, and supporting, where possible, efforts to achieve effective parliamentary elections in Armenia. In 2008, there was serious public concern about what were seen as fraudulent presidential elections, which were followed by civil unrest....

Human Rights Issues (21 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: I commend the Minister on his visit. In his meeting with Mr. Netanyahu, did the Minister get any sense of embarrassment from the man about the fact that 38% of Gazans live in poverty, 31% of the workforce are unemployed, including 47% of young people, and 54% of the Gazan population suffer from food insecurity? It is a horrific indictment of the situation that continues to prevail there....

Human Rights Issues (21 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: What adds insult to injury is the continued illegal development of settlements within the Palestinian territory. Does the Minister have any information about this? I anticipate that he will be making a visit to Capitol Hill for St. Patrick's day - at least, one hopes so. If he is, will he be raising the Israeli-Palestinian situation with the American authorities?

Diplomatic Representation (21 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: What is the situation relating to the residence of the former ambassador to Italy? Did the State hold a lease on the premises he had occupied and did the State have to buy its way out of that lease? Was there any capital investment in that property over the last decade or so? Where are the chancery offices of the Irish Embassy to Italy? Have these offices moved to the Villa Spada or does...

Written Answers — Vocational Education Committees: Vocational Education Committees (21 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 218: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of executives and administration staff in each of the 33 vocational education committee head offices; if he would list these by grade, that is CEO, EO, AEO, PO, APO, VII and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9237/12]

Written Answers — Inter-Country Adoptions: Inter-Country Adoptions (21 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 591: To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will consider points made on inter-country adoption from India in correspondence (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9508/12]

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (21 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 608: To ask the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application for a medical card in respect of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9222/12]

Written Answers — Medical Cards: Medical Cards (21 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 610: To ask the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9236/12]

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 62: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if cognisant to the fact that the Irish Government became the standard bearer for human rights defenders during their EU Presidency in 2004 through the adoption of EU guidelines, if he will propose to further act on this in the course of his Chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe;...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 63: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is familiar with the case of a person (details supplied) in Uzbekistan, a human rights defender and journalist; if he has or will raise the issue of the imprisonment of this person directly with the authorities in Uzbekistan; if he will further raise the issue with his EU colleagues and the European Union and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 64: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is familiar with the case of human rights defender (details supplied) in Kyrgyzstan; if he has or will raise the issue of the imprisonment of this person directly with the authorities in Kyrgyzstan; if he will further raise the issue with his EU colleagues and the European Union and the OSCE; and if he will...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 65: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is familiar with the case of human rights defender (details supplied) of Bahrain; if he has or will raise the issue of the imprisonment of this person directly with the authorities in Bahrain; if he will further raise the issue with his EU colleagues and the European Union; and if he will make a statement on...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (22 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 186: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government the number of units that have been acquired under the rental accommodation scheme by a local authority (details supplied); the number of these units occupied; the period for which units have been unoccupied; if he is fully satisfied with the operation of the scheme in this area; and if he will make a...

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (22 Feb 2012)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl: Question 193: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some local authorities may have acquired properties for use under the rental accommodation scheme, which does not meet the specific local demand; if his further attention has been drawn to the fact that units consequently lie idle while the local authority...