Results 1,161-1,180 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: A total of 161 officers are assigned to the development co-operation directorate at headquarters, to the bilateral aid missions in Africa and Asia and to development desks at our multilateral missions to the UN in New York and Geneva, to the OECD in Paris and to the EU in Brussels. The headquarters staffing complement comprises 99 general and diplomatic service officers and 26 specialists....

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The excellent report of the task force on policy regarding emigrants provides us with a valuable framework for action. Many of its recommendations require sustained action over time from all partners in both Government and the voluntary sector. However, considerable progress continues to be made, with action under way on more than two thirds of the report's recommendations. Most importantly,...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: There are no plans 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 currently 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 manner.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 80 together. In the lead-up to last month's high level plenary meeting of the United Nations in New York, Ireland was a strong supporter of the proposal to establish a standing human rights council which was among the recommendations of the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Kofi Annan. In this context, the decision at the summit to establish a human...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 117 together. The Government remains gravely concerned regarding developments in Zimbabwe, particularly in the aftermath of the clearance campaign known as Operation Restore Order launched by the Zimbabwean Government last May which has resulted in more than 700,000 people being left homeless. The disastrous humanitarian consequences of this clearance...

Written Answers — UN Reform: UN Reform (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 60, 63 and 89 together. The Taoiseach and I, along with the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, represented Ireland at the UN 2005 World Summit which took place in New York from 14 to 16 September. As Deputies are aware, I was invited by Secretary General Annan to act as one of five envoys mandated to present the case to governments for the...

Written Answers — EU-China Relations: EU-China Relations (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I read with interest the newspaper article by former EU Commissioner, Chris Patten, which is the subject of the Deputy's question. Mr. Patten was an excellent EU External Relations Commissioner and is a good friend of Ireland's. While I would agree with him on many issues, and while he is undoubtedly right to pose searching questions, I would not fully share his assessment of EU-China...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government's position on the lifting of the embargo on arms sales to China is clear and has not changed. We support the lifting of the embargo but we do not wish to see any increase in the quantity or quality of arms exports to China. This position was set out by the Taoiseach during his visit to Beijing in January 2005, when he also explained the importance to Ireland and the EU of...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In common with our partners in the EU, the Government firmly believes that the quartet roadmap remains the best framework for the achievement of a lasting resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The EU consistently welcomed Israel's plans for disengagement from the Gaza Strip and parts of the northern West Bank, on the basis that it would represent a step in the renewal of efforts...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I have approved the appointment of a new honorary consul in Ecuador. However, before the appointment can be confirmed, the formal agreement of the Ecuadorian authorities must be obtained. As soon as their agreement has been received, the appointment will proceed. Ireland's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York has sought the agreement of the Ecuadorian authorities to the...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 109 together. The advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice on 9 July 2004 on the construction of the wall on occupied Palestinian territory is not binding, but it represents a clear and authoritative statement of the position in international law. The Government believes that it must be respected. The Government, and its partners in...

Written Answers — International Terrorism: International Terrorism (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: International co-operation is an essential element in the campaign against international terrorism. Ireland has played, and will continue to play, its full part in international efforts to defeat this scourge of our times. Of course, given that terrorism has the potential to affect almost every aspect of our lives, it is not possible to describe in detail every action undertaken by Ireland to...

Written Answers — EU Membership: EU Membership (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 102 and 114 together. On Monday last, 3 October, the General Affairs and External Relations Council approved a framework for negotiations with Turkey on its accession to the EU, enabling the accession negotiations to open later that night. I very much welcome this development. Turkey has been a candidate for membership of the EU since the Helsinki European...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As I stated in my reply to parliamentary questions on this issue on 8 March 2005, any decision to proceed with an exchange of ambassadors with Burma will have to await positive and significant moves by the Burmese Government. Ireland announced the establishment of diplomatic relations on a non-resident basis with Burma on 13 February 2004. However, given that the progress which had been...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: By the late 1990s, the systems in the Passport Office for processing applications were in urgent need of replacement. The technology was obsolete and in some cases no longer supported by the manufacturers. The Passport Office was reliant on a single engineer who had been involved in the original installation of the system to maintain it. The volume of passport applications had grown to the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has been consistent in condemning all sectarian attacks. In the Good Friday Agreement, the parties and the two Governments affirmed the right of everyone to be free from sectarian harassment, and it is a key priority of the Government to see that this promise becomes a reality. Where there are disputes with regard to parades, they can only be resolved through dialogue and...

Written Answers — Residency Applications: Residency Applications (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers and I share the widely held concerns about it. The person concerned was placed under a number of restrictions as a condition of his release from prison in 2004 at the end of the prison sentence which he had served. These restrictions include a prohibition on leaving Israel, and on contacting the media and foreign governments. I understand that...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 112 together. The security situation in Afghanistan remains a matter of serious concern. Up to six people were killed on Tuesday last when a bomb exploded at a key border crossing between Afghanistan and Pakistan. Some 31 suspected Taliban militants and four government troops were reported killed last weekend during fighting near the Pakistani border....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Developments in Iraq this year to date have been characterised by significant progress on the political front but against a background of continuing large scale violence and loss of life. Following the democratic elections on 30 January, the new transitional Iraqi Government under Prime Minister Ibrahim Al-Jafaari was formed at the beginning of May. It included representatives of all the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The proposals for a comprehensive agreement, published by the two Governments on 8 December 2004 covered the key issues that must be resolved to finally and definitively assure peace and political stability in Northern Ireland, as the Taoiseach said at that time. They were made public to clarify the context within which the Governments had been working with the parties in Northern Ireland...