Results 1,201-1,220 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: Sierra Leone has made major progress in the restoration of peace since the end of the civil war in 2002. The overall security situation is generally calm and stable. Presidential and parliamentary elections are planned for 2007. However, serious challenges remain, not least because of limited progress towards addressing the root causes of conflict such as corruption, weaknesses in governance,...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has observer status in the Western European Union, including in the assembly, and is not bound by any decisions or recommendations of the assembly, nor do its recommendations have any standing as regards the European Union. The Treaty on European Union provides for unanimity in regard to all decisions having security or defence implications.

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together. Members of the Irish parliamentary delegation to the assembly of the Western European Union are appointed by the Oireachtas from among its Members. Neither I nor any other member of the Government has any function in the matter. Members of the delegation do not receive any mandate from the Government or any member of it, nor do they...

Written Answers — Foreign Political Developments: Foreign Political Developments (6 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: A period of political uncertainty in Ukraine in recent weeks appears to have come to an end with the appointment on 22 September of a new Prime Minister and subsequently a new Council of Ministers. Tensions in the previous Government came to a head when Presidential Chief of Staff Oleksandr Zinchenko resigned on 3 September, making serious allegations of corruption about those around...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (6 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 EU Presidency. Ireland, as President of the EU, maintained close contact with the various parties...

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

Dermot Ahern: On Monday 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 shortly thereafter. I very much welcome this development. Turkey has been a candidate for membership of the EU since the Helsinki European Council in December 1999 which agreed that it was destined to join the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Regarding the tragic and shocking killing of the person in question, the Government extended its condolences to the family at the time and pledged to assist them as far as possible in dealing with this traumatic and distressing experience. Since the killing, my Department has sought to assist his widow and family in as understanding and sensitive a way as possible. This assistance has related...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I regret that there have been no positive developments in this matter. The situation remains as set out in my reply of 5 May 2005 to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The information available to my Department regarding the status of the investigation into the deaths of the two former members of the Burundian Parliament, Mr. Sylvestre Mfayokurera and Mr. Innocent Ndikumana, remains as stated in my reply to the Deputy of 5 May 2005. A related but wider concern is to seek to end the culture of impunity which has persisted for too long in Burundi. The...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The information available to my Department regarding the status of the investigation into the attempted assassination of Mr. Ndihokubwayo remains as stated in my reply to the Deputy of 5 May 2005. A related but wider concern is to seek to end the culture of impunity which has persisted for too long in Burundi. The establishment of a national truth and reconciliation commission and the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: There have been no developments since my reply to Question No. 210 on 10 May 2005 to the Deputy on this matter. I can assure the Deputy that we, together with our partners in the EU, will continue to monitor closely the political situation in Cambodia, including the position of parliamentarians.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 to 230, inclusive, 244 and 245 together. In my responses of 5 and 10 May 2005 to written questions from the Deputy regarding these cases, I referred to the importance for the Colombian peace process of a comprehensive legal framework for the process of disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration of the illegal armed groups, based on the principles of...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Regrettably, there has been no progress towards the release of these 11 Eritrean parliamentarians since I replied to the Deputy's Question No. 220 on 10 May 2005. Ireland is greatly concerned by the negative human rights situation in Eritrea and the authorities' unwillingness to respond to concerns expressed by the European Union and the international community. Although Eritrea has ratified...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I refer to my reply to the Deputy's question of 10 May. Of the 15, the most prominent cases have been those of Ms Leyla Zana and three other members of her Democracy Party, DEP, Mr Hatip Dicle, Mr Orhan Dogan and Mr. Selim Sadak. The second retrial of their case, which opened in December 2004, is continuing. A hearing took place in Ankara on Friday 7 October and the next hearing is scheduled...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: An earlier reply to the Deputy's question of 10 May also refers to this matter. Further to the information supplied in May, I understand that a hearing on the case of Ms Merve Safa Kavakci is scheduled to take place at the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg on Thursday 13 October. As the Deputy will be aware, on Monday 3 October the General Affairs and External Relations Council,...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Mr. Roy Bennett, the former Movement for Democratic Change, MDC, member of the Zimbabwean Parliament, was released from prison on 28 June 2005, having served eight months of the 12-month sentence imposed on him for pushing the Zimbabwean Justice Minister during a parliamentary debate in May 2004. In a statement which I issued at the time, I very much welcomed Mr. Bennett's release, while...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: There have been no developments since my reply to Question No. 207 on 10 May 2005 on the particular cases that the Deputy raises. Insofar as the general human rights situation in Burma-Myanmar is concerned, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 37, 44, 66 and 104 on 6 October 2005.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The situation remains as set out in my reply of 10 May 2005 to a question from the Deputy on this case. The Government shares the concerns which have been expressed about the conduct of the case and the conditions under which the person is being held. We are continuing to monitor the case. In bilateral contacts with Israel, and together with its partners in the EU, the Government has...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: My Department does not have any new or additional information regarding the disappearance of Dr. Hitimana, other than that contained in my reply to the Deputy's Question No. 210 of 10 May 2005.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The position remains as set out in my reply of 10 May 2005 to a question from the Deputy on these cases, which involve the imprisonment of two former members of the People's Council of the Syrian Arab Republic. The EU has conveyed its concerns to the Syrian authorities, and continues to monitor the cases through the Presidency's and member states' missions in Damascus.