Results 1,261-1,280 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs has paid the following amounts to the Gartner Group: 1997 — €0.00; 1998 — £702.17; 1999 — €0.00; 2000 — €0.00; 2001 — €0.00; 2002 — €5,082.00; 2003 — €10,164.00; 2004 — €17,581.30; 2005 — €14,278.00. The Department has taken a subscription to Gartner Research's on-line technology research database, which includes the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: In the period referred to by the Deputy, no payments were made by the Department of Foreign Affairs to the relevant consultancy company.

Order of Business. (20 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Jonathan Woodgate of Labour.

Order of Business. (20 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Another own goal.

Written Answers — Departmental Travel: Departmental Travel (20 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. I accepted the mandate from the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, as part of the preparations for the recent UN summit, to act as one of five envoys to represent and promote his recommendations on UN reform because of the central position of the United Nations in Ireland's foreign policy and in light of Ireland's strong...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 353 together. In commissioning outside expertise, my Department is guided by a number of publications and circulars issued by the Department of Finance. These include Guidelines for Engagement of Consultants in the Civil Service, March 1999; Public Procurement Guidelines — Competitive Process, 2004; Ethics in Public Procurement, June 2005; and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (25 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: As I stated in reply to a written question on 28 September 2005, I was deeply concerned by reports of the public execution of two youths in Mashad in Iran on 19 July, following their conviction for the abduction and rape of a minor. The Government is strongly opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances, and the worldwide abolition of the death penalty is a political priority...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (25 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The persons referred to by the Deputy contacted the Irish Embassy in Paris on the morning of Tuesday 11 October following a robbery. I understand the consular staff confirmed that neither had suffered any physical harm, that they were still in possession of their flight tickets and passports and that they had accommodation for the rest of their stay. The consular staff also advised the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: It was already my Department's policy, prior to the coming into effect of the Official Languages Act 2003, to publish most classes of documentation intended for public dissemination in both Irish and English. A training programme was also in place to assist staff in developing their Irish language skills. This was and is part of a wider policy aimed at developing the Department's capability...

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

Dermot Ahern: We were all delighted by the release of Mr. Rory Carroll. I share the enormous sense of relief felt by all people in Ireland at his release and I pay tribute to the dignity and composure of theCarroll family throughout the whole ordeal and under such pressure. I take this opportunity to record the Government's and my own appreciation to all who helped achieve this happy outcome. In...

Order of Business. (26 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: It will be a small bus.

Order of Business. (26 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: We got double-deckers instead.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Mr Seán Garland was arrested by the PSNI in Belfast on 7 October. At the time of his arrest, Irish officials at the British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat in Belfast were asked to seek clarification from the British authorities as to the basis for his arrest. It was indicated that Mr. Garland was provisionally arrested on foot of a request from the United States Government for his...

Written Answers — Foreign Travel: Foreign Travel (26 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: From 1 June 2002 until 29 September 2004, my predecessor Deputy Cowen, attended the following foreign conferences: Conference Venue Date Regional EU Conference on Conflict Prevention Helsingborg, Sweden 29-30 August 2002 Meeting of the Conference on Disarmament Geneva 16 March 2004 OSCE Conference on Anti-Semitism Berlin 28-29 April 2004 In addition, the Intergovernmental...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Members of the British Armed Forces, including members of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, are currently involved in an extensive programme of demilitarisation in south Armagh. This programme includes the removal of the army base at Forkhill, the removal of the super-sangar at Newtownhamilton and the progressive removal of army surveillance posts and army bases. Officials from my Department visited...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (26 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I met the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Mr. Peter Hain, in Dublin on 19 October when we jointly chaired a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. This was the first meeting of the conference since June, when it met at summit level. We had a useful and constructive meeting. I was accompanied by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (26 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the situation in Maluku, known to many as the Moluccas, in eastern Indonesia. Violence erupted between Christian and Muslim communities in 1999, resulting in the deaths of as many as 5,000 people since then and the displacement of many more. A peace agreement brokered in 2002 by the current Indonesian Vice-President, Jusuf Kalla, substantially reduced the violence and reports...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (27 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Non-nationals who are legally resident in Ireland but are here on the basis of a visa require a re-entry visa in order to re-enter the State following a visit abroad. If the individuals mentioned by the Deputy are not in possession of re-entry visas then they should make an application, either by post or in person to the Department of Foreign Affair's visa office, 13-14 Burgh Quay, Dublin 2....

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (27 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs does not currently have any outstanding EU directives to be transposed into Irish law.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Oct 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of a news agency report to the effect that an Irish citizen is being detained in Iraq by US forces. However, the Department has been unable so far, despite best efforts, to establish the facts of the situation and-or to identify the individual. The Department is actively continuing to make inquiries, and I will communicate with the Deputy when I have further information.