Results 1,401-1,420 of 4,092 for speaker:Michael D Higgins

EU Treaty. (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Question 84: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in the context of the new proposed European Treaty, he envisages new mechanisms for making decisions on common, foreign and security policy accountable to parliamentarians within the European Union; if the proposed Foreign Minister of the European Union will be accountable to the European Parliament; and if in turn decisions taken on...

EU Treaty. (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: I am grateful to the Minister of State for his long reply, about which I will ask a complex supplementary question. The question I tabled was about accountability and I propose to make the matter simple. The European Parliament can have access to information on the Common Foreign and Security Policy it but has no right of decision. While it can summon people to appear before it, areas...

EU Treaty. (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: That is not the issue.

EU Treaty. (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Is the Minister of State aware that only the Chairman of the Joint Committee on European Affairs has access to information by way of consultation and no ordinary member of that committee or the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, including its Chairman, has access to such information? Is he aware that a discussion is taking place all over Europe among those interested in the word the...

Middle East Peace Process. (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: The Quartet is not accountable.

Middle East Peace Process. (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Is the Minister standing over the first unaccountable decision in 2003 where a sub-committee of civil servants known as the clearing house, formed from the permanent representatives to the European Union, COREPER, had Hamas proscribed, which stopped it participating in political discussion and raising money? I am sure the Minister does not want to mislead the House but is he aware that the...

Middle East Peace Process. (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: The tragedy has to be borne by the Palestinians.

Middle East Peace Process. (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Would the Minister of State agree that one of the great contrasts between the Northern Ireland achievement and the Middle East is that the Northern Ireland talks had a secretariat attached? If the European Union was serious about the roadmap for peace and the Quartet, it would have established a secretariat to serve the proposals of the Quartet. It did not do so, and neither did the...

Middle East Peace Process. (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: They are legal. Whether they are appropriate is a judgment for Palestinians.

Middle East Peace Process. (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: I did not argue they were illegal.

Middle East Peace Process. (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: It was said at the time.

Foreign Conflicts. (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Is the Minister of State in a position to state what conclusions the Irish Government has drawn from the attendance of China at the Paris conference? What precise results may flow from that? Will he indicate the shortfall in funding for the hybrid force, whether the existing African Union force is underfunded, where such underfunding is sourced and what it reveals politically? Will the...

Foreign Conflicts. (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Is it a fact, despite the rhetorical engagement with the tragedy that is Darfur, that the funding for the African Union force is tragically short, the funding for the replacement force is not yet in place, and some of the principal powers that attended the Paris conference are in default on funding?

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Question 275: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the discussions he has had with his counterparts in the European Union, as a partner in the Quartet, in relation to the appointment of former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair to a major diplomatic post charged with advancing the Middle Eastern peace process. [18798/07]

Written Answers — Economic and Monetary Union: Economic and Monetary Union (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Question 281: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the position regarding reports that further members of the EU are to join and become full members of the Euro common currency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18959/07]

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Question 282: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the recent reports that the Northern Ireland Prosecutions Office does not intend to initiate charges against any member of the police or the security forces for their implication in the murder of the late Pat Finucane. [18960/07]

Written Answers — School Accommodation: School Accommodation (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Question 469: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the efforts her Department are making to alleviate the accommodation demands on a school (details supplied) in County Galway. [19139/07]

Written Answers — Residency Permits: Residency Permits (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Question 516: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position pertaining to the application of a person (details supplied) in County Galway who are seeking to marry here. [18848/07]

Written Answers — Garda Investigations: Garda Investigations (3 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: Question 545: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the reason, in view of the changed circumstances of a person (details supplied) following the release of new information, that same was brought to light two and a half years ago, when if first became available; if there are plans for an apology to be made to this person based on the experiences they have been through; and...

Order of Business (4 Jul 2007)

Michael D Higgins: In that case I will raise a point of order. Why has the agreement not been placed in the Oireachtas Library, in accordance with constitutional procedures? We could have anticipated many of these issues yesterday. The Tánaiste has described how COREPER has agreed a draft that will be signed without the assent of Parliament. The European Parliament had an opportunity to ask for information...