Results 1,561-1,580 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I defer to Deputy Ó Snodaigh's experience and knowledge of Garda investigations, which probably surpass mine. As I understand it, the gardaí must have a reasonable suspicion before they can enter a premises. We cannot direct the gardaí with regard to this matter but it is obvious that they do not have a reasonable suspicion that crimes are being committed on these aircraft. They probably...

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I am even reluctant to try to understand his perspective. However, Deputy Ó Snodaigh and the rest of Sinn Féin do not use such anti-American rhetoric when they visit the US or when Gerry Adams, MLA, appears in a video aimed at his friends in the US.

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: On their next visit to the US or when they appear in videos aimed at a US audience, Deputy Ó Snodaigh and his colleagues might inform their hosts about the type of questions the Deputy asked me today.

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The situation regarding these aircraft is historical. There is nothing we can do about it. They passed through our State and based on the assurances that we were given, no investigation was carried out into what might or might not have been on them. In recent times, nothing has been brought to our attention about the use of Shannon by similar planes. It is a fact that CIA planes have been...

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy has no evidence and he also has an agenda. He was one of the Deputies who condoned the attack on aircraft in Shannon, something which no member of any democratic society should do. He can correct me if I am wrong.

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: No, but the Deputy did.

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Perhaps the reports are different.

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Of course I do not. Does the Deputy condone the damage to planes in Shannon?

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: We are not standing idly by. We have raised the issue at every available forum. I have raised it umpteen times at EU meetings. I raised it with the Finnish Government so that the EU Presidency would raise it with US authorities, which it did in a public way. The Presidency raised the issue of what are known as "black sites", as well as the issue of rendition. I made it clear that the Irish...

State Airports. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: No one would want anything to happen that would subsequently be termed a mistake. My dealings with Ms Condoleezza Rice were categoric on the use of Ireland's airspace or otherwise for rendition purposes. We were given clear assurances at that meeting and at the US Embassy in Dublin and our embassy in Washington. On each occasion, we raised all the reports to which the Deputies have referred...

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to the reply I have just given to the priority question on this issue. There have been several recent media reports expressing concern over the reported use of white phosphorus and suggesting that its use was in breach of the Chemical Weapons Convention. The question of whether white phosphorus is a chemical weapon is important since such weapons are regarded as weapons of...

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I do not disagree with what the Deputy says. I would not like us to use white phosphorous in any shape or form. I can only speak for Ireland. I am not, in effect, defending the use of white phosphorous. Neither is the Government. Obviously we would be very concerned if it was used in any circumstances where it was in contravention of any of the conventions. However, strictly speaking, as...

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Strictly speaking, from a legal viewpoint, it is not defined as a chemical weapon. Again, I am not sure what it was used for at Fallujah. However, it is suggested that it was used to illuminate. I heard what the Deputy said and I am not an expert on this. However, when we raised this with the US Embassy, it was categoric in so far as it could be, that it was not used against the civilian...

Conventional Weapons. (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I will not meet him for Christmas drinks. As regards whether he attends a meeting of the committee, that is entirely a matter for himself.

Written Answers — Nuclear Proliferation: Nuclear Proliferation (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 72, 84 and 87 together. Negotiations between the EU3 and Iran are currently suspended following Iran's decision of 8 August 2005 to recommence conversion of uranium at its Isfahan facility. This action was in breach of the Paris agreement signed by Iran and the EU3 — France, Germany and the United Kingdom — in November 2004. Under this agreement, Iran,...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 47, 66 and 118 together. The allegation that there is or has been a network of secret prisons in Europe is a matter of very deep concern. The existence of such secret prisons would plainly be in breach of international law and of the principles upon which the EU is founded: liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and the rule...

Written Answers — Nuclear Proliferation: Nuclear Proliferation (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 73 and 124 together. Ireland has a particularly close association with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, NPT, which came into existence following an initiative taken by a distinguished predecessor in this office, the late Frank Aiken. His pioneering efforts were duly recognised when Ireland was invited in 1968 to be the first country to sign the treaty...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The Government views with deep concern the arrest on 14 November of the leader of the Forum for Democratic Change, FDC, Dr. Kizza Besigye, along with 22 others, on treason and other serious charges. These concerns have been compounded by the manner in which Dr. Besigye and his co-accused have subsequently found themselves also facing similar charges before a military general court martial, at...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 100, 117, 187 and 220 together. As Deputies are aware, including from recent debates and information that I have circulated to all Members of the Oireachtas, the legislative debate in Washington D.C. has entered a critical phase. Various proposals are under consideration at present, of which the bills sponsored by Senators Kennedy and McCain and by...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 61, 75, 86, 106, 120 and 203 together. The Government and our partners in the EU warmly welcomed the conclusion of the Agreement on Movement and Access between Israel and the Palestinian Authority on 15 November, with the assistance of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and High Representative Solana. The agreement represents a major step towards...