Results 1,581-1,600 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 60, 77, 91, 130 and 132 together. The Government, together with its partners in the EU, firmly believes that the quartet road map provides the best framework for a peaceful and lasting settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The EU is working with the parties to ensure that they take advantage of the opportunity offered by the Israeli disengagement...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, OHCHR, in Colombia was established on the basis of an agreement between the Government of Colombia and the United Nations in 1996. In September 2002, the office's mandate was extended until October 2006. The retention and expansion of the office is for negotiation between the UN and the Colombian Government but we would support a further...

Written Answers — Rapid Response Initiative: Rapid Response Initiative (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 76, 107 and 122 together. Last month, I announced two initiatives to coincide with the Government's decision to make substantial increases in Ireland's programme of official development assistance over the coming years. These are, first, to establish a rapid response initiative with the aim of strengthening Ireland's contribution to emergency and disaster...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 78 together. The Government and its partners in the EU firmly believe that the quartet road map provides the best framework for a lasting and peaceful resolution of the Israeli — Palestinian conflict. The EU is continuing to work with Israel and the Palestinian Authority to ensure that they take advantage of the opportunity following the disengagement...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57, 116, 212 and 215 together. I remain gravely concerned by the humanitarian situation in Sudan, particularly in the Darfur region of western Sudan. The conflict in Darfur has displaced about 1.8 million people during the last two years. Estimates vary but up to 200,000 people have died from the conflict, directly or indirectly. Recently, the security...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 98 together. The European Council meets tomorrow to try to reach political agreement on the European Union's future financial perspectives for the period 2007-2013. Negotiations are likely to be difficult as there are important issues to resolve. We continue to press for a deal that will enable the Union to meet the needs and expectations of its...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 71 together. The elections in Iraq tomorrow will be the start of the final phase in the political process for the reconstruction of Iraq which was set out by the UN Security Council in Resolution 1546 of June 2004. The period of interim and transitional governments is almost over. The elections are being held under the new constitution of Iraq, which...

Written Answers — Infectious Diseases: Infectious Diseases (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The EU has undertaken a substantial volume of work on both the avian and pandemic influenza threats. This work aims to improve the capacity of the Union and its member states to prevent, prepare for and respond to these threats, both within the EU and through support for third countries. Steps have already been taken by the European Commission in implementing protective measures, including...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 93 and 128 together. Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Co-operation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, currently based in Dublin, is scheduled to decentralise to Limerick. The transfer of the directorate to Limerick is due to take place in the first quarter of 2007. My Department has recently notified the...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 101 and 127 together. Ireland has a clear and strong position on Burma. Together with our EU partners we condemn the abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Burma and deplore the lack of progress towards democracy. Our goal remains an end to human rights violations there, the release and restoration of liberty to Aung San Suu Kyi and all other...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 70 together. Both Governments gave a commitment to address the issue of OTRs at Weston Park in 2001 and, as part of the Joint Declaration of 2003, undertook to bring forward proposals on the issue within their respective legislative and constitutional framework. In the context of recent acts of completion, both Governments were of the view that this...

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

Dermot Ahern: My Department has ongoing contact with the UN Committee Against Torture, CAT, and the Council of Europe's European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, CPT, regarding a range of matters. Requests for information from the CPT tend to arise from its programme of periodic visits to Council of Europe member states. The last such visit to...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68, 83 and 211 together. The security situation in Afghanistan remains a cause of serious concern and several further incidents of violence have occurred since I last reported to the Dáil on 10 November. Taliban militants and criminal groups are still active in parts of the southern and eastern regions, where the security situation remains particularly...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 74, 99, 202, 206 and 213 together. The Union's current enlargement agenda consists of two acceding countries — Bulgaria and Romania — and two candidate countries — Croatia and Turkey. At the General Affairs and External Relations Council on 12 December, the Union also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a European perspective for the western...

Written Answers — EU Constitution: EU Constitution (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 218 and 219 together. Thirteen member states have so far ratified the EU constitution but it cannot enter into force without being ratified by all member states. Following the referendum results in France and the Netherlands, it is clear that the constitution will not enter into force by the target date of 1 November 2006. The June European Council decided...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I remain gravely concerned at the long running conflict and related humanitarian crisis in northern Uganda, the deaths of many thousands of people and the displacement of over 1.5 million people. An estimated 20,000 children have been cruelly abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army, LRA, during its 19 year campaign of violence. The situation is one which clearly merits increased international...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland agrees on the need to approach migration in a global context and to strengthen dialogue and co-operation on migration issues with all regions of the world, including north and sub-Saharan Africa. We also recognise that it is only through joint action that the European Union can successfully address migration issues. Following the recent events at Ceuta and Melilla and discussions on...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 108 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 over 700,000 people being left homeless. The disastrous humanitarian consequences of this clearance...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 131 and 208 together. In a meeting on 10 November 2005, the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, acting on my behalf, conveyed to the chargé d'affaires of the Ethiopian Embassy the Government's grave concern at the unrest and loss of life which took place in Addis Ababa and some other parts of Ethiopia in early November 2005. The Minister of State...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (14 Dec 2005)

Dermot Ahern: The embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran informed the Department of Foreign Affairs on 2 November 2005 that the ambassador had been recalled to Iran and would be relinquishing his appointment as ambassador to Ireland.