Results 1,681-1,700 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (1 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: As a rule, flights carrying members of the US military through Shannon Airport stop only for a brief period before continuing onward. In exceptional cases, however, exigencies may arise, such as technical failure or medical emergency, which require an overnight stay. In situations where it is desired that uniformed US military personnel be transferred from the airport, the permission of the...

Written Answers — Nobel Peace Prize: Nobel Peace Prize (1 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize can be put forward by those persons eligible to nominate candidates, including members of national assemblies, Governments and international courts of law, university chancellors and former Nobel Peace Prize laureates. The statutes of the Nobel Foundation restrict disclosure of information about nominations for a period of 50 years, with the restriction...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (1 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: No public relations contracts were continued, completed or initiated by the Department of Foreign Affairs during 2005. However, in the interest of completeness, the Deputy may wish to note the following: In November 2004, following an open tender process, Development Co-operation Ireland employed Real Event Solutions to design, organise and manage a primary school competition around the theme...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (1 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has not concluded any bilateral agreements on combating terrorism with the US, UK, France, Germany and Italy. It has, however, entered into a range of agreements, particularly in the context of the Council of Europe and the European Union, relating to the combating of terrorism or whose provisions may be used for counter-terrorism purposes. Examples of such agreements include the...

Written Answers — Landing Rights: Landing Rights (1 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 to 249, inclusive, together. The Government, as I have assured the House on numerous occasions, is utterly opposed to the practice of so-called extraordinary rendition. Any suggestion that the Government would tolerate such a practice is completely without foundation. I am aware of media reports that a number of civil aircraft alleged to be operated on...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (2 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The three individuals concerned were released from prison by a Colombian court under conditional freedom on payment of a bond. At the request of the defence team, and given in particular the on-going concern about the safety of the three people, the Department agreed to advance funds to cover the bond on the basis of a firm undertaking to repay the money involved. The decision was taken...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (2 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Only Irish citizens may obtain an Irish passport. Documentary evidence must be provided to confirm an applicant's entitlement to Irish citizenship when first making an application for a passport. On the basis of the information provided by the Deputy, it is not clear on what precise basis the person in question is claiming citizenship. I will therefore outline the requirements which may apply...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Irish law permits the transit through Irish territory of a person being detained by the authorities of another state in two circumstances. Section 40(1) of the Extradition Act 1965 allows the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform to permit the transit through the State of a person being conveyed from one country to another upon that person's surrender pursuant to an agreement in the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 120 together. I know of no landings on the State's territory of aircraft which have been illegally carrying prisoners transiting Ireland to Guantanamo Bay or elsewhere. I am aware of media and other reports concerning allegations that aircraft, which it is claimed may at some stage have been used in so-called extraordinary rendition operations between...

Written Answers — Security Issues: Security Issues (2 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of media reports that abductions have been carried out in other states by foreign secret services, and that criminal investigations have been initiated in two European jurisdictions into such abductions. The Government is completely opposed to such abductions and there is no question of any involvement on our part. I am not aware of any suggestion that such activities, which would...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (2 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: No public relations consultants were engaged by the Department in the past three years. However, in the interest of completeness, the Deputy may wish to note the following. Following a tender process, Red Dog Design were employed by the Department, on behalf of the interdepartmental presidency administrative planning group, for work relating to the design and branding for the EU Presidency...

Written Answers — Prisoner Status: Prisoner Status (2 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I understand that the person mentioned by the Deputy is a British citizen and that he has not sought to avail of his qualification for Irish citizenship. I also understand that he has sought consular assistance from the British authorities in Bulgaria. The position generally is that if one travels abroad using the passport of a particular country, one will be treated accordingly by the...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (2 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: That is no problem. The Cathaoirleach is also a busy man. I am delighted to have this opportunity to address the Seanad which has always been such a consistent source of encouragement and support for the Government's efforts in the peace process. As Senators are aware, I was in London yesterday to co-chair a meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference with the Secretary of...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (2 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Some of the media reported, on foot of the selective leaking of the IMC report and other issues, that the IICD had acknowledged that the IRA has retained some weapons, but the exact opposite is in fact the case. We were somewhat bemused and disappointed when we heard, when we were in London, that had happened. I wish to emphasise that the IMC and IICD reports have confirmed, contrary to the...

Seanad: Northern Ireland Issues: Statements. (2 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: ——to co-operate with the police service, and to take its place on the accountability mechanisms set up on foot of the Patten report, namely, the policing board and district policing partnerships. It is also the case that the Unionist parties, and particularly the DUP, have to accept when Sinn Féin makes that move that they will be part of those policing arrangements. In the comprehensive...

Leaders' Questions. (7 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Living in Drogheda.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (7 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: This matter has been raised on a number of occasions in the Dáil, most recently in response to Questions Nos. 677 and 680 on 25 January 2006. The case for ratification has been examined by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which has lead responsibility on the issue. It should be noted that the rights of migrant workers and their families,...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (7 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The total number of visa applications processed by the visa office in Dublin in December 2005 was 1,670. While precise statistics on the number of countries in question are not available, the countries of origin from which most applications were received were: Pakistan, 311; Nigeria, 251; India, 176; Philippines, 134; and Romania, 161. It is not normally the practice of the visa office to...

Written Answers — Emigrant Supports: Emigrant Supports (7 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Significant progress continues to be made on initiatives which benefit our Irish community abroad. A particularly positive development is the very substantial level of funding now available. In 2006, the unprecedented amount of €12 million has been secured for emigrant services. This figure, which represents an increase of 45% on 2005, is a clear reflection of the Government's firm...

Written Answers — Emigrant Supports: Emigrant Supports (7 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Government attaches the highest priority to the issue of the undocumented Irish in the United States. We raise our concerns in all of our contacts with US political leaders and emphasise the importance of addressing the situation in a positive and sympathetic way. In raising this matter with our US contacts, we of course appreciate that immigration is a highly divisive issue. The extent...