Results 1,701-1,720 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (7 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland opposes, and seeks the elimination of the practice of human trafficking. The Taoiseach, in his intervention at the Council of Europe's Third Summit in Warsaw on 16 and 17 May 2005, welcomed the adoption of the Convention on Action Against Trafficking in Human Beings, as well as the conventions on terrorism opened for signature at the summit, as "[laying] down a strong marker that...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (7 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I have not met with the particular organisation referred to by the Deputy. The Government, of course, monitors the human rights situation in Iran closely, through our embassy in Tehran and in co-operation with our partners in the EU. This involves regular contact with non-governmental organisations both within and outside Iran. We remain seriously concerned about human rights issues in Iran,...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (7 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Where it is sought to transport munitions of war through Irish territory, the permission of the Minister for Transport, in the case of civilian aircraft, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in the case of foreign military aircraft, is required. The grant of such permission depends upon several different factors, among them air safety, Ireland's obligations under international agreements,...

Written Answers — European Legislation: European Legislation (7 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I have noted the opinion of advocate general of the Court of Justice of the European Communities, Mr. Philippe Léger, given on 22 November 2005, in cases C-317/04 and C-318/04 concerning the transfer of air passenger name records to the US authorities. The advocate general proposes that Commission Decision 2004/535/EC, dated 14 May 2004, and Council Decision 2004/496/EC, dated 17 May 2004,...

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

Dermot Ahern: My Department is responsible for visa applications to our missions abroad. Since January 2006, visa applications made in Ireland are the responsibility of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Visa applications received abroad, and subsequently referred to Dublin, are decided by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. All of our missions abroad are committed to...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (7 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: A search of the records of the Department of Foreign Affairs indicates that, as of 3 February, the following requests have been received since 2001: Year Number 2006 2 2005 7 2004 5 2003 4 2002 0 All of these requests related to US military personnel.

Written Answers — Undocumented Irish Emigrants: Undocumented Irish Emigrants (8 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The legislative debate on immigration reform in the United States has entered a critical phase with various proposals under consideration, including the Bill sponsored by Senators Kennedy and McCain. As the Deputy is aware, their approach is particularly attractive to the undocumented Irish as it offers a path to permanent residency. The Government attaches the highest priority to the issue...

Written Answers — Landing Rights: Landing Rights (8 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Matters relating to operations carried out by the Garda Síochána should be referred to my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In respect of questions relating to allegations of abuse at Shannon Airport, I refer the Deputy to my many previous replies on the issue, most recently that of 2 February 2006.

Written Answers — Nuclear Disarmament Initiative: Nuclear Disarmament Initiative (8 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The question of Iran's nuclear programme is kept under constant review and is also the subject of regular discussions with my ministerial colleagues within the European Union. At the last meeting of the General Affairs and External Relations Council in Brussels on 30 January, we expressed grave concern at Iran's decision to resume enrichment related activities. Such unilateral steps are not...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (9 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the alleged proposal to which the Deputy refers. It is mentioned in a recently published book and has been reported in the media. There has been no suggestion, however, that the matter went any further or that any such plan was ever carried out.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (9 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The human resources section of my Department is aware that the officer concerned has applied to decentralise to County Kildare and will do whatever it can to facilitate her application. It is a matter for the Departments based in, or moving to, her preferred locations to make an offer of a transfer to the officer. The officer's first preference is not available at this stage, and her second...

Written Answers — Civil Service Travel Scheme: Civil Service Travel Scheme (9 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The travel pass scheme was introduced in 2002 under terms and conditions set out in Department of Finance circular 50/2001 — travel pass scheme for the Civil Service, and has been made available to the staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs since then. The scheme was introduced as part of the Government's policy to encourage greater use of public transport. Under arrangements agreed...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (14 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has taken a consistently strong position on Burma at the United Nations and within the European Union. Together with our EU partners we avail of all opportunities to 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, the release and restoration of liberty to Aung...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (14 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 387 together. Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the development co-operation directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is currently based in Dublin, is scheduled to decentralise to Limerick in the first quarter of 2007. The directorate is headed by a director general, at assistant secretary level. Early in 2004, the...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (14 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs, through the consulate general in Boston, has closely followed the case of the person mentioned by the Deputy since shortly after his arrest in 1997 and has been in regular contact with him throughout his detention. The person in question was found guilty of the first degree murder of his girlfriend on 30 April 2001 and sentenced to life imprisonment. I...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (15 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland takes a consistently strong position on Burma in its bilateral contacts, in the European Union framework and at the United Nations. With its EU partners, it avails of all opportunities to condemn the abuse of human rights and fundamental freedoms in Burma and to deplore the lack of progress towards democracy. Our goal remains an end to human rights violations, the release and...

Written Answers — EU Summits: EU Summits (15 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The document referred to in the Deputy's question is a report of an official level EU-US meeting of 26 May 2004, which was prepared by the general secretariat of the European Union Council of Ministers for the confidential information of European Union governments. While the confidentiality of the document precludes it from being made available, I can inform the Deputy that the meeting formed...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (16 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Of the 191 member states of the United Nations, 76 are currently not accredited to Ireland. The following tables outline the status of accreditation of each member state to Ireland and of Ireland to those member states not accredited here. The accreditation of diplomatic missions is a matter for each Government to consider and determine. While I cannot offer reasons as to why certain...

Written Answers — Irish Emigrants: Irish Emigrants (21 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 to 389, inclusive, together. The Government attaches the highest priority to the issue of the undocumented Irish. 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. We welcome President Bush's engagement on this issue and the Taoiseach and I look...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (21 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: In the case referred to by the Deputy, the initial decision of the court on 26 April 2004 was to acquit the individuals concerned on the charge of training terrorists. It also permitted that they be released from prison under "conditional freedom". Due to serious concerns for the safety of the three men, my predecessor sent a message on 30 April 2004 to the Columbian Foreign Minister...