Results 1,741-1,760 of 4,092 for speaker:Michael D Higgins

Foreign Conflicts. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: In the course of his discussions with EU colleagues, has the Minister noted any concern at the manner in which they were conned by the falsification of evidence on weapons of mass destruction? What are the implications for their parliamentary systems, including their accountability committees, given that they were lied to? What is the Minister's view of the general damage done to the...

Overseas Development Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I welcome the Minister of State's reply. Should a request for structural adaptation be submitted to his Department, after the effects of events are known, will it be inclined to respond? I am referring to the capacity of communities to truly recover by restoring lost infrastructure as a result of natural disasters.

Middle East Peace Process. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I welcome the Minister's reply and I agree with much of it. I welcome the return to EU statements of language such as "occupation", "illegal settlements", "expansion" and the reference to international law. My question referred to the breach in the wall at Rafah. Between 700,000 and 800,000 people out of a total of 1.5 million moved in 48 hours, which indicates the deprivation that exists...

Middle East Peace Process. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I have no difficulty in agreeing to the agenda set out by Deputy Timmins in regard to the elements of a final solution. When we raised this issue previously, I noted that the Northern Ireland peace process had benefited from a permanent secretariat and drew a contrast with the so-called roadmap, which has no secretariat. My suggestion was that a permanent secretariat might have been...

Overseas Development Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I strongly support the comments made by Deputy Barry Andrews.

Overseas Development Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: The Minister of State should investigate the matter with the OAU.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 121: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is in a position to make a statement, even on an interim basis, on the results of the initiative of the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Anan, in relation to the current crisis in Kenya. [3670/08]

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 144: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the relationship between the Interdepartmental Committee on Development and the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs. [3684/08]

Requests to move Adjournment of Dáil under Standing Order 32 (7 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: In accordance with the terms of Standing Order 32 I seek the adjournment of the Dáil to discuss the following specific and important matter of public interest, namely, the need for the Minister for Foreign Affairs to take appropriate steps to ensure the safe passage out of Gaza, where they were distributing medical supplies and other forms of humanitarian assistance to orphanages and...

Order of Business (7 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: He does.

Order of Business (7 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: On more than one occasion I have asked about the Government's intentions towards ratifying the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. It would appear that the ratification process is not progressing. Previous answers have suggested that the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, as the lead Department, is reviewing the situation. The countries that have ratified the...

Order of Business (7 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Will that be done in the lifetime of this Government?

Written Answers — Redundancy Figures: Redundancy Figures (7 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 19: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of redundancies notified to his Department during 2007; the way this compares with the same period in each year from 2002 to 2006; his views on the reported increase in the number of redundancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4059/08]

Written Answers — Employment Agency Regulation: Employment Agency Regulation (7 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 46: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the reason the Employment Agency Regulation Bill, which had been on the list of legislation due to be published prior to 30 January 2008, has not been produced and has dropped to the list of legislation for which heads have not been approved by the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4058/08]

Written Answers — Sentencing Policy: Sentencing Policy (7 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 197: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if drug offenders convicted to less than ten year sentences in prison are eligible for consideration for extra remission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4317/08]

Written Answers — Voluntary Sector Funding: Voluntary Sector Funding (12 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 442: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will make provision from her Department to a group (details supplied) in County Galway to enable them to fund the Young Mothers in Education project in view of the good work that is being carried out by the project which involves more than 60 young mothers and whose continuing of their education will be put in jeopardy...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (12 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 599: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the resources, including additional resources, which he proposes to make available to local authorities in each of the river basin districts in order to enable them to implement the EU water framework directive; when the timescale and expenditures in each case will be published and communicated to the local...

Budgeting Advice. (13 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 106: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when he will place the Money Advice and Budgeting Service on a statutory basis. [5256/08]

Written Answers — Social Welfare Code: Social Welfare Code (13 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 156: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he is satisfied that the test of the habitual residence condition is being applied evenly and consistently. [5254/08]

Order of Business (14 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Before Christmas, and again in this session, Government spokespersons committed themselves to introducing legislation, following a review of the Competition Authority. This arose in the context of the discussion of the Competition (Amendment) Bill 2007. The Government indicated that a review of the Competition Authority's powers and functions was under way. When can we expect that...