Results 1,741-1,760 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Foreign Conflicts. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of whether the European Union has a role in assisting the development of a conflict resolution process in the Basque Country is solely for the Spanish Government to decide. I am not aware of such an approach on the part of the Spanish Government to the European Union. The Government will be happy to offer support in any way deemed helpful by the Spanish Government, in the event that...

Foreign Conflicts. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I accept that the Deputy has been in the Basque Country on a number of occasions with regard to the move towards a peace process. Obviously we would welcome any assistance he and his colleagues could give in that respect. As the Deputy knows, ETA has been on the EU list of terrorist organisations since December 2001 and by a unanimous decision of EU member states, Batasuna was added to this...

Foreign Conflicts. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I repeat that all EU members unanimously decided and agreed that Batasuna was merely a cover or alias for ETA. Accordingly, calling on the Spanish Government to revoke the banning of Batasuna is futile.

Foreign Conflicts. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy referred to our own peace process and there are similarities between many peace processes happening around the world. In our instance, however, the peace process was a joint initiative between the British and Irish Governments. The Spanish Government regards its process as an internal matter, has not involved any other government or to the best of my knowledge asked any other EU...

Foreign Conflicts. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: We will not go there.

Undocumented Irish. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Government attaches the highest priority to the issue of the undocumented Irish in the United States. In all our contacts with US political leaders, we emphasise the importance of addressing the situation in a positive and sympathetic way. In this regard we welcome the engagement of President Bush on this issue and his support for a humane approach which involves reform as well as...

Undocumented Irish. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I welcome the support of the Deputy, his party and all Members of the House. It is important that an all-party and all-Oireachtas view be given on this issue. Our efforts are honed in on the legislation proceeding through the Congress. While we should not deviate, other issues and scenarios have been discussed. However, given the small window of opportunity on the legislation, we should not...

Undocumented Irish. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: President Bush articulated the diverse views of the Congress on this matter. The legislative process has taken the road of a closed border issue and dealing with security. It is now recognised that the Congress will move into a position to try to regularise the 11 million or so undocumented people in the US. I am not ruling out bilateral agreements. Those ideas are on our table and there have...

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The House will be aware of the support which the Government has given to the Finucane family in its long campaign for an independent public inquiry into the murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane. The Government fully agrees with the family on the need for a public inquiry as recommended by Judge Peter Cory. The British Government's current position is that it proposes to hold an inquiry under the UK...

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I reiterate the Government's support for what was agreed at Weston Park. Since the publication of the Inquiries Act, Judge Cory indicated he was not satisfied the proposed inquiry under the new legislation would be in accordance with the recommendation he gave on this and other inquiries, including the Breen and Buchanan inquiry into two murders in my constituency. The latter is being carried...

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of the Dublin, Monaghan and Dundalk bombings are the subject of a separate inquiry.

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: While there is a view that British Government co-operation is not as it should be, there are some indications that further information may be produced.

Northern Ireland Issues. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: This Government has made its case clearly and does not go cap in hand. People often said Irish Governments tipped the forelock to the British on issues such as Sellafield, the Dublin and Monaghan bombings or the Finucane murder. It was often said we never took a case against the Brits over Sellafield because of the special relationship between the two countries. This Government took such a...

Foreign Conflicts. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63 and 102 together. It is important to acknowledge the considerable progress that has been made in Afghanistan in recent years. We have witnessed the country's transition to democracy and representative government. A democratic constitution, a representative national parliament and a legitimate elected government are now in place. The International Conference...

Foreign Conflicts. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: It is true to say that the situation, as I have acknowledged, is still very insecure in that country. Equally, when the Deputy refers to the economic issues and the prevalence of narcotics, there has been a 21% reduction in land under poppy cultivation over the past year. Ireland has contributed over the past two years to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to counter the issue of...

Foreign Conflicts. (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Part of the meeting between the two presidents was concerned with this issue. This is something the UN takes quite seriously and significant resources are being deployed to stop the trade. It is a scourge and not just for that part of the region. These narcotics get into this part of the world and beyond. It is in all our interests to ensure that every effort is made to crack down on this as...

Written Answers — Nuclear Programmes: Nuclear Programmes (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland, along with our EU colleagues, is deeply concerned about the ongoing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, considering it to be a major threat to international peace and security. The European Council in December 2003 adopted a strategy against the proliferation of such weapons. Under this strategy, the EU will use all political and diplomatic instruments at its disposal and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The EU-Israel association agreement was signed on 20 November 1995. It entered into force on 1 June 2000. This agreement replaced an earlier EU-Israel co-operation agreement which dated from 1975. The EU-Israel association agreement is a mixed competence agreement. This means that in addition to economic, trade and trade related matters, it also covers areas such as political dialogue and...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 67, 92, 100, 146 and 147 together. The Government, and our partners in the EU, welcomed the professional conduct of the Palestinian legislative elections, which were held on 25 January. It is a tribute to President Mahmoud Abbas, and to the Palestinian people, that the process was seen to be both free and fair, and that the voters turned out in such large...

Written Answers — EU Defence Policy: EU Defence Policy (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The European security and defence policy, ESDP, is an integral part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, CFSP, and serves the Union's general objectives of peace and stability. These objectives and the provisions governing the ESDP are set out in the Treaties of Amsterdam and of Nice, which were approved by referendum. In this context, the European Union is increasing its ability to...