Results 1,801-1,820 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 152 together. The Government and its partners in the EU firmly believe that a lasting and peaceful settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can only be found through a negotiated, mutually-satisfactory two-state solution. The principles and steps set out clearly in the quartet roadmap continue to provide the only available framework for such a...

Written Answers — Citizens' Risk Abroad: Citizens' Risk Abroad (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware that there were a number of incidents of hostility and aggression towards some European interests and individuals following the publication of the cartoons referred to by the Deputy in some European media. However, I am not aware that there are any reasons at this stage to believe that Irish citizens are the target of any specific threat. The Department is keeping the situation...

Written Answers — Sudanese Famine: Sudanese Famine (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138, 169 and 241 together. In the past year, there has been progress in stabilising the long-running conflict between the north and the south of Sudan. A comprehensive peace agreement was signed in Nairobi on 9 January 2005. Following a delay due to the accidental death of southern leader and First Vice President John Garang in July, a Government of National...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The proposals referred to by the Deputy were discussed with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Hain, and with his predecessor Paul Murphy, on a number of occasions prior to the publication on 16 February 2006 of the relevant draft legislation in the Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. The issue was discussed at meetings of the BIIGC, which I chair jointly with...

Written Answers — Travel Advice: Travel Advice (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs travel advice is available on its website, www.dfa.ie. The advice is regularly updated and is designed to help Irish citizens make informed decisions before travelling overseas. It reflects a considered assessment of the risks involved and is based on the best information available to the Department. It draws on reports from Irish diplomatic and consular...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland's support for the concept of an international arms trade treaty is unqualified. The process of negotiating such a treaty is, however, likely to be lengthy and complex and it is not at this stage possible to forecast when, or in what form, a final text might emerge. The General Affairs and External Relations Council of the European Union, at its meeting on 3 October 2005, acknowledged...

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

Dermot Ahern: The establishment of the Justice and Reconciliation Commission by King Mohammed VI of Morocco in January 2004 was a courageous initiative, unprecedented in the region, to investigate human rights abuses in the period from 1956 to 1999. The 17-member commission was successful in launching a vigorous public debate in Morocco on the difficult legacy of that era. It presented its report to the...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The two agreements in question are the Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United States of America concerning Security Measures for the Protection of Classified Military Information and the Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement between the Department of Defence of Ireland and the Department of Defence of the United States of America. The first agreement...

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

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the incident to which the Deputy refers. The Government, in common with its EU partners, regards the extra-territorial provisions of the Helms-Burton Act as contrary to international law. The Council of the European Union has adopted legal measures protecting EU enterprises against the effects of extra-territorial legislation adopted by a third country.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has a long-standing policy of support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, NPT, with which we have had a close association since Frank Aiken's initiative almost 50 years ago. We attach the utmost importance to its universalisation. India, Pakistan and Israel are the only three countries that have not signed the NPT and Ireland will continue to avail of every...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I welcome the SDLP North South Makes Sense document launched on 13 February. It represents a positive contribution to the agenda of North-South co-operation and the development of the all-island economy. I agree wholeheartedly with the document's proposition that North-South co-operation makes sense, and will be closely examining the SDLP proposals on how we might take this process further....

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

Dermot Ahern: Article 42 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises the right of the child to be protected from economic exploitation and from performing any work that is likely to be hazardous or to interfere with the child's education, or to be harmful to the child's health or physical, mental, spiritual, moral or social development. The main UN agency dealing with the issue of bonded...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The first meeting at the level of Defence Minister between the 26 NATO countries and the southern Mediterranean countries was held in Italy on 10 February 2006. Israel was represented at the meeting, as were Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia. The Ministers agreed to develop further their co-operation in areas, including defence reform, training and response to natural...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Government is satisfied that it is fully in compliance with its obligations under international law in regard to the issue of so-called "extraordinary renditions". With regard to the landing at Shannon Airport of the plane mentioned in the Deputy's question, the allegations made about it and other planes are based on the retrospective imposition of a pattern of movement on flight data...

Written Answers — Foreign Trials: Foreign Trials (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The case to which the Deputy refers relates to five Cuban citizens who were convicted in the US in 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to first degree murder. A panel of three judges from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta overturned the 2001 convictions on 9 August 2005 and ordered a retrial based on new evidence. The Miami District Attorney duly filed an appeal against the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to today's priority question on this case. 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 Patrick Finucane. We fully agree with it on the need for a public inquiry as recommended by Judge Peter Cory. As the Deputy is aware the British Government's current...

Written Answers — Foreign Missions: Foreign Missions (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: My Department regularly reviews the security of Irish missions abroad from the point of view of the safety and protection of personnel, both staff and visitors, and the security of all official premises and their contents. In addition, as part of the risk management process within the Department, our missions abroad have crisis response plans for dealing with emergencies that would threaten...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: A number of countries in the Horn of Africa region, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti, have been suffering from prolonged drought and are in food crisis. It is estimated that some 5.5 million people have been affected, including 1.4 million in Somalia. On 2 February 2006 the UN Secretary General appointed Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik, former Prime Minister of Norway, as his special...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: In line with the close attention which the Government gives to parades issues, yesterday I met the chair of the Parades Commission, Roger Poole. I expressed support for the work of the commission and outlined the Government's view that contentious parades should be resolved through meaningful dialogue between the relevant groups. In addition there have been ongoing contacts at official level...

Written Answers — EU Constitution: EU Constitution (22 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The European constitution is a major issue on the European Union's agenda and is therefore regularly discussed when I meet with my European counterparts. Following the "No" votes in France and the Netherlands, the European Council decided to embark on a period of reflection on the constitution and the future of Europe with a view to responding to the concerns voiced by EU citizens. EU Foreign...