Results 1,841-1,860 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Feb 2006)

Dermot Ahern: There is a total of three officers on the payroll of the Department of Foreign Affairs who are currently working with outside bodies. Details are set out in the following table. However, the information does not include officers on sick leave, for instance. Grade Location Assignment First Secretary Vienna Temporary secondment to the Austrian Foreign Ministry in connection with the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (1 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The two issues raised by the Deputy are separate and need to be considered on their merits, as the Government has done. On Guantanamo Bay, the Government's position on the condition and status of detainees is clear and has been consistently conveyed to the United States authorities. The United States has set out its general approach to the issue on many occasions. The Government's position,...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (1 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: In pursuit of the Government's strong commitment to the Irish abroad, some €12 million is available for emigrant services in 2006. This figure represents an increase of 45% on 2005. The needs of the Irish community in Britain is a particular priority for the Government. In 2005, more than 100 groups in Britain received grants from my Department amounting to €7.06 million. These included a...

Order of Business. (2 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy was renowned for interfering when he was in the then Department of Social Welfare.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (2 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs on 29 September 2004, I made the following board appointments. The advisory board of Ireland Aid was established in August 2002. The name of the board was subsequently changed to the Advisory Board for Development Co-operation Ireland in September 2003. In November 2005, the board was reconstituted and the following people were appointed. ...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (7 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 and 298 together. The Government attaches the highest priority to the issue of the undocumented Irish in the United States. In all of our contacts with US political leaders we raise our concerns and emphasise the importance of addressing the situation in a positive and sympathetic way. The coming St. Patrick's Day period will provide a particularly...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (7 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish Embassy in South Africa, which is also accredited to Zimbabwe, provides consular assistance to Irish citizens who live in, or travel to, Zimbabwe. The embassy estimates that there are now approximately 3,000 Irish citizens resident in Zimbabwe. The embassy is in regular contact with the Irish community in Zimbabwe at every level. Staff from the embassy visit Zimbabwe approximately...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: The target for the employment of people with disabilities in the Civil Service is 3%. Policy on this target is the responsibility of the Department of Finance. The guidelines for monitoring the target are set out in the 1994 code of practice for the Civil Service. In this context, the term "people with disabilities" means people with a physical, sensory or psychological impairment which may...

Written Answers — European Enlargement: European Enlargement (7 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Serbia and Montenegro opened negotiations on a stabilisation and association agreement with the European Union in October 2005. This was a reflection of the progress the country has made in its reform process. The pace and conclusion of the negotiations will depend in particular on Serbia and Montenegro's progress in developing its legislative framework and administrative capacity, the...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (7 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I condemn once again those who came to the city centre on 25 February intent on causing violence and destruction. The disorder was engineered by a small number of organised thugs supported by opportunistic hooligans. These acts have been condemned by all right-thinking people and by their political representatives on all sides. It is important that the events of 25 February in no way alter...

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

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has not concluded any specific bilateral agreements on combating terrorism with the United States. A bilateral extradition treaty between Ireland and the United States of America has been in force since 1983 that puts in place a general extradition arrangement between the two States. In addition, Ireland and the US are both parties to the following 12 multilateral terrorism...

Written Answers — Human Rights Abuses: Human Rights Abuses (7 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 304 to 306, inclusive, together. I refer the Deputy to my previous replies on the subject, in particular, to Questions Nos. 43, 47, 66 and 118 of 14 December 2005. In my reply to those questions, I recorded the Government's deep concern at the allegation that there is or has been a network of secret prisons in Europe. The existence of such secret prisons would...

Written Answers — Human Rights Abuses: Human Rights Abuses (7 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 307 to 314, inclusive, together. I refer the Deputy to my replies to Questions Nos. 246, 247 and 249 of 1 February, and 117, 119 and 120 of 2 February. I know of no landings on the State's territory of aircraft which have been illegally carrying prisoners transiting Ireland. Moreover, as I have made clear to the House on numerous occasions in responding to...

Written Answers — State Visits: State Visits (7 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 to 317, inclusive, and 321 together. A request for the aircraft carrying the President of the United States, George W. Bush, to land at Shannon Airport was applied for several days in advance by the US embassy and permission was granted in accordance with the normal procedures. It is entirely normal and appropriate to extend such courtesies to visiting...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (7 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: In my reply of 28 February to the Deputy's question I emphasised that a particular priority of the Taoiseach's and my own visit to Washington over the St. Patrick's Day period would be to convey to President Bush and his Administration and key players in Congress the Government's strong support for measures to address the position of our undocumented. I am certain our undocumented citizens...

Written Answers — Presidential Visit: Presidential Visit (7 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: There was no meeting between a representative of the Government and President Bush on this occasion.

Written Answers — Presidential Visit: Presidential Visit (7 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: Permission for President Bush's aircraft to land was granted by my Department in accordance with the normal procedures. However, operational issues with respect to landing an aircraft in the State and the security of visiting Heads of State are not matters for my Department. Queries on these matters are more appropriately addressed to the civil aviation authorities and the Garda Síochána....

Inquiry into the murder of Mr. Patrick Finucane: Motion. (8 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: I move: "That Dáil Éireann, —recalling the brutal murder of solicitor, Patrick Finucane, at his home in Belfast on 12 February 1989; —noting the on-going allegations of collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and British security forces in the murder of Mr. Finucane; —recalling the commitments made at the Weston Park talks in July 2001 by the British Government to hold a public...

Written Answers — Prisoner Transfers: Prisoner Transfers (8 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: This case continues to be monitored by my Department through the Irish Embassy in London, which remains in contact with the prison authorities. In particular, the embassy has made representations to the prison authorities in relation to the medical condition of both persons. As regards possible repatriation, I am informed by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform that the persons...

Order of Business. (9 Mar 2006)

Dermot Ahern: You opposed them.