Results 19,401-19,420 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: On 4 January, Mr. Salman Taseer, the Governor of Punjab Province, a close associate of President Asif Ali Zardari, was killed in Islamabad by a member of his security detail. The Pakistani Government has ordered an inquiry into the killing. However, it is believed that he was killed after speaking out publicly against Pakistan's blasphemy laws. The killing has been marked by three days of...

Written Answers — Natural Disasters: Natural Disasters (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that our Embassy in Pretoria has received no requests from Irish citizens affected by the tragic flooding in South Africa, and is not aware of any Irish citizens facing serious difficulties due to it. The Embassy is located in a part of Pretoria that was not impacted by the flooding. Our Embassy has been asked to continue to monitor closely the situation...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Dilma Rousseff was inaugurated as the 36th President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, having taken 56% of the vote in the second-round of the elections, which took place on 31 October 2010. The Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, T.D. wrote to congratulate President-elect Rousseff immediately after the election. Following President Rousseff's inauguration and the appointment of the new Government,...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 51 together. Ireland strongly condemns the violence and widespread arrests which followed the presidential election in Belarus on 19 December 2010. In particular we condemn the disproportionate use of force against presidential candidates, political activists, representatives of civil society and journalists. We also call for the release of...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 50 together. The first round of Presidential elections was held in Cote d'Ivoire on 31 October 2010, after having been initially scheduled for 2005. With no outright winner, a second round was held on 28 November, in which President Laurent Gbagbo faced opposition leader Alassane Ouattara. Both rounds of the election were observed by an EU electoral...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: My Department is closely following events in the Lebanon following the collapse of the Government of National Unity on 12 January. The current crisis in the Lebanon has serious implications, not only for Lebanon itself to which, subject to securing the necessary Dáil approval, it is hoped to dispatch a contingent from the Defence Forces to serve with UNIFIL II in the coming months, but also...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to previous replies on this matter including Question 268 of 16 December 2010 and Question 626 of 12 January 2011. The Government is very conscious of the discriminatory treatment of the Baha'i community in Iran and of the particular case of the seven former Baha'i community leaders (known collectively as the Yaran), who have been in detention since 2008 and were sentenced...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: As stated in response to previous Parliamentary Questions regarding the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan, most recently on 7 December, the promotion of religious tolerance is a key objective in our bilateral and European Union relations with Pakistan. The Government condemns in the strongest terms all attacks on and persecution of the Ahmadiyya community, a particularly vulnerable minority in...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: As part of the policy to protect the integrity, security and international reputation of the Irish passport, all passports which are reported lost or stolen are immediately cancelled. This cancellation notice is circulated to worldwide border control agencies through Interpol on a daily basis. This policy equally applies to those passports which are found by third parties and returned to...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: There are no State agencies operating under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — EU Policy: EU Policy (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Addressing the very considerable economic challenges which the Union currently faces is a top priority of the incoming Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which has identified economic growth, the creation of employment and the enhancement of the sustainable competitiveness of Europe for particular focus during the first half of 2011. Ireland, in common with our EU...

Written Answers — International Diplomacy: International Diplomacy (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Minister Martin met with the Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parilla on 19 May 2010 during his visit to Dublin. During this meeting, a range of bilateral and multilateral issues, including EU-Cuba relations were discussed. At the Foreign Affairs Council in October 2010, Ministers considered developments in Cuba, including the release of political prisoners and the announcement of...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The persistence of the conflict in Darfur, albeit at a lower level than the intense violence of 2003-2004, and the continuing suffering of the people in the region are of grave concern. The UN estimates that the past seven years of conflict there have resulted in the deaths of over 300,000 people and the displacement of nearly three million while there are reports of ongoing security...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: There are several countries in Africa which are suffering from conflict, food shortages, and human rights abuses, and some which have suffered genocide. The international community continues to intervene to address these issues on the African continent, whether on a bilateral or multilateral basis. With regard to the issue of hunger and famine, it is estimated that more than a billion...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: Finding a solution for our undocumented citizens in the United States remains an important priority for this Government. The Government is also committed to working with our friends in Congress to enhance Ireland's bilateral visa arrangements with the US through the establishment of a two year renewable E-3 visa facility. The Government is encouraged by President Obama's continued commitment...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The EU has continued to follow closely developments in relation to the blockade of Gaza following the announcement by Israel in June of a significant easing of the terms of the blockade. The measures to ease the blockade have, so far, proved inadequate and we need to see much greater action from Israel and more quickly, if conditions in Gaza are to be genuinely improved. The level of imports...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: I refer the Deputy to my answer to the Priority Question on the same issue on today's Order Paper, a transcript of which is below. As Deputies are aware, the direct Israeli-Palestinian talks were suspended shortly after they began in September, following Israel's refusal to extend its partial freeze on settlement construction. The United States, as the convenor of the talks, engaged in a...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (20 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: As a beneficiary of past enlargement, and on the experience of more recent accessions, Ireland is generally supportive of enlargement. The prospect of enlargement bolsters economic and political reform processes and helps to promote stability, security and prosperity in Europe. Ireland takes an active role in discussions on the issue, both at Council meetings and in bilateral discussions...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (25 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The number of bodies within my Department's remit has been reduced from five to one, resulting in a reduction in budget allocations of €3.45m or 60%. The total Separate programme funding for the work of the Ireland Newfoundland Partnership and the Active Citizenship Office ceased in 2009. The separate Offices in these areas have been discontinued which has given rise to savings in my...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (25 Jan 2011)

Brian Cowen: The National Economic and Social Development Office is the only agency under the aegis of my Department. As it is a non-commercial semi-state body the questions as to turnover and losses do not arise.