Results 2,341-2,360 of 4,092 for speaker:Michael D Higgins

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 — 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]

Human Rights Issues. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 95: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he favours the sending of a high level group from the European Union, or from member states including Ireland, to prepare a report on the deteriorating situation in Kenya, the humanitarian crisis which has emerged, the implications of displacement, and the failure to achieve transparency in all aspects of the electoral process, despite...

Human Rights Issues. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I welcome the Minister's reply and the financial support for the Annan mission — as well as the additional support that has been committed in humanitarian aid. I shall be supportive of any further requests that are received. I want to touch on that part of my question that asked about the violence that has broken out following the election. It relates to the answer to the previous...

Irish Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: Question 97: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the role of the interdepartmental committee on development in relation to the operation of the Irish Aid project within his Department; the points of decision making within the structure and the role of such an advisory body as exists, its role, and relationship to the interdepartmental committee on development and himself or the Minister...

Irish Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I am grateful for the Minister of State's reply. What is the relationship of the interdepartmental committee to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs? I was trying to tease out in my question the relationship of the advisory board to the new interdepartmental committee. My understanding is that the advisory board's advice to the Minister is not published nor is it available to us in the...

Irish Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I appreciate the good work the Minister of State is doing and I am sure he is chairing the group well. However, I am still left with the two questions. Irish Aid is structured so that the funding is voted to the Department of Foreign Affairs. It is not only a case of who takes the decision but also who forms the options. Is it the case that the interdepartmental committee is forming the...

Irish Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I remember it. I have been trying to forget it since.

Irish Aid. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is also involved.

Foreign Conflicts. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: I am grateful the Minister is taking the two questions together. Question No. 139 asked him to state unequivocally that the Government's view was that the war was illegal and without mandate. He may wish to return to this question. It is not a case of Ireland being unable to participate in the absence of a resolution; it is a case of Ireland being required out of respect for international...

Foreign Conflicts. (6 Feb 2008)

Michael D Higgins: There has.

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.