Results 3,861-3,880 of 4,092 for speaker:Michael D Higgins
- Overseas Development Aid. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: Question 5: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the reason a reference is not included in the information pack and quick guide to the work of Development Co-operation Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18783/05]
- Overseas Development Aid. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: I would like to elaborate explicitly on my initial question. The information pack produced as an introduction to the work of Development Co-operation Ireland is attractive and colourful. Neither the substantial pack nor the handy guide that accompanies it contains a reference to a target of allocating 0.7% of GNP or GNI by any given year. The pack refers to the UN target of 0.15% of aid being...
- Overseas Development Aid. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: Yes.
- Overseas Development Aid. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: I do not query the reference in the information pack to the achievement of the 0.15% target. It is extraordinary, however, that the booklet does not contain a simple sentence saying that the Government will announce shortly the year in which it proposes to achieve the UN target of 0.7%. I am afraid that the international concentration on the poorest countries in the world, which are in...
- Overseas Development Aid. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: Yes.
- Overseas Development Aid. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: I accept that.
- Overseas Development Aid. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: Question No. 33 refers to the Taoiseach's remarks in reply to a statement made by Bob Geldof. Mr. Geldof has continually stressed the connection between aid, trade and debt. In the case of Zambia, for example, one of the requirements of the International Monetary Fund for Zambia was that it would privatise the Zambian bank, which had many small depositors. The Zambian Government said "No" and...
- Overseas Development Aid. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: It is 0.39% really.
- Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: When the Taoiseach met President Bush, one of the difficulties was he could not state how many undocumented or out of status Irish were in the US. As the Taoiseach stated, estimates vary. I wish the Kennedy-McCain initiative Bill well. Is the REAL ID programme not a more imminent danger to out of status Irish? Irish people will not be able to obtain a driver's licence, which will prevent them...
- Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform stated he regards the procedures as a burden. He made a disgraceful remark about international law; it was scandalous. He said he would like to deal with cock and bull stories of immigrants at the airport. No Minister in the civilised world has said anything like that in recent times.
- Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: We have far fewer but the situation is much worse.
- Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, does not speak for me.
- Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: There are three minutes remaining. Is that correct?
- Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: I wish to hear a reply to the question regarding the Warsaw speech.
- Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: The reply can be brief. It was a very slight speech.
- Undocumented Irish Emigrants. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: I am referring to Question No. 8. It was a very slight speech so it will not take the Minister of State very long to comment on it. It is extraordinary because it is of a very low standard. I hope that I do not get someone into trouble by saying that. However, it is not up to the usual standards of Iveagh House. Perhaps the Minister for Foreign Affairs wrote it himself.
- United Nations Reform. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: I understand that, but we lost time during the earlier confusion.
- United Nations Reform. (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: I have a short, supplementary question. Obviously the Minister for Foreign Affairs is casting his net wide. However, I referred to his speech in Warsaw, which includes the following statement: International law has long recognised the right of states to take action to pre-empt an imminent attack. Preventive action against a potential threat, however, should remain a matter for the Security...
- Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: Tá sé suimiúil gur labhair an tAire i nGaeilge nuair a chuir sé tús leis an dÃospóireacht seo ar an Dara Céim. TréaslaÃm leis mar gheall air sin. Beidh suim ag lucht teangeolaÃochta chomh maith ar an chaoi inar úsáid sé an Ghaeilge mar chum sé a lán briathra nua agus focal nua ar nós "cearta an indibhidiúla" agus mar sin, focail nach raibh in úsáid in am asheanathar nuair...
- Criminal Justice Bill 2004: Second Stage (Resumed). (2 Jun 2005)
Michael D Higgins: Hear, hear.