Results 541-560 of 881 for speaker:Peter Power

Seanad: Human Rights Issues: Motion (4 Feb 2009)

Peter Power: I thank the Senators, particularly the Independent Senators, for their contributions. As usual they were incisive, constructive and extremely well informed on the important issue of human rights for which Ireland has an international reputation. The Independent Senators have put down a motion on a series of human rights, equality and poverty issues of mixed ministerial and departmental...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (3 Feb 2009)

Peter Power: As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Natural Disasters: Natural Disasters (27 Jan 2009)

Peter Power: On 8 January 2009, an earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter Scale hit Costa Rica, with the epicentre 30km from the capital, San José. According to the National Emergency Commission, the earthquake claimed the lives of at least 15 people, with more still missing. Approximately 3,700 people were accommodated in temporary shelters. The earthquake also caused damage to infrastructure,...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2009)

Peter Power: The Government's White Paper on Irish Aid, which was published in 2006, included a commitment to the establishment of an Inter-Departmental Committee on Development, to be chaired at Ministerial level. The Committee was launched in April 2007 with the objective of strengthening coherence in the Government's approach to development and making best use of the expertise and skills available...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2009)

Peter Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135, 755 and 769 together. Irish Aid's initial emergency contribution of €500,000 to support humanitarian agencies working in Gaza has been provided to the Humanitarian Response Fund, administered by the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs. This Fund was established 15 months ago to deliver a rapid response to urgent needs in the case of...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Jan 2009)

Peter Power: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143, 153 and 758 together. I remain deeply concerned about the situation in Zimbabwe and the appalling suffering of the people there. The humanitarian situation is dire and the World Food Programme is now feeding approximately half the population. This is in a country which was once the bread basket of southern Africa. Irish non-governmental organisations and...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2009)

Peter Power: Our funding for Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), which is one of the highest on a per capita basis in the world, is like every other area of Government expenditure subject to review at present. On the policy front, the Government's priorities remain as set out in the White Paper on Irish Aid. Our assistance to sub-Saharan Africa will continue to be the top priority, as will investment...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (27 Jan 2009)

Peter Power: The EU opened negotiations for Economic Partnership Agreements with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States in September 2002. The negotiations were necessary following a World Trade Organisation (WTO) ruling that the unilateral trade preferences which the EU had granted to the ACP countries established unfair discrimination between developing countries. The negotiating mandate was...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2009)

Peter Power: Through Irish Aid, the Government has provided significant assistance to a number of initiatives with the objective of supporting the rule of law in Bosnia and Herzegovina following the tragic conflicts in the region during the 1990s. In 2007 Irish Aid provided €86,000 towards an initiative by the Law Society of Ireland and the Bar Council to assist the High Judicial and Prosecutorial...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2009)

Peter Power: The Government's aid programme, Irish Aid, provides assistance to over ninety developing countries. Nine have been designated as Programme Countries, with a commitment to long term strategic assistance. These are Tanzania, Zambia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Vietnam and Timor Leste. Support to Programme Countries is based on agreed country strategies, with a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Fair Trade Scheme: Fair Trade Scheme (27 Jan 2009)

Peter Power: Ireland is one of the strongest supporters of the Fair Trade movement internationally. The objective of the Government's assistance is to enable small farmers and producers in developing countries to obtain a fair price for their produce, invest premiums to improve quality and capacity, promote employment and fund social improvements that benefit the broader community. Irish Aid, the...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2009)

Peter Power: The overarching goal of the Government's aid programme, administered by Irish Aid, is the reduction and eventual eradication of global poverty and hunger. Our partnership with development Non-Governmental Organisations represents a very important element of this effort. Irish Aid engages with NGOs through the Multi Annual Programme Scheme (MAPS), the Civil Society Fund and a number of...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2009)

Peter Power: For 2008 Ireland allocated €899 million to Overseas Development Assistance (ODA). This comprises €769 million allocated to Vote 29, International Co-operation, and a further €130 million allocated to other Government Departments and Ireland's contribution to the EU Development Co-operation Budget. Total expenditure on staffing costs for 2008 is €18.6 million. This represents 2% of...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2009)

Peter Power: Most of Ireland's expenditure on Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) is provided under Vote 29, International Co-operation. The programme is administered by the Development Co-operation Directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, also known as Irish Aid. Further contributions to ODA are made by other Government Departments and through Ireland's allocation to the EU Development...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2009)

Peter Power: The overarching objective of the Government's official aid programme is to make an effective contribution to the fight against global poverty and hunger. It is important that all of our development policies and project activities are measured against their contribution to the reduction of poverty and towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals. Through Irish Aid, the...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2009)

Peter Power: The overarching objective of Irish Aid, the Government's official aid programme, is the reduction of poverty, inequality and exclusion in developing countries. The White Paper on Irish Aid sets out the principles and policies underlying the aid programme. It also identifies considerations which guide the selection of long term development partners. These include factors such as the level of...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (18 Dec 2008)

Peter Power: Education is a key component of Ireland's Overseas Development Aid programme. This is reflected in the White Paper on Irish Aid, which states that: "Education is the primary vehicle by which economically and socially marginalised adults and children can lift themselves out of poverty". In 2006, total Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) amounted to approximately €814 million, of which...

Seanad: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (27 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: I fully take on board the main points of the Adjournment motion and certainly will convey back to the Department the Senator's requests for information. To qualify for the maximum rate of the State contributory pension, a person must start paying social insurance at least ten years before pension age, make a minimum of 260 contributions at an appropriate rate and achieve a yearly average of...

Seanad: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (27 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: I am taking this Adjournment matter on behalf of the Minister for Finance, Deputy Brian Lenihan. As Senator Ross is aware, the Finance Bill provides for changes to health expenses relief announced in the budget, which will be granted at the standard rate from 1 January 2009. There is an exception for nursing home expenses which will continue to be allowed at the marginal rate. Nursing home...

Seanad: Tax and Social Welfare Codes (27 Nov 2008)

Peter Power: I will convey the Senator's views to the Minister.