Results 12,961-12,980 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — EU Policies: EU Policies (1 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland supports the competitiveness and cohesion policies, which are key priorities for the European Union. These priorities are reflected in the Union's Lisbon Strategy, which aims to make Europe a more competitive and knowledge-driven economy, and in the EU's budgetary framework, which provides significant financial resources for the implementation of competitiveness and cohesion policies....

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (1 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I welcome the holding of Constituent Assembly elections in Nepal on 10 April 2008. It was an important landmark in the country's peace process, which began when the Government and the Maoists signed a peace accord in November 2006. The EU mounted an Observation Mission to these elections, in which Ireland participated. Due to the complexities of the electoral process and the unique...

Written Answers — Córas Aistriúcháin: Córas Aistriúcháin (1 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Bronnadh stádas mar theanga oifigiúil agus oibre an AE ar an nGaeilge ar 1 Eanáir 2007. Sainmhíníonn Rialachán 920/2005 na socraithe a bhaineann leis an nGaeilge mar theanga oifigiúil. Ciallaíonn an stádas a baineadh amach go gcaithfidh gach institiúid san AE, an Pharlaimint san áireamh, gach rialachán a ghlacfaidh an Chomhairle agus Parlaimint na hEorpa leo i gcompháirt a...

Written Answers — EU Policies: EU Policies (1 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In recent years and particularly since the 2004 enlargement, the EU has placed increased emphasis on building up relations with Russia and other eastern neighbours. The EU-Russia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), which came into force in December 1997 for an initial ten year period, has been "rolled over" pending a new agreement, negotiations on which are expected to begin...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (1 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Government shares the genuine and broadly held desire across the European Union for improved relations with Iran. The EU and Iran share an interest in a stable, prosperous and peaceful Middle East. I believe there are no unbridgeable divides between our interests and those of the Iranian people. However, it has been clear for some years that there are a number of broad areas in which...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (1 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I remain deeply concerned about the situation in Afghanistan. There are very clear concerns regarding security, human rights, governance and rule of law issues, as well as narcotics. The security situation remains a continuous cause of concern. While the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) has enjoyed significant military successes over the past number of months, insurgency-related...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (1 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland closely monitors developments in the human rights situation throughout the world and, where the situation warrants, we make known our concerns to the governments in question, bilaterally, through the EU, or through action at the UN General Assembly or the UN Human Rights Council. Ireland also supports the work of the International Criminal Court, which marks a real effort to end...

Written Answers — Crime Prevention: Crime Prevention (1 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions 106 and 107 together. One of the key objectives of the EU is to offer its citizens an area of freedom, security and justice without internal frontiers, in which the free movement of persons is ensured in conjunction with appropriate measures with respect to inter alia the prevention and combating of crime. The provisions of the Reform Treaty with regard to the Area...

Written Answers — Undocumented Irish: Undocumented Irish (1 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Government continues to attach the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. The Taoiseach emphasised this commitment during his address to the US Congress yesterday. I am also having a series of meetings on the issue with key Congressional figures and with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform in Washington this week. Following the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (1 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: It is not the practice of the Government to classify countries in the manner suggested by the Deputy. However, it is clear that hunger, conflict and human rights abuses are prevalent in too many parts of the world and that they are frequently linked. We recognise the essential interconnections between collective security, development, and human rights and these areas are central to our...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (1 May 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The December 2007 European Council reaffirmed that the future of the Western Balkans lies within the European Union and the countries of the region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) continue to feature on the agenda of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. On 18 February last, EU Foreign Ministers...

Written Answers — Accidents Overseas: Accidents Overseas (30 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 104 together. Over the past decade, the number of Irish citizens travelling and living abroad has increased dramatically. For instance, Irish residents made almost 8 million visits abroad in 2007. As a result, the number of requests to my Department for consular assistance and support has increased significantly. While the vast majority of visits...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (30 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Together with our European Union partners, Ireland is closely monitoring developments in regard to Colombian Supreme Court investigations in connection with the alleged association of members of Congress and Government officials with paramilitary groups in Colombia. We respect the fact that the due process of law is being applied. Any association between elected representatives and officials...

Written Answers — Extraordinary Rendition: Extraordinary Rendition (30 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of extraordinary rendition has been raised on numerous occasions in this House. As has been made repeatedly clear, the Government are completely opposed to the practice of the extraordinary rendition of prisoners. The Government has received specific assurances from the US authorities that such prisoners have not been transferred through Irish territory, nor would they be, without...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (30 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish Embassy in Paris was first advised of the arrest of the person referred to by the Deputy by a member of his family on 10 April. The person concerned was travelling on a British passport and, at his request, has been receiving considerable consular assistance from the British authorities. However, our Embassy in Paris is following the case closely. Officials from the Embassy are...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (30 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: A passport was issued to the person in question on 11 August, 2006. The application for this passport was submitted by the applicant through the Irish Embassy in New Delhi. It was not processed through the office of any Government Minister or Member of the Houses of the Oireachtas. The applicant submitted a certificate of post-nuptial citizenship, as his evidence of his Irish citizenship.

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (29 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: An application for the issue of a passport may be made on behalf of a child by his or her parent or guardian, or by a person authorised by an order of a court in the State to give consent to the issue of a passport. Where a child has been in foster care pursuant to a statutory care order for a period of less than five years, an application for a passport for that child must be made by the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (29 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The financial resources allocated to Irish Missions abroad, including the Embassy of Ireland in Washington and the Consulates in the United States of America, are primarily for administrative costs, allocated in line with normal budgetary arrangements, and do not involve significant discretionary funding. Any funding decisions are taken by the Minister on the basis of careful consideration of...

Written Answers — Departmental Legislation: Departmental Legislation (29 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: All Bills brought forward by my Department since 1997, together with the dates they were presented to the Oireachtas and the dates they were introduced to either the Dáil or Seanad Éireann in Second Stage, are listed in tabular form. For ease of reference, the names of the corresponding Acts are also listed. I understand that all Bills are published on the Oireachtas website upon...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (29 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 and 258 together. As I made clear in my reply to the Deputy's question on 22 April, when my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government expressed his serious concern about the situation in Tibet and appealed for dialogue between the Chinese authorities and representatives of the Dalai Lama, he was reflecting Government...