Results 13,041-13,060 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (3 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Minister for European Affairs, Mr. Dick Roche TD, visited three cities in China, Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, to represent the Government in the context of the recent annual St. Patrick's Day celebrations. As is the norm for such St. Patrick's Day visits, the visit was not an official one but rather the primary focus was on reaching out to the growing Irish Diaspora in China, and the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (3 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. In 2006, my Department spent a total of €23,458.24 on recruitment advertising in Ireland and in Missions abroad. The corresponding figure in 2007 was € 79,583.80. Expenditure was significantly higher in 2007 due to competitions being held, for the first time under my Department's own recruitment licence, for the positions of Field...

Order of Business (3 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: What was it that the former Minister, Mr. Des O'Malley, said about Deputy Michael D. Higgins?

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I have been aware of difficulties surrounding a container of sporting goods which is being donated to the organisation 'Strips for Africa' in South Africa and, as a result, I instructed our Embassy in South Africa to pursue the matter with the relevant authorities there. The Embassy has made strenuous efforts to resolve the situation, including through a meeting with the Controller of Customs...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has great sympathy for the suffering of the Ukrainian people during the devastating famine of 1932-33, known as the Holodomor. In view of the enormous effect of famine in the nineteenth century on our own people and subsequent history, the Irish people can empathise deeply with the Ukrainian experience. At the Madrid OSCE Ministerial last December, Ireland was pleased to be...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Passport Office provides a comprehensive range of options for citizens to apply for passports. Applications may be made by express post through some 1,000 post offices across the state and some 70 post offices in Northern Ireland. A guaranteed 10 working day service is available for such applications which are complete and in order. Less urgent applications can also be made by ordinary...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am deeply concerned by the situation in Tibet, and deplore the loss of life there and in other regions of China. These concerns have been directly conveyed to the Chinese Ambassador in Dublin, and my Department has remained in close contact with the Chinese Embassy on this issue. I also met with representatives of the Tibet Support Group-Ireland on 1 April. I have also carefully noted the...

Written Answers — Departmental Facilities: Departmental Facilities (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The number of parking spaces available nationally to the staff working in my Department is 284. These are distributed across nine buildings in Dublin, Balbriggan and Limerick. The Office of Public Works is responsible for the rental of premises occupied by my Department and costs incurred are a matter for that office. The Department promotes the use of public transport for travel to work by...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The establishment and operation of the Irish Abroad Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs has greatly enhanced our capacity to develop and implement policies to support the Irish community in Britain, in particular elderly people and those at risk of social exclusion. This has been, and continues to be, the key priority of the Government's Emigrant Support Programme. Britain is home to...

Written Answers — Irish Prisoners Abroad: Irish Prisoners Abroad (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 495 and 496 together. The publication of the Report on Irish Prisoners Abroad by Mr Chris Flood in August 2007 provided a welcome opportunity to review the needs of Irish citizens imprisoned overseas and the range of services we provide to these people. I believe that the Report's forward–looking approach provides a very helpful template for future...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The only external committee established by my Department in the past 15 months was the Hunger Task Force. The Hunger Task Force was established in September 2007, in line with the recommendation of the White Paper on Irish Aid, to identify the contributions that Ireland can make to international efforts to reduce hunger. The Task Force has 15 members and had its first meeting in September...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Reform Treaty was signed by European Union Heads of State or Government in Lisbon on 13 December 2007. The Treaty, as with previous EU Treaties, contains a number of Protocols which have the same legal force as the Treaty itself. The Treaty, together with its accompanying Protocols, is an agreed document among the 27 Member States and no further amendment to the Treaty can take place. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Transport: Departmental Transport (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Since becoming Minister of Foreign Affairs, I have not used a helicopter in the State, either hired or State provided. I understand that my colleague, the Minister of Defence, will shortly provide details of any travel undertaken by my Department using helicopters engaged by the Irish Defence Forces since 2002. There have been occasions where I, and officials from my Department, have been...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The issue of civilian deaths attributed to the security forces in Colombia is the subject of ongoing action at EU and UN level. Most recently, the February 2008 annual report of the United Nations Commissioner for Human Rights on the situation of human rights in Colombia notes that the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Colombia continues to receive...

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department, through the Consular Section in Dublin and our Embassy in Madrid, has been in regular contact with the family of the person concerned since the beginning of this case in January. It is a deeply worrying situation for the family and I understand the acute distress they are under. Extensive physical searches of the area where the person mentioned was last seen have been conducted...

Order of Business (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The other parties are jumping on the bandwagon.

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Order for Second Stage (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Tairgím: "Go dtógfar an Dara Céim anois." I move: "That the Second Stage be taken now."

Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2008: Second Stage (2 Apr 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Tairgim: "Go léifear an Bille an Dara hUair anois." I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." It is illustrative to note that only four Members did not want us to discuss this Bill, which I am delighted to introduce on behalf of the Government, despite the efforts of Sinn Féin to prevent us from doing so. It is designed to pave the way for the ratification by Ireland of the EU...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (13 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am very concerned by the situation of the individual referred to. This case has been repeatedly raised with the Chinese authorities through the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, including at the most recent round held in Beijing in October 2007. This Dialogue is the agreed formal framework through which the EU raises human rights issues and concerns, as well as individual cases of concern....

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (13 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: As is required in many countries, Egyptian citizens carry identity cards, which are particularly important for their interaction with the institutions of the State. Egyptian identity cards include an entry denoting the religion of the holder. The question of conversion from Islam to any other faith is a very sensitive one in almost all Islamic countries. In the case of Egypt, the general...