Results 13,081-13,100 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 122 and 273 together. I remain deeply concerned about the economic hardships and political repression which are affecting the ordinary people of Zimbabwe. Some now estimate inflation in Zimbabwe at over 100,000%, as a pre-election increase in government spending has produced another major increase in prices. President Mugabe will face two principal...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 124 together. I remain very concerned at the situation in Somalia. The country has been without an effective government since 1991, and despite an initial period of stability after Ethiopian troops and Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces defeated the Union of Islamic Courts (UIC) in December 2006, the situation has worsened in recent months....

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 136 together. The Reform Treaty will have no effect on Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality. The Bill for the referendum on the Reform Treaty retains the Constitutional prohibition on participation in an EU common defence, should one ever be proposed. In addition, the Treaty retains the provision that the Union's security and defence...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland established diplomatic relations with Chad in 2000 through our respective missions to the UN in New York. The Government decided in December 2007 to request the Government of Chad to accept the accreditation of a non-resident Ambassador, based in Abuja, to facilitate communications and foster relations between Ireland and Chad, in the context of Ireland's lead role and participation...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (11 Mar 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 country and some 70 passport 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...

Written Answers — UN Resolutions: UN Resolutions (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Government strongly shares the widespread international concern about the nature of Iran's nuclear programme. We fully support the continuing efforts of the EU and its international partners to achieve a diplomatic solution. On 22 February the International Atomic Energy Agency reported on the results of a six month work programme with Iran to resolve outstanding questions about its...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Qualified Majority Voting (QMV) has long been an important feature of decision making within the Union. Many of the EU's achievements, such as the creation of the Single Market, would not have been possible without use of QMV. Under the Reform Treaty, QMV becomes the standard rule for adoption of legislation, known as "the Ordinary Legislative Procedure", although sensitive areas such as...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Following the 19 February Presidential elections in Armenia, won by the government candidate Serzh Sarkisyan, the International Election Observation Mission noted that the vote was conducted mostly in line with OSCE and Council of Europe commitments and standards but that further improvements were necessary to address remaining challenges. The EU statement of 25 February congratulated the...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Antarctic Treaty opened for signature on 1 December, 1959 in Washington DC and came into force in 1961. The stated aim of the Treaty is to ensure "in the interests of all mankind that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord." While the Treaty has been in operation since 1961, only 46...

Written Answers — Irish Communities Abroad: Irish Communities Abroad (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Maintaining and strengthening links with Irish communities abroad is a key priority of my Department. Our Embassies and Consular Offices work dedicatedly to promote all Irish interests. A central part of this is attending to the concerns and interests of our communities overseas. In their representational and promotional outreach, our Missions work directly with Irish communities across a...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The conclusion of the 22-member observer delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) that the result of the Presidential elections of 2 March in the Russian Federation reflects the will of an electorate whose democratic potential was not tapped is persuasive. Even though first- hand information on the conduct of the election around the country is lacking, I...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In response to Kosovo's declaration of independence on 17 February, a series of demonstrations took place across the territory of Republika Srpska, the ethnic Serb entity within Bosnia Herzegovina. One demonstration in the town of Banja Luka resulted in violence, leading to injuries and damage to property, including diplomatic missions. On 21 February, the Republika Srpska National Assembly...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am deeply concerned by the situation in Burma, which has forced thousands of people to seek refuge in Thailand and other neighbouring countries. Many of these have faced serious human rights violations by the Burmese military in operations in ethnic minority regions, as well as a deepening humanitarian crisis, with much of the rural population reduced to abject and desperate poverty by...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (11 Mar 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 a further 70 in the North. 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 post. Applicants...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My long-held abhorrence of cluster munitions was strengthened by what I saw and heard when I visited Lebanon last year. My personal engagement on this issue led to a commitment in my party's election manifesto, echoed in the Programme for Government, to campaign for a complete ban on the use of cluster munitions. As a major element in its campaign to prohibit cluster munitions, the Government...

Written Answers — EU Treaties: EU Treaties (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Reform Treaty provides for a more effective European Union across a range of areas. The Treaty will allow the Union to continue to develop positively, as it has throughout our thirty-five year membership. A more effective Union will continue to make Ireland an attractive place for foreign direct investment. All Member States remain free to determine their own policies in these areas...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 287 together. The countries of the Western Balkans region (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia) continue to feature prominently on the agenda of the General Affairs and External Relations Council. On 18 February last, EU Foreign Ministers recalled the Union's long-standing...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I remain deeply concerned about the developing situation in Sri Lanka. I very much regret that the ceasefire agreement concluded between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) in February 2002 has been terminated. Both the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka must recognise that a sustainable solution to the problems Sri Lanka faces cannot be achieved by...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland is accredited to Venezuela and Colombia through our Ambassador to Mexico on a non-residential basis. Our Ambassador presented his credentials to the Colombian President, Mr. Álvaro Uribe, in Bogotá in February 2006 and to the then Venezuelan Vice President, Mr José Vicente Rangel, in Caracas in May 2006. The Ambassadors of Venezuela and Colombia in London are also accredited to...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department promotes energy saving measures on an ongoing basis. It is participating in the recently launched Optimising Power @ Work, Staff Energy Awareness Campaign being led by the Office of Public Works. This campaign, which will begin in the Department this month, aims to achieve a minimum of 15% reduction in total annual carbon dioxide emissions through an intensive staff energy...