Results 13,121-13,140 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Decentralisation Programme. (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the development co-operation directorate of the Department of Foreign Affairs, which is Irish Aid's headquarters, will decentralise to Limerick. Good progress has been made and personnel have either been assigned to, or identified for, 105 posts or approximately 85% of the 124 posts scheduled to be decentralised. An advance party has...

Decentralisation Programme. (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The overall figure is 124 posts that are to be scheduled, of which 105 have already been identified. Some 57 officers are already in place in temporary accommodation in Limerick. Of the 105 posts identified, 33 are filled by officers who served in the Department at the time of decentralisation and others have come from other Departments. Regarding the figure rising from 105 to 124 posts,...

Decentralisation Programme. (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The staff in Limerick are currently working in temporary accommodation as the recently built offices are being outfitted. It is anticipated that this will be completed in June 2008. The balance of officers to move to Limerick are currently working in the Irish Aid offices in Dublin.

State Visits. (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: A state visit to Ireland by the President of the Republic of Estonia, Mr. Toomas Hendrik Ilves, is due to take place in mid-April 2008. There is a strong likelihood that a second state visit, from another of the countries that joined the European Union on 1 May 2004, will take place later in the year. The general purpose of visits by Heads of State, including visits by the President abroad,...

State Visits. (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: An invitation is normally extended by the President, with the Government's agreement and the two governments involved would usually decide when a visit should take place. I do not recall either an incoming or outgoing visit ever being rejected. There may be occasions, such as an election, when it would not be appropriate for the President to conduct a visit to a state but generally...

State Visits. (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Taoiseach recently said that a visit to Ireland by the Queen of England is on the agenda but, in the context of the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement, there are outstanding matters, including the devolution of policing and justice issues. When these matters are addressed the question of a state visit by the Queen of England will be examined more intensely. The Taoiseach...

Foreign Conflicts. (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 277 together. I warmly welcome the conclusion of a peace deal between the Kenyan Government and Opposition on 28 February 2008, following over a month of mediation talks led by the former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan. This is an important and potentially historic agreement which I hope will bring to an end the ethnic conflict and strife which Kenya...

Foreign Conflicts. (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: On the issue of the displaced people, the international community is keeping a close eye from the point of view of humanitarian relief. That is one of the major concerns. The fact is that large numbers are going home. In regard to dealing with some of the atrocities that took place, part of the agreement includes the establishment of a truth and reconciliation commission and also a...

Foreign Conflicts. (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: On the issue of climate change, I had a very good discussion recently with a leading expert in foreign policy from the UK who specialises on the effect of climate change on the developing world. At the European Council meeting this week, Javier Solana will table a fairly major document, if my memory serves me correctly, entitled Climate Change and International Security. It deals with how...

Foreign Conflicts. (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The recent uprising was caused by long-standing issues, particularly land distribution and old scores. Kenya is a large, diverse country with 35 million people and 45 ethnic groups. Difficult ethnic issues exist and it has been reasonably well governed in recent years. Unfortunately, its difficulties came to a head because of the suspicion about the election. This is one of the priorities...

Overseas Development Aid. (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: It is just as well I had not run out the door.

Overseas Missions. (11 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The situation in Chad remains complex, fluid and fragile. A rebel attack on N'Djamena in early February led to at least 160 deaths and thousands of people being displaced before it was repulsed by Government forces. The main group of rebels is now located near the Sudanese border. According to some reports, a new rebel offensive remains a possibility. The UN Security Council has urged an...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (6 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which represent a measurable framework for development up to the year 2015, are at the heart of Ireland's development cooperation programme as set out in the 2006 White Paper on Irish Aid. They inform both our bilateral work in Programme Countries and our support for and dialogue with multilateral development bodies. Irish Aid's focus on...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (6 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department has not devolved responsibilities or functions to any State or statutory agency.

Seanad: Cluster Munitions: Motion (6 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I thank Senator Boyle for allowing me to speak at this point. I also thank Senator Norris for his comments.

Seanad: Cluster Munitions: Motion (6 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I was somewhat bemused by the Senator's remarks in that respect. In any event, I was pleased to be asked to consider an all-party motion, on the basis of which all of us should unite to condemn a horrible practice by other states. I value the commitment of the Seanad and all parties to combating the scourge of these weapons. I welcome support for the role the Government has played in...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions: Motion (6 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: There are. We are talking about ensuring that from now on, and particularly in the context of any future legislation, there will be a ban on the investment by our pension reserve funds in any companies that manufacture cluster munitions.

Seanad: Cluster Munitions: Motion (6 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: That is an issue for the independent National Pensions Reserve Fund. It has signed up to ethical guidelines in that respect but when it was pointed out that there are reports that some funds have been invested in cluster munitions, it is in agreement with Government policy, which is enunciated in the programme for Government and I have indicated clearly to it that it is the desire of...

Seanad: Cluster Munitions: Motion (6 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: ——to ensure they are given cover in that respect. The Government is determined to achieve the strongest possible prohibition on cluster munitions and to make a meaningful difference to the lives and livelihoods of vulnerable civilians around the world who have suffered from their use. I have made clear my personal and long-standing engagement on this issue. I have been active on this...

Written Answers — UN Resolutions: UN Resolutions (4 Mar 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland was a co-sponsor of an Indian resolution, adopted in June 2007, at the UN General Assembly, which declared 2 October, the birth date of Mahatma Gandhi, the International Day of Non-Violence. The resolution invites Member States to commemorate the International Day in an appropriate manner and to disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public...