Results 13,181-13,200 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The format of Ireland's passport complies fully with all the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the European Union (EU). The ICAO sets common standards for travel documents as part of its role to facilitate the secure movement of people across international frontiers. ICAO Document 9303 sets out in detail the standards for machine readable travel...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The situation in Darfur remains dire, and the suffering of its people continues unabated. The fracturing of the main rebel groups over the past year makes the pursuit of peace even more difficult. The peace talks on Darfur which the UN and African Union are mediating represent a vital window of opportunity to bring about a lasting peace, and all of the parties bear a responsibility to use...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The restriction concerning payment by cheque was introduced only in respect of cases where a person requests urgent processing of an application and the issuing of a passport within five days. This approach was taken because a number of cheques had "bounced" following the issuing of a passport. The restriction on payment by cheque for urgent applications has since been reviewed and after...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Department is fully committed to the implementation of eGovernment in its services to the public. In this regard, it has recently introduced on line tracking of passport applications. This facility enables an applicant to track the progress of his or her application on line by entering the application number into the Passport Office website. As regards a full on-line application...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested was not recorded on an individual Deputy basis in 1994. However, for 2007, the number of applications recorded by the Department as having been submitted by the Offices of Deputies Hogan and Kenny were, respectively, 0 and 39.

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the table below. The Deputy may wish to note that, in addition to the figures requested, it is also possible for Irish citizens to apply for a passport in person at the public offices in Dublin and Cork or to drop their applications into designated collection points or 'drop boxes' at these offices. The combined total for these was some...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In 2005, the Government decided that, building on the existing free transport, television licence, phone and electricity schemes for older people, passports should also be available free to persons aged 65 and over. This was warmly welcomed at the time. The reality now is that, if this attractive scheme is to work satisfactorily, there clearly has to be a fixed starting date and fixed...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: At the Headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs, a small number of staff in specialised areas are retained on a contract basis. No agency workers are employed at Headquarters, though 26 members of local staff at Missions abroad are engaged through employment agencies. No State agencies fall under the auspices of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 311 and 314 together. No disks, laptops or memory storage devices containing personal information about members of the public have been lost or stolen from the Department of Foreign Affairs. There are no agencies attached to the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Requests to the Consular Section of the Department for financial assistance are usually made by telephone and sometimes by different relatives of the same person. It is not possible for the Department to give a breakdown on the number of representations we have received over the past four years as statistics are only kept in cases where funds are actually advanced for payment. The...

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The funds referred to by the Deputy were repaid in full on 20th August, 2004 by the 'Bring Them Home Campaign'.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I share deep concerns regarding the welfare of vulnerable children in the Mogilino social care home. The need for action to address this disturbing legacy of past policies and attitudes is acknowledged by the Bulgarian authorities. In view of Irish concerns, I asked our Ambassador to Bulgaria to meet with the Minister who has responsibility for institutional care and to raise with her these...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: There are a number of ways in which a person, who is born outside Ireland, can obtain an Irish passport through establishing his/her citizenship. These include that of a person who has one Irish born parent, irrespective of where he/she was born. This may well be the case of the person in question. However, as we understand he was born in the UK, the first step in establishing his...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: No member of the Department of Foreign Affairs has been dismissed since the introduction of the Civil Service Regulation Act 2005.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I have detailed below the amounts of travel subsistence payments made to Civil Servants in my Department, both at Headquarters and in our 75 Missions abroad, over the past five years. Subsistence Allowances (2002 to 2007) 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Travel Subsistence €1,319,001 €1,229,711 €1,247,823 €1,215,206 €1,246,823 €1,198,049 In addition to the figures outlined...

Written Answers — Passport Validity: Passport Validity (7 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Immigration requirements differ from country to country. For the majority of destinations, including all EU member states and the United States, Irish passports are valid for travel up until the date of expiry. Some other countries, however, require a passport to have a validity of six months or longer for travel purposes. The long-established practice of the Passport Office to issue...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (7 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The table below represents the amount of electricity used in my Department's headquarters at Iveagh House, St Stephen's Green, as advised by the Electricity Supply Board, for the past three years. 2005 kWh 2006 kWh 2007 kWh Jan/Feb 140,050 January 76,056 January 68,828 February 70,474 February 61,819 March/April 130,700 March 73,147 March 64,859 April 61,563 April 52,592 May/June...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (7 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department advanced funds to facilitate the payment of a bond on behalf of Irish citizens on one occasion during the past five years. The funds were advanced on 25th June 2004 to facilitate the release of three Irish citizens from prison in Colombia in accordance with the ruling of the court. My Department, at the request of the defence team and given the very serious and ongoing consular...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 114 together. In December 2007, the General Affairs and External Relations Council adopted Conclusions reaffirming the EU's commitment to long-term support for Afghanistan. The goal, in cooperation with the Afghan government, remains to extend stable and legitimate government and the rule of law to all parts of Afghanistan. It is of course also...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 110 together. The situation in Darfur remains dire, and the suffering of its people continues unabated, and the fracturing of the main rebel groups over the past year makes the pursuit of peace even more difficult. The peace talks on Darfur which the UN and African Union are mediating represent a vital window of opportunity to bring about a lasting...