Results 13,241-13,260 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

EU Treaty. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: No. The issue of the Attorney General's advice to the Government is always confidential.

Foreign Conflicts. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 139 together. After several years of deepening crisis, there have been clear signs of a significant improvement in the security situation in Iraq in the past six months. There has been a marked reduction in violence in almost all areas, especially Baghdad, and in many towns and cities something approaching normal civilian life has again become...

Foreign Conflicts. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The legality or otherwise of the Iraq war has been debated many times inside and outside the House. There has been no international consensus as to whether it was legal or illegal.

Foreign Conflicts. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: We were not prepared to participate but the subsequent resolutions were put in place and, although they were not unanimously accepted originally, they are now unanimously accepted year on year. This has happened in particular at the request of the Iraqi Government, which seeks to have the continued presence of the multinational force to supplement the increasing level of Iraqi ability to...

Foreign Conflicts. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I cannot put a date on when the multinational force will leave Iraq but local security forces there have increased their capability. Ireland is a substantial distance from Iraq but we have been part of the EU effort to try to assist the Iraqis' capacity to rebuild their judicial and security systems. Last year, a significant number of Iraqi officials who have been involved in rebuilding...

Foreign Conflicts. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: It is the case that on Friday, 1 February 2008, bombs carried by two women exploded in markets in different areas of Baghdad, killing over 100 people and wounding 200 others. Apparently, these bombs were detonated by remote control, which is probably one of the most dastardly operations that has ever been carried out in my memory. We roundly condemn these bombings.

Foreign Conflicts. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Yes, they had a disability. It shows the lengths to which these people will go to try to disrupt what is a very slow peace process. Ireland's view has been made clear for many years. The issue now is to give, as soon as possible, the democratically elected Iraqi Government and the Iraqi people an opportunity to be the authors of their own destiny. Given the fact that they have continued...

Foreign Conflicts. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: What happened over the years in Iraq is a cause for reflection. However, there is now a possibility that the democratically elected government of the Iraqi people is in a position to move out of what has been a terrible period in that country's history. Of course, we should look back to see how things could perhaps have been done better. While there has been significant turmoil in...

Middle East Peace Process. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 109, 111, 124, 155, 224 and 225 together. I share the concern that events on the ground in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories threaten to undermine the important political progress which has been made in recent months. I have strongly condemned the killings of Palestinian civilians in recent weeks and the continued firing of rockets from...

Middle East Peace Process. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The thorny issue of engagement with Hamas resonates with our own difficulties in engaging with people who had the Armalite in one hand and the ballot box in the other. We have had this discussion on numerous occasions since Hamas was successful at the ballot box. During my first visit to Jerusalem and Israel, the then Foreign Minister handed me the charter of Hamas and asked me to read the...

Middle East Peace Process. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I do not agree that we have handed the leading role to the United States. The fact is that the US has the greatest influence on the Israelis, so it has to be involved. Thankfully, it has been more involved in recent times than heretofore. The EU has been very active in this area. As paymasters for the humanitarian situation, we provided in the region of €1 billion to the Palestinian...

Middle East Peace Process. (6 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I agree with the Deputy on the issues he raised in regard to the increasing and deepening of the settlements. We were surprised but welcomed President Bush's condemnation of the settlements and his clear indication that the US was of the view that they should not continue. If a two-state solution is ultimately to be found, these creeping increases in settlements will leave the issue of...

Written Answers — EU Reform Treaty: EU Reform Treaty (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Following its signature in Lisbon on 13 December 2007, Member States are expected to ratify the Reform Treaty by 1 January 2009. The Attorney General has advised that the legal effects of the Reform Treaty require amendment of the Constitution to enable ratification by Ireland. The timing of the referendum is currently under consideration by the Government. A number of points will have to...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 378 together. At present, there is only one organisation which operates under the aegis of my Department which was established on a statutory basis, the Ireland-United States Commission for Educational Exchange (the Fulbright Commission). The Fulbright Commission finances study, research, teaching and other educational activities between Ireland and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am aware of the arrest of 8 people, including 5 lawyers and the Malaysian citizen under reference, on 9 December 2007 during a protest to mark International Human Rights Day. I understand these individuals were charged under Malaysia's Police Act, and were released shortly thereafter. A date has not yet been set for their trial. I have asked that the Embassy in Kuala Lumpur continue to...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 380 to 382, inclusive, together. There is currently one task force operating in my Department. This is the Hunger Task Force which is serviced by the Development Co-operation Directorate of my Department. This is the only task force which has been established under the auspices of my Department in the past five years. The establishment of a Hunger Task Force...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 383 and 384 together. Under the Government's decentralisation programme, the Development Cooperation 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, 103 posts or approximately 83% of the 124 posts...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Passports are generally issued in the name of the applicant as it appears in his or her certificate of birth. On request, a passport may also be issued to a person in a new name following marriage. Such applications require the provision of a civil marriage certificate and either the long form of the applicant's certificate of birth or a previous passport issued in the name that applied...

Written Answers — Reconciliation Fund: Reconciliation Fund (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Applications to the Reconciliation Fund are reviewed on a periodic basis by an Inter-Departmental Advisory Committee. After considering each application on its merits, the Committee forwards its recommendation to me for final decision. The overriding aim is to ensure as widespread and equitable distribution of funding as possible, giving consideration to the strength of the cross-community...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (5 Feb 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to previous replies to similar questions concerning the United Nations Convention against Corruption, most recently on 27th November 2007. The Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly in October 2003 and was signed on behalf of Ireland, when it opened for signature, in December 2003. The Convention entered into force on 14 December 2005. As with all international...