Results 13,281-13,300 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Government attributes the highest importance to resolving the plight of our undocumented citizens in the United States. I have also made it a personal priority as Minister, and will continue to do so. The passage of the agreed Motion by the Dáil on 7 November sent an important and timely message of solidarity from all parties of the House to our undocumented community. Following the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Media monitoring in my Department is primarily aimed at keeping our Embassies and Consulates abroad informed of all major news stories in the Irish Media and of stories of Irish interest in the international media. The figures below show the yearly cost to the Department of Foreign Affairs from 2002 to 2007 of providing a daily summary of the major Irish news outlets, which is circulated...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The Government of Colombia has repeatedly stated its commitment to bringing to an end all terrorism in Colombia within the framework of the Justice and Peace Law. This Law, passed in 2005, provides an overall legal framework for the demobilisation, disarmament and reintegration of illegal armed groups into Colombian society. The Justice and Peace Law, which was adopted through a lengthy...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: There have been no instances of personal data held by my Department being compromised during the period in question. The review of procedures is underway and will be delivered to the Department of Finance by the 1st February 2008.

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The body of the person mentioned by the Deputy was found on 29 August 2006 in Mallorca, lying in shallow water close to the shoreline. The local autopsy report stated that she had committed suicide by drowning. The report also indicated that there had been extensive injuries to her body, but suggested that these had occurred after her death. Her family strongly rejected any possibility of...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: Ambassadorial appointments are made by the President on the advice of the Government. The consistent and long-standing practice which has served successive Governments very well, is to appoint serving senior Civil Servants with significant experience of international relations to Ambassadorial positions.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: In the consular case referred to by the Deputy, the court judgment permitted the Irish citizens concerned to be released from prison under "conditional freedom", on payment of a bond. My Department, at the request of the defence team and given the consular concerns of the Department at the time about the safety of the persons concerned, advanced the funds to facilitate the payment of this...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department has not provided any funds for bail for Irish citizens facing prosecution or criminal investigation overseas during the past three years.

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The United Nations has the lead role in the search for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem. The Government fully supports the leadership of the UN Secretary General in this important work, and we welcome the ongoing efforts of the Secretary General's Special Representative to Cyprus, Mr. Michael Moeller, to bring the two sides together to seek progress toward a political...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I am very committed to the well being of Irish supporters travelling abroad to major sporting events. I intend therefore, and as is usual, to have additional resources allocated to our Embassy in Beijing so as to ensure that the best possible service is provided to Irish athletes and supporters for the duration of the Olympic period. Our Embassy is currently finalising its preparations to...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: The application for the passport issued on 9 August 1994 was received in the Passport Office, Molesworth Street on 5 August 1994. The application file indicates that the passport was to be returned through the office of Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D. This is the normal procedure for applications forwarded by the offices of Members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. For instance, in 2007, 6,200 such...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: My Department is fully committed to the employment of persons with disabilities where possible and is fully aware of the requirements of the Disability Act of 2005 in this regard. The Deputy will appreciate, however, that the compilation of compliance statistics in this area is a sensitive issue. It depends to a large extent on the voluntary self-disclosure of a disability by a member of...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 609 and 611 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. In November 2004, following recommendations from the Government's Implementation Committee, the Department was included in the first phase of...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Jan 2008)

Dermot Ahern: 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 scheduled to be decentralised. An advance party involving 56...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216 and 217 together. The number of posts filled in my Department in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 were 124, 66, 88, 125 and 218 respectively. These figures include those recruited to work in the Headquarters of the Department, including Irish Aid, the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries and the Passport offices in Dublin,...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Leagann Aguisín B le Comhaontú Chill Rímhinn amach gealltanais Rialtas na Breataine i leith cearta daonna, comhionannais, íobartaigh, agus ábhair eile. I measc na hábhair seo, tá gealltanas ar leith tugtha go dtabharfaí isteach Acht Teanga do Thuaisceart na hÉireann, agus go ndéanfaí comh-oibriú leis an bhFeidhmiúchán nua le forbairt na Gaeilge a chosaint agus a chur chun cinn....

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Of the ten Member States that joined the European Union on 1 May 2004, nine held a referendum prior to their accession. Cyprus did not hold a referendum. The Cypriot House of Representatives unanimously approved the Accession Treaty. In Bulgaria and Romania, which joined the European Union on 1 January 2007, the Accession Treaty was approved by parliamentary process in both countries. Each of...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As I informed the Deputy in my responses to Parliamentary Questions Number 517 on 26 September 2007 and Number 197 on 24 October 2007, relations between Ireland and Cuba have developed in recent years, particularly since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1999. Our Ambassador in Mexico City is accredited to Cuba. In 2001, Cuba established a resident Embassy in Dublin, which has been...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The person in question was issued with their first Irish passport on 9 August 1994.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I shared the strong public concern about this appalling case. I was shocked by the sentences and by the context in which they were imposed. I regard any punishment by flogging as abhorrent, no matter where it takes place. Our overriding objective in making our views clearly heard on the issue was to ensure that the sentence was not carried out. I therefore very much welcome the announcement...