Results 13,301-13,320 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: In my reply to the Deputy's previous Question No. 101 on 22 November 2007, I outlined details of the new boards, agencies, bodies, commissions and offices which were established in the past ten years and the number which were abolished in the same period operating under the remit of my Department. I have outlined below further details in relation to these bodies, including their budgets and...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes — Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Cooperation). I have set out in the tables below details of external advisory services engaged in connection with policy and administrative matters relating to the operation of the Department under both Votes and the amounts paid on such services since 1 January 2007. I am...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Programme for Government states that "This Government will campaign for a complete ban on the use of cluster munitions. In the absence of a full ban we will seek agreement on an immediate freeze on the use of cluster munitions pending the establishment of effective international instruments to address humanitarian concerns regarding their use." In my speech to the United Nations General...

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As I said in response to Question No. 328 of 4 December 2007, this was a particularly brutal and shocking murder, widely and rightly condemned. Since then, on 17 December, I met with the parents of the deceased young man, in Dundalk. I conveyed to them the sympathy of the Government on their terrible loss and our determination to see justice done in this matter. A very active criminal...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 Dec 2007)

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. This is scheduled to take place in early 2008 on completion and fit-out of the permanent premises in Henry Street. Good progress has been made and personnel have either been assigned to, or identified...

European Council: Statements (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Deputy for his questions. The horizon of the reflection group is from 2020 to 2030. It is not designed to examine the institutional framework of the European Union or the financial perspectives but to examine what type of challenges face the European Union as a whole. These include issues such as sustainable development, climate change, energy security and how to address some...

European Council: Statements (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The total cost is €2.3 billion. Ireland's contribution is about €50 million.

European Council: Statements (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I thank the Deputy. In regard to the referendum — Deputy Ó Snodaigh said there should be an EU wide referendum — to be honest, my party and the Government would be very much against a Europe wide referendum because, in effect, that would mean that a small country like Ireland might have one view and the wider view would prevail. In effect, it would be detrimental to the interests of...

European Council: Statements (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The judgment referred to was delivered only yesterday and it will take time to have it analysed. Under the reform treaty, we have the capability of opting in and it is our desire to do so as often as possible. From an initial analysis of the judgment, the reform treaty may well strengthen our position in terms of our ability to opt in. We would only be excluded at the behest of all the...

European Council: Statements (19 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: A date has not been set for the referendum. The Government will establish a referendum commission shortly after the legislation is published. The Government approved the drafting of the legislation at yesterday's Cabinet meeting. It has not yet been decided whether to hold the referendum on the same day as the referendum on the constitutional amendment on children. The Taoiseach has...

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (18 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I presume that the person in question wishes to apply for Irish citizenship by Foreign Births Registration. If so, she should apply to the Department's Consular Services Office at 1A South Mall, Cork, where the application will be processed. An applicant for Foreign Births Registration is required to confirm his / her entitlement to Irish citizenship. This will involve producing sufficient...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (18 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I am deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka. Ireland, together with our partners in the EU, takes a close interest in the situation in that country, and in particular the disturbing level of serious human rights violations. We have consistently sought to impress on both the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) the importance of curbing...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The case to which the Deputy refers relates to five Cuban citizens who were convicted in the US in 2001 on charges ranging from espionage to first degree murder. A panel of three judges from the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta overturned the 2001 convictions on 9th August 2005 and ordered a retrial based on new evidence. The Miami District Attorney duly filed an appeal against the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: My Department has not paid in advance for any works or services which have commenced but will not be completed before the end of 2007. As I indicated to the Deputy in my reply to Parliamentary Question 34734, my Department has made advance payments in two instances in relation to services which will not be provided before the end of 2007. Firstly, in preparation for an international...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (18 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Passport Office may issue passports only to Irish citizens. As the child in question was born in the State after 1 January 2005, his entitlement to citizenship is governed by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 2004. Under the Act, a person born in the State after 1 January 2005, where neither parent is an Irish or British citizen, may claim citizenship by birth (and thereby...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (18 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Díon Advisory Committee has no executive or operational function. All operational matters in relation to the considerable Government support for our community in Britain — particularly the vulnerable among our citizens there — are the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and specifically are managed by the Irish Abroad Unit in the Department and the Embassy in London,...

Written Answers — Departmental Records: Departmental Records (18 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I have an office in the Headquarters of my Department, Iveagh House, and use that office, and other meeting and reception rooms in that building, for official business on an ongoing basis. It simply would not make sense for my Department to maintain a record of my attendance in my own office. In addition, related to Oireachtas business, I also work from an office in Leinster House.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (18 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Government, together with our EU partners, has consistently condemned the practice of hostage-taking and kidnapping by the FARC guerrillas and other illegal armed groups in Colombia and continues to offer full support to the Colombian Government in its search for a negotiated solution to the internal armed conflict and the release of all hostages. Conclusions on Colombia were most...

Leaders' Questions (18 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: We are sorry to disappoint Deputy Brian Hayes.

Order of Business (18 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Speech.