Results 13,321-13,340 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 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. 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 of 55 staff...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: 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 conference on cluster munitions which will take place in Dublin in May of next year, my Department has paid a deposit of €34,150 for the use of the Croke Park Conference Centre. Secondly, in preparation for the...

Written Answers — Missing Persons: Missing Persons (13 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: My Department, through the Consular Section and our Embassy in Buenos Aires, has been working intensively to locate the person concerned and is in daily contact with his family and friends. The Gardaí have also been asked by the family for assistance in the search. Following the report of his missing status, our Embassy in Buenos Aires made immediate contact with the national police...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs has not provided any funding for the upkeep of the property to which the Deputy refers, or for any religious or cultural events at the location. I understand, however, that Culture Ireland may have sponsored a 9/11 memorial concert in this location. Should the Deputy wish to furnish further details of any other event or project which he believes may have...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (12 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The person in question was issued with his most recent Irish passport on 7th February 2006.

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (12 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: At my request, the Attorney General has considered whether the legal effects of the Reform Treaty require amendment of the Constitution to enable ratification. The Attorney General has advised that such an amendment is required. Any amendment to the Constitution must be authorised by referendum. It is intended that legislation amending Article 29 of the Constitution will be brought before the...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (12 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland's Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) comprises of both multilateral and bilateral contributions. Multilateral ODA consists of contributions channelled through multilateral and international organisations who conduct their activities in favour of development. These pooled contributions are not reported to Irish Aid on a country-specific basis. Bilateral ODA consists of contributions...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (12 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland was represented at the second EU-Africa Summit in Lisbon on 8-9 December by the Taoiseach and by my colleague Micheál Kitt T.D., Minister of State for Overseas Development. The Taoiseach had a short meeting with President Mbeki in the course of the Summit. The Summit marked an important step forward in the co-operation between our two continents. Discussions at the Summit covered...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I am deeply concerned about the situation in Zimbabwe. The Government of Zimbabwe's disastrous economic policies have led to severe hardship for ordinary people, and those who seek democratic change face enormous obstacles. Politically motivated violence is reported to have increased throughout 2007. Many opposition activists and supporters, including those from the Movement for Democratic...

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland is a long-standing and active proponent of a negotiated two-State solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as the central element of a comprehensive settlement in the Middle East. The Government has argued consistently within the EU and internationally that the restoration of a credible peace process is an urgent necessity if further conflict in the region is to be avoided. I...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The establishment of the Irish Abroad Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs in 2004 has greatly enhanced our capacity to develop and implement policies aimed at building relations with, and providing practical and financial assistance to, Irish communities overseas, across a wide range of important issues. Reaching out to and strengthening links with our communities abroad, and with...

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: To date in 2007, 87% of this Department's energy budget has been spent on electricity. According to Eirgrid's latest figures, at least 9.3% of the electricity supplied comes from renewable sources, mainly wind and hydroelectric. The remaining 13% of the Department's energy budget is attributable to oil and gas, which are non-renewable sources.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 393, 394, 395 and 410 together. The figures set out in the table include all costs for all mobile phones assigned to personnel at Headquarters in my Department. 2006 2007 to 31 October € € Total (excluding VAT) 165,667 120,369 Data charges 14,112 8,580 Roaming charges 37,893 35,280 For operational reasons, I have two mobile telephones. There is...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 396, 398 and 400 together. There is one press officer and three other officials in the press office of the Department, together with a Press Advisor, whom I personally appointed in 2004. The Press Advisor is at the level of Counsellor/Principal Officer, with a salary scale of €82,016 to €101,446. No Press Advisors were employed at the Department between...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I have provided, for the benefit of the Deputy, a tabular statement setting out details of the newspapers purchased by my Department on a daily and weekly basis. In order to achieve value for money, my Department has an agreement with certain suppliers to allow it to vary the number of newspapers provided on a weekly basis to provide for changes in staff requirements and to avoid partially...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes- Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 29 (International Co-operation). The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables covering both Votes for the period from 31 December 1997 to date. I am very conscious of the need to achieve value for money on consultancy expenditure. The Department engages media...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: One official credit card is assigned to me through the Department. The total charges incurred on this credit card are €29 in 2004 and €287 in 2005. No charges were incurred on the card for 2006 and 2007. In my Department, official credit cards are held by senior officials who need credit cards for official purposes and a small number of officials who may need to make sanctioned...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The cost of photography in my Department in each year since 1997 is as set out in the tables. Table A covers the total cost of all official photography charged to my Department. Table B relates to photography costs that are directly connected to Ministers in my Department. Since 2004 the costs for all photography connected with State events involving visiting foreign dignitaries have been...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs in September 2004, no costs have been incurred in relation to make up services.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I have presented below, in tabular form, costs incurred by my Department on official entertainment for the past ten years. The purpose of this entertainment is to promote bilateral relations with other States in the context of visits by Heads of State, Heads of Government, Foreign Ministers and other high-level visitors, and also through visits abroad by the President, Taoiseach and...