Results 13,341-13,360 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Government Information Services: Government Information Services (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: My Department does not receive a daily summary of stories specifically relevant to its work from Government Information Services. Government Information Services do however provide a short summary form of the main stories in the major media outlets. This is provided in electronic form to Ministers, senior members of the Department and the staff of the press office. These summaries are...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: A member of the press office normally travels with me as part of my official delegation. There have been no occasions in the past year on official visits where a member of the press office has either not been present or has not been in contact with me.

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

Dermot Ahern: There is no official car provided to the Ministers of State at my Department. They can claim mileage expenses for official travel and these are detailed in the table that follows this reply. My Department also pays the salaries of four civilian drivers, two for each Minister of State, at an individual annual salary cost of €33,148. Details of the cost of air travel incurred when the...

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

Dermot Ahern: I have outlined below the costs incurred on public transport since 1997 by the private offices of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Ministers of State at this Department. Year Minister's Office Ministers of State's Offices 1997 €99 no charge incurred 1998 no charge incurred no charge incurred 1999 €116 no charge incurred 2000 €43 no charge incurred 2001 no charge incurred...

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

Dermot Ahern: There are a number of different news summaries and services used by my Department. Every weekday, a compilation of morning press highlights is emailed to staff. Press Highlights from the weekend are uploaded to the internal web on Monday mornings. This is, of course, a particularly important service for our 75 Missions overseas. This service is provided by the Irish Times New Media Division,...

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

Dermot Ahern: My Department provides advisors and staff appointed by me with mobile phones and other appropriate communications equipment necessary to enable them perform their duties. The table sets out the costs of such equipment and services since I took office in September 2004. 2004 (from September) 2005 2006 2007 â'¬1,142 â'¬14,571 â'¬7,404 â'¬5,163.48

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

Dermot Ahern: The Value for Money and Policy Review of the Support for Irish Emigrants Groups Programme, which was undertaken by Goodbody Economic Consultants, was completed in July, 2007. Copies of the Report were lodged with the Houses of the Oireachtas on 1 August 2007 and with the Value for Money and Policy Review Secretariat of the Department of Finance at the same time. The Review was undertaken...

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

Dermot Ahern: I share deep concerns regarding the welfare of vulnerable children in institutional care in Bulgaria, such as those who featured in a recent BBC documentary. The need for action to address this disturbing legacy of past policies and attitudes was highlighted during Bulgaria's negotiations for accession to the EU. While some progress was made before accession, the Bulgarian authorities...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The difficult and sensitive issue of Kosovo's future status is the legacy of the Balkan wars of the 1990s. The framework for post-conflict Kosovo was set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1244 of 1999, which established an interim United Nations civilian administration (UNMIK), and authorised an international security presence (KFOR). The Resolution also provided for a gradual transfer of...

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

Dermot Ahern: I have outlined in tabular form the transport hire costs incurred by my Department since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs in September 2004. These charges all relate to the hire of cars on official visits abroad. There have been no transport hire charges incurred by my office for travel in Ireland. Transport Hire Sept-Dec 2004 2005 2006 2007 (to date) Minister's Office...

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

Dermot Ahern: Seven staff in my Department have been provided with Blackberry or Blackberry-style devices. This includes five members of staff in the ICT Unit who are currently testing these devices as part of a feasibility trial.

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

Dermot Ahern: There are 95 databases currently used by my Department across a range of systems. All but one database is operated solely by staff in the Department. The ICT Helpdesk database is jointly operated by Departmental staff and on-site external contractors who provide ICT support services.

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

Dermot Ahern: Five information technology projects have been undertaken by my Department since 2004. One was completed ahead of time and under budget, while the remaining four projects were completed on time and on budget. Project name On/Ahead of deadline On/under budget Global CommunicationsUpgrade for Embassies Completed on time On budget Outsourced Helpdesk Completed on time On budget Upgrade of...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I fully support the commitment in the current Programme for Government to "require carbon offsetting of all official air travel in support of urban forests". I understand that my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, will shortly announce details of a scheme for use by all Government Departments and bodies under their aegis which will address this...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: All Departmental databases and systems that store or maintain information relating to members of the public are inaccessible from the Internet and, therefore, from hackers. My Department implements a range of security measures, including multi-layered firewalls, to secure its internal ICT network from the Internet. This ICT security infrastructure is reviewed on a regular basis. I am...

Written Answers — Management Information Framework System: Management Information Framework System (11 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 427 together. The benefits of the Management Information Framework (MIF) are measured in terms of improved efficiency, greater financial controls, enhanced accountability and the promotion f a value for money approach to all financial transactions. It is not possible to attribute a specific financial saving to the introduction of the MIF. However, it...

Written Answers — Departmental Meetings: Departmental Meetings (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: My Department has a Management Advisory Committee (MAC), comprising the Secretary General of the Department and the Heads of all Divisions in the Department. The MAC meets regularly, approximately once a month. To date, this year, there have been eight MAC meetings, and further meetings are planned before the end of the year. I attend a number of the MAC meetings, together with the two...

Written Answers — Departmental Meetings: Departmental Meetings (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I convene specific policy meetings on a regular basis with officials of my Department. Their frequency and content varies having regard to the challenges and priorities that arise at a given time. The main difference between these meetings and the meetings of the Management Advisory Committee (MAC) which I attend are that the former are usually one subject agendas, dealing, for example with...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The core staff number authorised for my Department is currently 1,576. This figure includes approximately 300 staff who are recruited locally to work in our Missions abroad but excludes clerical staff employed on fixed term contracts to work in the Passport Offices during the peak season. It excludes a limited number of interns engaged on fixed term contracts to work in the Department's...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (6 Dec 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 138, 139 and 141 together. With reference to the Deputy's query regarding St. Patrick's Day, I, along with an official party of four, travelled to Washington from 14 March to 16 March 2007 to join the Taoiseach in a programme of events and ceremonies designed to both celebrate St. Patrick's Day and to promote Irish interests in the United States. The total...