Results 13,461-13,480 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I can confirm that the person concerned was transferred on 15 November 2007 to the preferred prison, to which the Deputy referred in Parliamentary Question No. 249 of 13 November 2007. My officials have made renewed enquiries as to the state of health of the person. The prison authorities advise that the individual was examined medically on arrival on 15 November and that there are no...

Written Answers — Passport Applications: Passport Applications (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I understand that the Deputy is referring to application processes operated by my Department to provide services to the public and also applications involving Local Authorities. Passport Application Process To date in 2007, the Passport Office has processed 665,590 applications. The majority are channelled through the Passport Express service operated by An Post, and in the case of Northern...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) is intended to impart greater coherence and unity to all elements of the European Union's action in the international arena and in its relations with external actors. As such, the CFSP covers the entire range of the Union's foreign policy concerns. While some new measures are envisaged in the Reform Treaty to enhance the Union's external coherence...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As will be seen from the following table, seven of the nine buildings in Dublin occupied by my Department, together with the Passport Office in Cork and the temporary Irish Aid office in Limerick, are fully accessible to people with disabilities. Of the remaining two buildings, most of the public areas in Iveagh House have in recent years been made accessible to people with disabilities. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The figures below, in tabular readable form, represent the costs of running the press office in my Department from January to September 2007, excluding salaries. â'¬ Quarter 1 48,504.44 Quarter 2 56,679.43 Quarter 3 29,992.44

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Deputy may be aware that my Department recently launched an upgraded website (www.dfa.ie) to replace its previous site. This initiative includes upgrading the websites of all our Missions throughout the world based on a standard template consistent with the Department's site. Nine such Mission sites are currently operational. These include our Embassies in Paris (www.embassyofireland.fr)...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: 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) finances study, research, teaching and other educational activities between Ireland and the United States of America. It was established in 1957 by means of the...

Written Answers — EU Membership: EU Membership (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: At the EU-Western Balkans Summit at Thessaloniki in 2003, European Union leaders reiterated the European perspective of the countries of the Western Balkans, and affirmed that the future of these countries lies within the EU, once they have fulfilled all of the requirements necessary for membership. Croatia is engaged in accession negotiations with the EU. The former Yugoslav Republic of...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Nov 2007)

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 — World Trade Negotiations: World Trade Negotiations (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mr. Michéal Martin T.D., has overall responsibility for negotiations on the current global trade round taking place in the framework of the World Trade Organization. My Department works closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in developing and implementing policy...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 and 333 together. Negotiations between the Government of Sudan and the Darfur rebel factions began on 27 October in Libya under joint AU/UN mediation. However, the start of this process was overshadowed by the absence of many of the principal rebel groups, which boycotted the talks. The UN and AU have sent representatives to Darfur and Juba to find and...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I refer the deputy to my reply to Question No. 328 of 23rd October 2007, (below), which deals with all the issues raised in the question. As has been made clear in reply to previous questions, it is not the policy of the Government to draw up any kind of "league table" of countries in relation to human rights abuses. Ireland closely monitors developments in the human rights situation...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (27 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: All officials of my Department are bound by the provisions of the Official Secrets Act. In addition, on the day of their appointment, all officials of my Department are made aware of their responsibilities under the Data Protection Act. All data held in my Department, including personal data, is protected by both physical and technical safeguards. The provisions of the Data Protection Act...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (22 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: There are four agencies, bodies or committees which have been established by, or transferred to, my Department in the past ten years. There were five agencies, bodies or committees abolished by, or transferred from, my Department in the same period. Details of these organisations and the circumstances which brought about their establishment, abolition or transfer are outlined below. New or...

Written Answers — Consular Services: Consular Services (21 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware from the reply I gave on the 31 October 2007 in relation to this case, the Department of Foreign Affairs, through the Irish Embassy in London, would be pleased to provide a range of practical assistance to the person concerned in taking the matter forward. However, there are no funds available from State expense to cover the cost of repatriation in this case.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (21 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Advisory Board for Irish Aid, which replaced the Irish Aid Advisory Committee (IAAC), was established in August 2002 to provide general oversight and advice to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister of State for Overseas Development on the strategic direction of the Government's programme of assistance to developing countries. The principal expenditure of the Advisory Board...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (21 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland has a proud history in the field of polar exploration, particularly in the Antarctic, and I am glad that, in recent years, due recognition has begun to be given in this country to important Irish explorers such as Ernest Shackleton and Tom Crean. The Shackleton Autumn School is a valuable forum in this regard. Issues concerning the Antarctic Treaty have been addressed most recently...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (20 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: My deep concerns about the declaration of a State of Emergency in Pakistan, and subsequent events, have been made clear to the Ambassador of Pakistan in Dublin. The Government's position has been set out in my statement on 5 November, during the Adjournment Debate in Dáil Éireann on 6 November, and in response to Parliamentary Questions regarding Pakistan on 8 November. While recognising...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (20 Nov 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The EU Special Support Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (Peace I) was targeted at Northern Ireland and the six border counties and ran from 1995 to end-December 2001, through funding outlined to be drawn down to the end of 2005. This Department had responsibility for two measures under the sub-programme of Peace I which dealt with cross border development. The first of these two...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Nov 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...