Results 13,501-13,520 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (31 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The next of kin of a deceased person may request that the person's remains be exhumed. However, as the Deputy will appreciate, a number of legal and logistical issues arise in such situations, particularly where the death occurred many years ago. I asked our Embassy in London to make some preliminary enquiries regarding the request referred to by the Deputy. The Embassy has been informed...

Written Answers — Military Neutrality: Military Neutrality (31 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Nothing in the Reform Treaty will affect Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality, nor our capacity to pursue our foreign policy. Under the Treaty, as under previous Treaties, Ireland will continue to participate actively in the formulation of the European Union's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). Unanimity will remain the rule for substantive decisions in the area of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (31 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: In the past 12 months, costs of €757,417 were accrued by my Department in respect of official hospitality provided in Ireland. The purpose of this hospitality 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 guests.

Written Answers — Departmental Facilities: Departmental Facilities (31 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: While all buildings used by my Department in Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Balbriggan have kitchen facilities, none of them provide a hot food service for staff.

Written Answers — Northern Ireland Issues: Northern Ireland Issues (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has been clear and consistent on the need for all paramilitary groups, including the Ulster Defence Association (UDA), to move away definitively from violence and criminality and engage with the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD) with a view to putting arms beyond use. I believe that many of the leaders of the UDA, and their political advisors in...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Ireland and Pakistan established diplomatic relations in 1962. Pakistan opened an Embassy in Dublin in 2001, headed by a resident Ambassador, with whom senior officials of the Department are in regular contact. Our Ambassador in Tehran is accredited to Pakistan on a non-resident basis. He pays regular visits to Pakistan and keeps in regular contact with the authorities there, with the...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I have not received an invitation to events to mark the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the State of Israel on 14 May 1948. At the invitation of the Speaker of the Knesset and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, our Ambassador in Tel Aviv will attend a special session of the Knesset on 29 November to mark the 60th anniversary of the adoption by the UN General...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I am not aware of any proposal to reduce funding for the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, which was established by the UN General Assembly in 1975. Cyprus and Malta are the only EU Member States which participate in the Committee. The other 25 Member States, including Ireland, have abstained in the annual vote in the UN General Assembly on the...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The mandate of the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories was established by the UN Commission on Human Rights in 1993. Professor John Dugard is the fourth person to hold the mandate. He was appointed by the Commission on Human Rights in 2001. The Human Rights Council, which succeeded the Commission on Human Rights in 2006 is now reviewing...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I have no objection on foreign policy grounds to Palestinian participation in any international event, and would in fact see considerable merit in such involvement. However, as Minister for Foreign Affairs, I have no role in relation to the Eurovision Song Contest, which is organised by the European Broadcasting Union.

Order of Business (Resumed) (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Like the Deputy's party it is marginal.

Order of Business (25 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The answer is "No" anyway.

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The failure of efforts by the United States Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation earlier this year was a major disappointment and a setback for the thousands of undocumented Irish people in the United States and for their families in Ireland. Given the present very difficult and divided environment in Congress on immigration, it is now widely considered that such...

Written Answers — Diplomatic Representation: Diplomatic Representation (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As I informed the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question Number 517 on 26 September 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 headed by a resident Ambassador...

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As the Deputy knows, the treaty is required to be ratified by all 27 countries. A total of 18 countries ratified the constitutional treaty and they must return to their respective parliaments with the reform treaty for ratification. With regard to our process, as the Taoiseach stated, the strong advice of the Attorney General is that the issue must be put before the people, which I welcome....

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The charter has full legal effect. There is a cross reference from one to the other and the issue involved was presentational rather than anything else. I welcome that all parties are in favour of the charter's implementation. With regard to the opt out clause, having examined it, we will be in a stronger position to determine these issues if we can opt out and then make decisions on a case...

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Ultimately, this could affect the constitutional rights of our citizens and we have a duty to protect those rights as much as possible. The strong legal advice of the Attorney General is we would be in a much stronger position to deal with issues on a case by case basis using an opt in, opt out clause while making clear our desire is to be part of European changes to deal with all the...

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: It is not the case that Britain has made a unilateral decision to eliminate the common travel area. The British Government is considering introducing enhanced security in terms of people entering and leaving its jurisdiction. In the context of the common travel area that we have been lucky to enjoy for many decades, we are discussing these issues with the British Government in such a way...

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: In regard to the review I thank all speakers for the points they have made. I will respond to some of them, particularly the request by the Labour Party for an easily read text. It is the Government's view that we should have a text that would be available to the general public which would explain it in as simple a language as possible. Obviously the reform treaty is a complex set of...

European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Oct 2007)

Dermot Ahern: ——in effect did away with the logistical customs and excise difficulties that those of us who live in the Border area — not Dublin — were required to put up with for years. The review will take place in three years' time. However, the matter will be under constant review in the interim because we will be making decisions on a case by case basis as JHA issues arise. The other issue...