Results 13,701-13,720 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

Written Answers — Middle East Peace Process: Middle East Peace Process (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 166 together. I know that the House will join with me today in calling for the immediate and unconditional release of the BBC journalist, Alan Johnston, who was kidnapped by an armed group in Gaza on 12 March 2007. The EU has condemned the kidnapping and has called for Mr. Johnston's release, as have the International Quartet, the United Nations, the...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: My Department regularly reviews the security of Irish missions abroad from the point of view of the safety and protection of both staff and visitors, as well as the security of all official premises and their contents. In addition, as part of the risk management process within the Department, each of our Missions abroad has a crisis response plan for dealing with emergencies that would...

Written Answers — Democratisation Process: Democratisation Process (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Government has consistently supported, and remains fully committed to, the right to self-determination of the people of the Western Sahara. Ireland continues to be active on the issue in discussions at EU level and at the United Nations. The Government strongly supports the continuing engagement of the UN in the search for a political solution in the Western Sahara based on the principle...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106, 109 and 145 together. The Government remains gravely concerned by the horrific violence in Iraq. The violence has effectively stalled the political process and continues to threaten the stability of the region. There are no simple solutions to the chaos across large areas of Iraq. The situation is now extremely complex, involving many different groups,...

Written Answers — Nuclear Disarmament Initiative: Nuclear Disarmament Initiative (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The seventeenth Plenary Meeting of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) took place in Cape Town on 19-20 April 2007. The Plenary was preceded by a number of other meetings that week, including the NSG Consultative Group, an information exchange meeting and a meeting of licensing officers. The deliberations of the NSG are confidential. In general terms, however, these meetings focused on issues...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 132, 159, 165 and 284 together. As Deputies will be aware, efforts in the US Senate to achieve comprehensive immigration reform were not successful in attracting the level of support necessary to ensure its progress at this time. This is undoubtedly a setback for the Irish undocumented and their families here in Ireland. I can assure the House of the...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 and 139 together. On Monday 25 June, I had the honour to meet with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town. Archbishop Tutu won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his efforts in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. He paid a warm tribute to Ireland's support in those years, and also to our continued support to South...

Written Answers — Landing Rights: Landing Rights (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112, 141 and 174 together. The arrangements for the overflight and landing in Ireland of US military aircraft, and civilian aircraft used to transport troops, have been in place under successive Governments for some fifty years, and there has been no change in policy. Overflight and landing arrangements for US forces in respect of the Iraq conflict were...

Written Answers — Democratisation Process: Democratisation Process (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: There has not yet been a discussion of developments in Kazakhstan at political level in the EU but developments there are being followed closely. On 18 May the Parliament of Kazakhstan approved a series of constitutional changes, among them a provision that the President can be elected for more than two successive terms of five years. This would allow President Nazarbayev, who was re-elected...

Written Answers — International Agreements: International Agreements (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: As indicated to the House, most recently on 8 February 2007, the case for ratification of this Convention has been examined by my Department in conjunction with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, which has lead responsibility on the issue. As previously indicated, the rights of migrant workers and their families are already protected under existing national legislation and...

Written Answers — Arms Trade: Arms Trade (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The EU's position regarding the arms embargo on China was most recently set out in Council Conclusions of 11 December 2006, in which the Council reaffirmed its willingness to carry forward work towards lifting the arms embargo on the basis of the European Council Conclusions of December 2004. The 2004 Conclusions make clear that any decision should not lead to an increase in arms exports,...

Written Answers — EU Enlargement: EU Enlargement (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 122 together. Negotiations on EU accession opened with Croatia and Turkey in October 2005. Since then an extensive screening process has been underway. This involves close scrutiny of the compatibility of Turkish and Croatian legislation with that of the EU. In all, there are 35 negotiating chapters which deal with a range of policy areas. After a...

Written Answers — Migration Studies: Migration Studies (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: This is an idea which would impact upon a wide range of interested parties, including my Department. In the first instance, however, the funding of academic disciplines in Irish universities, broadly speaking, is a matter for the Higher Education Authority and the Department of Education and Science. In April, I called for a national debate on Ireland's attitude to our Diaspora at a...

Written Answers — EU Treaty: EU Treaty (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121, 123, 144 and 289 together. The Government are pleased with the outline of the Reform Treaty that was agreed at last month's European Council meeting. The Reform Treaty will amend the existing Treaties in various ways so as to create a more efficient and effective Union that can better serve Europe's future needs. Our principal objective going in to these...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Department of Foreign Affairs has recruited a total of 246 staff in the past three years. The following table sets outs the number of staff recruited by the Department over this period. A significant number of the staff were recruited to fill new posts sanctioned by the Department of Finance for the three Passport Offices and for Irish Aid. In addition, vacancies needed to be filled as a...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Task Force on Policy regarding Emigrants produced a major report which has provided us with a very valuable framework for our current and future activities in this area. The Report, as the Deputy is aware, contains wide-ranging and detailed recommendations which require sustained and phased implementation. Activities currently in operation are giving effect to well over two thirds of the...

Written Answers — UN Reform: UN Reform (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: A key objective of our foreign policy in the years ahead is to enhance Ireland's role as a model UN partner. That reflects the value we place on the UN as the primary multilateral framework through which we give expression to the values and principles that underlie our foreign policy. The value we accord the United Nations is also reflected in our strong support for the UN reform agenda. We...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Following the events in Karachi on 12 May, which resulted in the loss of life of over 40 Pakistanis, the political and security situation in Pakistan is calmer but the situation is likely to remain tense in the lead up to Presidential and legislative elections later this year. As the Deputy will be aware, the recent outbreak of violence in Karachi occurred when supporters of the suspended...

Written Answers — Extradition Proceedings: Extradition Proceedings (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Irish citizen referred to was arrested by the Police Service of Northern Ireland on 20 May 2007 on foot of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by the Federal Republic of Germany. Following initial hearings on 5 June and 27 June last, the extradition hearing has been adjourned until 22 August. The adjournments are to give the defence time to prepare their case. The person in question is...

Written Answers — Nuclear Disarmament Initiative: Nuclear Disarmament Initiative (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which came into force in 1970, Review Conferences are held every five years and afford an opportunity to review the implementation of the Treaty in all its aspects. The last such Conference was in 2005 and the next will take place in 2010. As part of each review cycle, a series of preparatory meetings are also held and there will be a...