Results 13,721-13,740 of 16,849 for speaker:Dermot Ahern

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

Dermot Ahern: I refer the Deputy to previous replies to similar questions concerning the United Nations Convention against Corruption, most recently on 21 March 2007. The Convention was signed on 9 December 2003 and is awaiting ratification by Ireland. My colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, has lead responsibility in this area. His officials have had extensive consultations with...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: During the next six months I will have a number of EU-related engagements including meetings of the General Affairs and External Relations Council (GAERC), the Informal Meeting of EU Ministers for Foreign Affairs in September and the European Council meeting in December. I will continue to meet with representatives of the British Government and with all of the parties associated with the...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Questions relating to the treatment of the Falun Gong — including specific cases — are raised regularly, within the context of the wider situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in China, in the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, as well as in our own bilateral contacts with the Government of China. Discussions in this regard have also taken place at official level in Dublin and in...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: It is customary for Foreign Ministers to attend the opening plenary session of the UN General Assembly in September each year. I attended the General Assembly last year, and, in addition to delivering the national statement on behalf of Ireland, I met with the outgoing Secretary-General and the new President of the Assembly. I also held a number of bilateral meetings with Ministerial...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Office of Public Works (OPW) is responsible for the provision of office accommodation for the decentralised staff of Irish Aid in Limerick. An advance party of fifty Irish Aid staff members transferred to temporary accommodation in O'Connell Street, Limerick in May of this year. My Department has been advised by OPW that the permanent accommodation, at present under construction in Henry...

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

Dermot Ahern: Accession negotiations were opened with Croatia on 3 October 2005. Since then an extensive screening process has been underway. This involves examining the compatibility of Croatian legislation with EU law. In all, there are 35 negotiating chapters which deal with a range of policy areas. After a chapter has been screened, the EU decides, on the basis of a proposal from the Commission,...

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

Dermot Ahern: Much has been achieved in Liberia in both the political and humanitarian spheres since the 2003 Comprehensive Peace Agreement brought an end to 14 years of civil war. In particular, since the inauguration of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as Africa's first female President at the start of 2006, the Government has made significant progress in driving forward reforms and promoting economic...

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

Dermot Ahern: The issue of denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula remains an important issue for the security and stability in the East Asia region, as well as for the wider international community. The DPRK's (North Korea) nuclear test last October was a direct contravention of the international objectives of nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. Ireland continues to support the efforts of the...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The Battlegroup concept is designed to provide the European Union with the capacity to respond rapidly to emerging crisis situations, within the overall context of the European Union's security and defence policy. Battlegroups are designed to participate in time-limited missions of 30 days, extendable to a maximum of 120 days, by which time the operation would have concluded, or the...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 275 together. On 27 June, following detailed consultation between High Representative Solana and the Foreign Minister of Germany, representing the European Union, the US Secretary of State, the Foreign Minister of Russia and the UN Secretary General, the members of the Middle East Quartet announced the appointment of Tony Blair as Quartet...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 172 together. The political, economic and human rights situation in Zimbabwe is a matter of very serious concern. Inflation is currently estimated at over 3700%, the highest in the world. Unemployment has risen to 80%. Life expectancy has virtually been halved in the past two decades, from 60 years to 33 years. Opposition activists, including Morgan...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 170 together. The Government and our EU partners share the widespread international concern that Iran has still not complied with its international obligations in respect of its nuclear programme. On 23 May, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported for the third time that Iran had ignored the demands of the UN Security Council to suspend...

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

Dermot Ahern: Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991. A Transitional Federal Government (TFG) representing a range of clans was established in Nairobi in 2004 with UN and EU support, but was unable to make a significant impact on the ground. Public discontent with over a decade of anarchy led to increased support for the United Islamic Courts (UIC) movement, which enforced sharia law...

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

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 176 together. Some significant progress has been achieved in democratic reforms in Afghanistan, as well as in the administrative and justice systems, since 2001. With international assistance, the reform process is continuing across all sectors. The goal of the international community, in cooperation with the Afghan government, remains to extend...

Written Answers — Economic and Monetary Union: Economic and Monetary Union (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 281 together. The most recent European Council agreed the accession of Cyprus and Malta to the euro area from January 2008. This will bring to 15 the number of countries having the euro as their currency. It means that from next year a majority of EU Member States will belong to the euro area. This agreement at the European Council followed a positive...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: Mr David Miliband M.P. was appointed Foreign Secretary last Thursday by the new British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. I have written to the new Foreign Secretary congratulating him on his appointment and I look forward to working closely with him on the many challenging issues facing our two countries in Europe and in the wider world. I expect to meet the Foreign Secretary in the near future.

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: I am very concerned by the case the Deputy refers to, including reports of his mistreatment in custody. Ireland, together with EU partners, continues to follow this case closely. It has been repeatedly raised with the Chinese authorities through the EU-China Human Rights Dialogue, including at the most recent round in Berlin on 15 May. The EU made clear its deep concern over actions...

Written Answers — Illegal Immigrants: Illegal Immigrants (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: The issue to which the Deputy refers is one of considerable concern within the EU. The harrowing scenes we have witnessed recently clearly demonstrate the need to make rapid progress in developing a comprehensive European migration policy. This policy must take into account development issues, legal migration, integration, border control, readmission and the fight against illegal migration....

Written Answers — Diplomatic Relations: Diplomatic Relations (3 Jul 2007)

Dermot Ahern: There has been no change in Ireland's policy towards Cuba. The European Union's 1996 Common Position on Cuba remains the basis of both the European Union's and Ireland's approach to relations with that country. The overriding objective of Ireland and our European Union partners in our relations with Cuba is to encourage, but not to enforce by external coercion, a process of transition to...

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

Dermot Ahern: The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia recognized the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina as a sovereign independent State as part of the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina concluded on December 14, 1995. As a successor state to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Serbia continues to recognise the full independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. At the EU-Western Balkans...